# Knitting explained — A Tale of Two Cities

> Chapter companion for A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.

## What happens

In Saint Antoine, early morning drinking at Defarge's wine-shop signals a growing revolutionary fervor. Monsieur Defarge returns with a mender of roads, who is brought to a secret garret meeting where three Jacques discuss the register of those doomed to destruction. The mender of roads is taken to Versailles, where Madame Defarge knits ominously, declaring she makes 'shrouds.' The chapter underscores the hidden plotting and the symbolic knitting of names into a death register.

## Themes in this chapter

### Social Injustice and Revolution

The wine-shop gatherings, the secret register, and Madame Defarge's knitting of shrouds embody the revolutionary anger and the systematic condemnation of the aristocracy.

### Vengeance vs. Justice

The Defarges and the Jacques plan 'extermination' of the Evrémonde race, blurring the line between righteous justice and vengeful destruction.

### Duality and Opposites

The mender of roads' temporary adoration of the King and Queen contrasts with the revolutionary hatred, highlighting the dual nature of the crowd's sentiment.

## Character check-ins

### Madame Defarge

Presides over the wine-shop, knits the register of the doomed, and accompanies the mender of roads to Versailles, knitting shrouds.

### Monsieur Defarge

Returns with the mender of roads, leads him to the secret garret meeting, and confirms the registration of the Evrémonde château and race for extermination.

### Jacques

Three Jacques (Jacques One, Two, and Three) meet in the garret to discuss and approve the register of the doomed.

### Gaspard

The mender of roads (referred to as 'the mender of roads' and 'the poor Gaspard' in the text) is brought to Paris, witnesses the royal procession, and is used by the Defarges to deceive the aristocracy.

## Key lines

> For instance, returned Madame Defarge, composedly, 'shrouds.'

Madame Defarge calmly tells a curious onlooker that she is knitting burial shrouds.

_This chilling reply reveals the deadly purpose behind her knitting, symbolizing the fate awaiting the aristocracy._

> The château and all the race, returned Defarge. Extermination.

Defarge confirms that the entire Evrémonde family and their estate are marked for total destruction.

_This declaration in the garret meeting seals the fate of the aristocratic line, showing the revolutionaries' intent for complete annihilation._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/xv-knitting
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters