Indra Ismayudi Tanjung : A Comparison Between Miss Pross And Madame Defarge In Charles Dickens’ A Tale Of
Two Citie, 2010.
3. A COMPARISON BETWEEN MISS PROSS AND MADAME DEFARGE IN CHARLES DICKENS’ A TALE OF TWO CITIES
In this chapter, I analyze the characteristics of the two female characters
namely Miss Pross and Madame Defarge, in order to find out the similarity and the difference between these two female characters. I try to show that these women
have the similarity in term of their existence as women who step ahead of their time. Furthermore, I also analyze that these women also have their difference,
which is their existence as two characters who represent two different things in A Tale Of Two Cities: love and hate. This chapter is divided into two sub chapters.
The First sub chapter is about the similarity between Miss Pross and Madame Defarge as two women. Meanwhile, the second sub chapter is about the difference
between Miss Pross and Madame Defarge in A Tale of Two Cities.
3.1. The Similarity Between Miss Pross and Madame Defarge
In this novel, the two female characters namely Miss Pross and Madame
Defarge have their own unique characteristics. Miss Pross can be considered as the protagonist, meanwhile Madame Defarge can be viewed as the antagonist.
However, these two women have a kind of similarity. Miss Pross and Madame Defarge can be considered as women who step ahead of their time. In the novel,
Miss Pross is pictured as a woman whose manner and attitude are different compared with the common women at that time. She is also pictured as a woman
who has a spirit of a liberated woman, a kind of spirit which was not owned by the common women. Therefore, to view these two women in several aspects, just to
Indra Ismayudi Tanjung : A Comparison Between Miss Pross And Madame Defarge In Charles Dickens’ A Tale Of
Two Citie, 2010.
find out the similarity that exists in themselves, which are to be the women who step ahead of their time.
3.1.1. Miss Pross Who Steps Ahead of Her Time. In A Tale of Two Cities, Miss Pross can be considered to step ahead of her
time because of her manner, which are quite different from the common women. In 1992, Gorsky states that in the early period, the ideal of the Perfect Lady, the
genteel ornament of feminine innocence, gave way to the Perfect Woman, the polite confirmation of moral virtue, symbolic goddess of the very small universe
of the private home. However, Miss Pross manner is not really appropriate with the society point of view about what a woman should be. In A Tale of Two Cities,
Dickens portrays Miss Pross as a housekeeper who has a masculine manner and attitude. Even though most of the housekeepers are only considered as minor
characters in society and literature world, but they are usually pictured as a woman who has a gentle manner and attitude since they take care of home and
the family, and they have to deal with feeling in doing their duties. The different manner and attitude of Miss Pross can be seen in the following description:
A wild-looking woman , whom, even in his agitation, Mr. Lorry observed to be all of a red colour, and to have red hair,
and to be dressed in some extraordinary tight-fitting fashion, and to have on her head a most wonderful bonnet like a
Grenadier wooden measure, and good measure too, or a great Stilton cheese, came running into the room in advance of the
inn servants, and soon settled the question of his detachment from the poor young lady, by laying a brawny hand upon his
chest, and sending him flying back against the nearest wall. p. 22
Indra Ismayudi Tanjung : A Comparison Between Miss Pross And Madame Defarge In Charles Dickens’ A Tale Of
Two Citie, 2010.
The different manner of Miss Pross is also stated directly by Mr. Lorry, when Miss Pross lays her strong hand upon his chest and sends him back against
the nearest wall. The masculine manner of Miss Pross makes Mr. Lorry states:
“I really think this must be a man’ was Mr. Lorrys breathless reflection, simultaneously with his coming against
the wall” p. 22
Miss Pross as a new woman who steps ahead of her time because she seems to have a spirit of a liberated woman. According to the legal norms. Miss
Pross should realize her common existence in the society and therefore, obey the rule. She should be a good woman and consider her duty. A good woman
is a woman who is suitable with the traditional rule in the society. She has to be a submissive woman, who realizes her inferiority compared with man and then
acknowledges her best role as a wife and a mother. She has to be the master of her home only. A good woman should not decide what she is going to be and what
she is going to do, because her faith as an inferior person has decided her inferior role in the society. However, Miss Pross may understand that the traditional rule
is not always suitable for her. Her awareness seems to release her from the compulsiveness of traditional role. It seems that she is aware that she has her
own right to choose her own way to be a common woman, that a woman should face the difficulties in her life with her own strength. As a woman, she has her
own freedom of choice. In the novel, Miss Pross freedom is reflected in the way she lives and acts.
