Symbols in A Tale of Two Cities
Wine The wine shop of Madame Defarge and Monsieur Defarge symbolizes the center of revolutionary planning. In the novel, wine represents the potent force of the French Revolution. The revolutionaries, intoxicated with power, transform from freedom fighters into wild beasts on the streets, committing murders. The deep red color of the wine mirrors the red hue of blood, symbolizing the violence and bloodshed of the Revolution. Just as spilled wine covers the streets when the sailor fails to transport it properly, blood stains the streets after the Revolution. Golden Thread and Knitting The characters Lucie Manette and Madame Defarge are associated with the Fates, mythological goddesses controlling "threads" of destiny. Lucie is referred to as the "golden thread," symbolizing her role in connecting people and creating bonds. In contrast, Madame Defarge, constantly "knitting" in the novel, uses her knitting to symbolize separation, recording names in a mental re…