The Evolution of Evil: Circumstance and Choice in A Tale of Two Cities

Prompt: Based on Dickens’s portrayals of the villainous characters in his novel (particularly Madame Defarge), what conclusions might the reader draw about the author’s notions of human evil? Does he seem to think that people are born evil? If so, do they lack the ability to change? Or does he suggest that circumstances drive human beings to their acts of cruelty?

In "A Tale of Two Cities," Charles Dickens explores the nature of human evil through a lens that is both nuanced and deeply psychological. Through his portrayal of characters, particularly Madame Defarge, Dickens suggests that evil emerges not from innate human nature, but from a complex interplay of circumstance and choice. While traumatic experiences and social injustice can plant the seeds of iniquity, the author emphasizes that individuals retain control over how they respond to their circumstances.

The origins of evil in Dickens's novel are firmly rooted in circumstance and trauma. This is most powerfully illustrated through Madame Defarge's backstory, revealed through her brother-in-law's deathbed account: "One of them was to my sister. This property and France are lost to me. I renounce them." This gauntly revelation of the Evrémonde brothers' crimes against her family establishes the foundation for her transformation into one of the novel's most formidable antagonists. Dickens also portrays how systemic oppression creates conditions opportune for violence. When wine spills in the street, he describes how "those who had been greedy with the staves of the cask, had acquired a tigerish smear about the mouth," symbolically foreshadowing how desperation transforms into bloodthirst.

Dickens portrays evil not as an immediate response to trauma but as a gradual process of corruption. Madame Defarge's methodical knitting becomes a powerful symbol of this transformation, as "Madame Defarge's frequent expressions of sympathy with the poor and oppressed, were observed to be of a peculiar kind... the women who had seen the making of a shroud, made the shroud." Her initial justified anger evolves into a calculated campaign of vengeance as she declares, "Vengeance and retribution require a long time; it is the rule." Her patient cultivation of hatred suggests that evil is not innate but cultivated over time.

Dickens emphasizes that individuals retain moral choice even in the face of overwhelming circumstances. This is demonstrated through the contrasting character arcs of Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton. Charles actively chooses to reject his corrupt heritage by declaring, "I have seen enough of the misery and wrong that it causes, to be wary of it... I renounce the station I inherit." Sydney’s transformation from evil to decent culminates in his famous declaration: "It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known." These characters prove that circumstances alone do not determine moral outcomes by highlighting their traumas and their moral character in response to it over time. In stark contrast, Madame Defarge's repeated assertion to "Tell the Wind and Fire where to stop, but don't tell me" reveals her conscious choice to pursue vengeance beyond any reasonable bounds of justice.

The novel's portrayal of communal violence further reinforces this interplay between circumstance and choice. Dickens observes that "Every living creature in the common execution—dogs and all—were stabbed in the moral part," suggesting that while violence can corrupt entire communities, this corruption spreads through individual choices that collectively create a cycle of vengeance.

In conclusion, Dickens presents evil not as an innate human quality but as a complex process shaped by both circumstance and choice. While trauma and injustice can create conditions conducive to evil, his characters demonstrate that individuals retain the capacity to choose their response to these circumstances. Through Madame Defarge's tragic arc and the contrasting examples of characters who choose different paths, Dickens suggests that while we may not control our circumstances, we remain responsible for our moral choices.

Photo taken from Goodreads.com