Madame Defarge represents fate because she
is knitting the names of future victims of the
guillotine.
Madame Defarge is described in
Book 2, Chapter 7 as a “woman who had stood conspicuous‚ knitting‚ still knitted on with
the steadfastness of Fate.” Since Madame Defarge is heavily involved in the French
Revolution, she is recording names of individuals she feels deserve to die once the
revolution comes into being.
In Book 2, chapter 15, Madame
Defarge’s knitting is described as disturbing.
It was additionally disconcerting to have madame
knitting all the way there in a public
conveyance.
When she is asked
what she is doing, she replies that she is making shrouds. In other words, there is a
connection between her knitting and death. She intends to be the decider for these
individuals, and control their fate.
In Book 2, Chapter 16,
the revolution has not begun yet, but the Marquis has been murdered, and Madame Defarge
is “still knitting.” She comments to her husband that she has waited a long time for
the revolution, so she can get her revenge on the nobles for what they did to her
sister. Just killing the Marquis St. Evremone is not
enough.
“It
is a long time,” repeated his wife; “and when is it not a long time? Vengeance and
retribution require a long time; it is the rule.”“It does
not take a long time to strike a man with Lightning,” said
Defarge.“How long,” demanded madame, composedly, “does it
take to make and store the lightning? Tell me!” (Book 2, Chapter
16)
She continues knitting
well past these chapters. For example, in Book 3, Chapter 3 she sets her sights on
Lucie’s daughter:
“Is that his child?” said Madame Defarge,
stopping in her work for the first time, and pointing her knitting-needle at little
Lucie as if it were the finger of
Fate.
Revenge extends to the
children of the nobility. Even they cannot escape fate.
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