Literary Analysis/Comma Essay

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens is a classic novel about the French Revolution. During the chosen passage, the Defarges, a dedicated revolutionist couple, are discussing change and how it requires time. Change doesn’t happen in an instant; multiple events have to take place beforehand to bring about change.

‘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.’

Defarge raised his head thoughtfully, as if there were something in that too.

‘It does not take a long time,’ said madame, ‘for an earthquake to swallow a town. Eh well! Tell me how long it takes to prepare the earthquake?’

‘A long time, I suppose,’ said Defarge.

‘But when it is ready, it takes place, and grinds to pieces everything before it. In the meantime, it is always preparing, thought it is not seen or heard. That is your consolation. Keep it.’

She tied a knot with flashing eyes, as if it throttled a foe.

‘I tell thee,’ said madame, extending her right hand, for emphasis, ‘that although it is a long time on the road, it is on the road and coming. I tell thee it never retreats, and never stops. I tell thee it is always advancing. Look around and consider the lives of all the world that we know, consider the faces of all the world that we know, consider the rage and discontent to which the Jacquerie addresses itself with more and more of certainty every hour. Can such things last? Bah! I mock you.’ (A Tale of Two Cites, page 181)

I think Madame Defarge is indirectly talking about the Revolution taking place. The way she was saying that it takes a long time to prepare an earthquake is longer than the earthquake itself made me think about how similar that is to a revolution. It takes years of disagreement and discord to start the idea of change, and then even longer for change to actually happen. This passage is important because it sets a feel for what the Revolution is like; there’s a lot of tension, anger, confusion, and frustration.

I think the comparison to the lightning and earthquakes was really smart. They take ages to build up, and, whether you’re ready or not, they strike! Natural forces have to come together to bring about physical change, much like a revolution takes preparation before any changes can happen. It gives a strong comparison, one that you can picture easily and makes a lot of sense.

Madame Defarge and her husband are almost debating about how timing affects everything. Madame Defarge obviously feels very strongly about her side; she uses really strong words like retribution and vengeance, ‘grinds to pieces’, ‘rage and discontent’, and there are descriptions of her, like her flashing eyes. She’s a passionate and bloodthirsty revolutionist, and it comes out clearly in this passage. It helps you get a feel for what she and other revolutionists are like.

What is going on between Madame and Monsieur Defarge mirrors what has to take place in society during a revolution, except on a smaller scale; there are clashes, debates, and expressed opinions. This passage really expresses that well. Madame Defarge’s points were very good, however fervently they were given, and they show exactly how a revolution works. A cultural revolution won’t happen overnight or with a single battle or event. It’s the result of many chains of events over a long period of time. She says that you need to be patient and believe that it will come.

I think this passage was very important to the flow of the book. Without it, it would have been very difficult to get the same feel for the angst and eagerness felt behind the revolutionists’ actions. It really helps portray how change, or the Revolution, takes time. Time is required and necessary in everything.