Monsieur Defarge Character Analysis in A Tale of Two Cities

The former servant of Dr. Manette, Defarge uses his Paris wine shop as a place to organize French revolutionaries. Like his wife, Madame Defarge, Defarge is fiercely committed to overthrowing tyranny and avenging injustice. Yet Defarge always retains a shred of mercy, and does not participate in his wife's plot to kill Lucie. This quality of mercy makes Defarge a symbol for the failed Revolution, which ultimately loses sight of its ideals and revels in the violence it causes.

Monsieur Defarge Character Timeline in A Tale of Two Cities

The timeline below shows where the character Monsieur Defarge appears in A Tale of Two Cities. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Monsieur Defarge, the owner of the wine shop, enters his store. From her position behind the... (full context)

Once the "Jacques" have left, Mr. Lorry speaks with Monsieur Defarge. Defarge leads Mr. Lorry and Lucie up to his attic. The room is dark... (full context)

Mr. Lorry and Defarge arrange for their immediate departure. Before he leaves, Manette asks to bring along his shoemaking... (full context)

...the man a gold coin. As his carriage pulls away, the coin sails back in: Monsieur Defarge threw it back. Furious, the Marquis screams that he will "exterminate [the commoners] from... (full context)

One day, Monsieur Defarge enters his shop with the mender of roads and takes him to the attic... (full context)

Defarge sends the mender of roads outside and consults with the Jacques. Jacques Three, hungry for... (full context)

Several days later, Monsieur and Madame Defarge take the mender of roads to Versailles to see a procession of... (full context)

When the Defarges return home that evening, they receive information that an Englishman named John Barsad has been... (full context)

Barsad changes tactics. Knowing that Defarge was once Dr. Manette's servant, he mentions that Lucie is now married to Charles Darnay—who... (full context)

Defarge is in disbelief. He feels a deep anxiety when Madame Defarge adds Charles's name to... (full context)

The scene cuts to Defarge's wine shop, now the center of a revolutionary maelstrom. The streets are thronged with dingy,... (full context)

Defarge leads this army to the Bastille. Madame Defarge rallies the women, swearing they can kill... (full context)

...the Bastille courtyard, the crowd swarms the old officer and stabs him to death. Madame Defarge takes her long knife and slices off his head. Seven prisoners are freed. Seven prison... (full context)

Madame Defarge, now the leader of the female revolutionaries, sits in the wine shop with her second-in-command,... (full context)

Monsieur Defarge returns with news that an old aristocrat, who once said that starving people should... (full context)

...eat their "scanty suppers," play with their kids, and make love. Back at the shop, Defarge tells his wife that he is happy the Revolution has finally come. "Almost," Madame Defarge... (full context)

...as his "escort." Upon arriving in Paris, they deliver Charles—whom they now call their "prisoner"—to Monsieur Defarge. Charles demands to know under what charges he is held, and is told that... (full context)

Defarge conducts Charles to the prison of La Force with a note for the jailor saying... (full context)

...to act as guard. On the way back to Tellson's Mr. Lorry is stopped by Monsieur Defarge, who brings news that Charles is safe, a note for Lucie from Dr. Manette,... (full context)

On their way to the apartment, Mr. Lorry and Defarge are joined by Madame Defarge, who is knitting, and The Vengeance. Defarge tells Lorry that,... (full context)

...Charles: he is fine, and under Dr. Manette's protection. She gratefully kisses one of Madame Defarge's hands, but Madame Defarge coldly withdraws to her knitting. Lucie pleads for Madame Defarge to... (full context)

A rowdy, bloodthirsty crowd gathers for the trial of "Charles Evrémonde, called Darnay." Defarge and Madame Defarge sit in the front row. Madame Defarge is knitting away. Charles is... (full context)

...respect for Manette, the men explain that evidence for the charge comes from three people: Monsieur and Madame Defarge, and one other, whom they refuse to name. (full context)

...head of the jury. As the trial begins, the prosecutor announces who brought the charges: Defarge, Madame Defarge, and Dr. Alexandre Manette. (full context)

...court erupts in chaos. Manette objects that he never denounced Charles. The judge silences him. Defarge then takes the stand and explains how, during the storming of the Bastille, he searched... (full context)

...decides to make sure he is seen around Paris. He eventually wanders into a wine shop—Defarge's wine shop. Defarge and Madame Defarge marvel at his physical resemblance to Charles, but have... (full context)

Carton eavesdrops on a conversation between Defarge, Madame Defarge, The Vengeance, and Jacques Three, in which Madame Defarge plots to exterminate the... (full context)

Madame Defarge responds by revealing her history with the Evrémondes: she is the missing sister of the... (full context)

At the shop of the wood-sawyer, Madame Defarge holds a secret conference with Jacques Three and The Vengeance. Madame says that she no... (full context)

Madame Defarge strides through the streets like a tigress, a woman without pity, armed with a knife... (full context)

Jerry leaves to make arrangements. Soon after, Madame Defarge arrives at the apartment and demands that Miss Pross let her see Lucie. Miss Pross... (full context)