The+Knitting+Done

In the chapter entitles The Knitting Done, Dickens discusses the ominous council held by Madame Defarge. This makes the reader wonder why she is speaking with The Vengeance and Jacques Three of the Revolutionary Jury. Dickens writes as a storyteller because never speaks of the feelings of any characters. All that he states can be observed by a viewer. However, he makes the writing more interesting by letting the story unfold before the reader’s eyes rather than tell them from the beginning what will occur throughout the chapter. Madame Defarge becomes vindictive and scheming when she attempts to catch Lucie mourning the death of a prisoner and have her punished. She speaks to a wood-sawyer and says, “Touching those signals, little citizen,… that she made to the prisoners; you are ready to bear witness to them this very day?" The small area of the apartment in which part of this chapter takes place adds a sense of urgency when Dickens writes, “It flashed upon Miss Pross's mind that the doors were all standing open, and would suggest the flight. Her first act was to shut them. There were four in the room, and she shut them all. She then placed herself before the door of the chamber which Lucie had occupied.” Madame Defarge tries to catch Lucie in the act of mourning, but instead speaks with Miss Pross. Madame Defarge pulls out a gun and struggles with Miss Pross and is then shot. Dickens writes, “Haunted by her feverish apprehensions, she could not bear to have her sight obscured for a minute at a time by the dripping water, but constantly paused and looked round to see that there was no one watching her.” This creates a feeling of apprehension on the part of Miss Pross. In this chapter Madame Defarge attempts to inhibit Lucie’s mourning. By today’s standards, mourning is a personal right. When Madame Defarge is shot by Miss Pross it symbolizes the replacement of previous customs of France with the idea of inalienable rights.