How Does Dickens Use Violence In A Tale Of Two Cities

It was the cruelest of times, it was the most violent of times, it was the bloodiest of times. For the peasants of France during the French Revolution era, the times they were living in were not ideal. They made up the majority of the population of France, but held no power. Starving, hopeless, and oppressed by their own country, the peasants were tired of their dreadful lives and decided it was time for a change. However, to go about that change, they chose to use violence. In A Tale of Two Cities the author, Charles Dickens, reveals this truth that spiritual lives of all people depend upon the hope of renewal through the events of the murder of the Monseigneur, the killing of Madame Defarge, and the Storming of the Bastille to illustrate the theme “Without hope, people lose what makes them human and resort to violence and cruelty.” The murder

Their altercation is shown in the book where it states, “Madame Defarge’s hands were at her bosom. Miss Pross looked up, saw what it was, struck at it, struck out a flash and a crash, and stood alone—blinded with smoke” (Dickens 352). In this chapter, Madame Defarge, being the evil woman she is, goes to the Manette’s apartment to denounce both Lucie and Dr. Manette. Her plans are halted when she discovers Miss Pross to be there. Miss Pross is a bold and confident woman who would never hurt a fly, unless it was to protect Lucie. While trying to prevent Madame Defarge from opening a door to discover whether or not the Manette’s have left town, Miss Pross comes to the conclusion that the only way to win their battle is to kill Madame Defarge. Although Miss Pross’s actions were out of love for the Manette’s, she was in a life or death situation and all hope for a different outcome was gone. The theme is presented when Miss Pross resorts to a violent solution by shooting Madame Defarge, and their struggle ends with a bloody