First, Miss Pross chooses to remain single and to earn money by herself. She also decides to devote herself to other people. It seems that Miss Pross is
Indra Ismayudi Tanjung : A Comparison Between Miss Pross And Madame Defarge In Charles Dickens’ A Tale Of
Two Citie, 2010.
aware, that her role as a woman can be achieved by being an independent woman who works as a servant. Since she is not married, she dares to work to earn money
for herself, although it is not common for the women at that time to work, since they depend on their husbands to earn the money for living. Even though she
becomes a servant, Miss Pross feels free to serve Lucie Manette as the one whom she loves very much, like what the next quotation states:
“I have lived with the darling-or the darling has lived with me, and paid me for it; which she certainly should never
have done,...” p. 76
In brief, her existence as a single woman, who is able to earn money for her own living. Miss Pross actually can be considered as a woman who steps
ahead of her time. Second, Miss Pross is also aware of her freedom in facing the difficulties,
which reveals her to be a loyal person. Miss Pross is aware of her own choice to defend the other persons life with her own strength. She feels free to have her
own choice, to face the problem with her own way. A perfect example of her characteristic as a liberated woman is performed when Miss Pross has to face
Madame Defarge who wants to kill Lucie Manette, just like what I quote here:
“and I was an English four poster, they shouldn’t loose a splinter of me. No, you wicked foreign woman; I am your
match.” p. 299
Miss Pross may be aware that she faces a cruel and strong woman, but she chooses to stay there and fight against Madame Defarge so Lucie Manette
can escape herself and her family. As the consequence. Miss Pross finally has to
Indra Ismayudi Tanjung : A Comparison Between Miss Pross And Madame Defarge In Charles Dickens’ A Tale Of
Two Citie, 2010.
lose her hearing in her battle against Madame Defarge. Miss Pross does not seem to care about herself. Once, she says these words to Madame Defarge :
“I know that the longer I keep you here, the greater hope there is for my Ladybird. Ill not leave a handful of that dark
hair upon your head, if you lay a finger on me” p. 299
The quotation may reflect her awareness in doing her action. It seems that Miss Pross feels that she has her own freedom and belief, that theres no other
thing that can stop her from her own decision, and it means. Miss Pross decides to keep on defending the person whom she loves, whatever the risk is.
3.1.2. Madame Defarge Who Steps Ahead of Time In A Tale of Two Cities, Madame Defarge is considered as a woman who
steps ahead of her time since she has a spirit as a liberated woman, a woman who is aware of the choices open to her. Madame Defarges spirit as a liberated
woman can be seen in some of her action and thought in her life. Madame Defarges hard childhood and the unfairness of her present life motivate her will
to have revenge. Therefore, it has leaded her to some thought that actually there are some choices in front of her to do anything she wants in having the revenge.
In this novel, it seems that Madame Defarge has realized that she has freedom to choose her own way in defending her family honour, which is by having the
revenge. Although she seems to be possessed by the hatred, Madame Defarge is still free in term of her decision, whether she will keep on having the revenge or
nol. Furthermore, she is free to decide that she will keep on having the revenge, no mailer how long it will take time. Madame Defarge never thinks to give up.
When the common women are considered to be submissive in every way they act
Indra Ismayudi Tanjung : A Comparison Between Miss Pross And Madame Defarge In Charles Dickens’ A Tale Of
Two Citie, 2010.
and think, it seems that Madame Defarge never gives up in her belief that somehow she has to get her achievement, something that she trusts. For her, she
has her own freedom to have her role as a woman who defends the honour of her family. When the common women seem to be dependent, Madame Defarge is
surely different from those women: She is independent. She does not seem to be afraid of what may happen to her, in the process of having the revenge. For her,
nothing can slop her freedom in defending the pride of her family. Once she states :
“Then tell the wind and fire where to stop,” returned madame; “but dont tell me.” p. 278
Beside her rude characterislics, Madame Defarge actually has already had her own faith and trust, a kind of achievement in her life: to defend the pride and
honour of her family. For Madame Defarge, neither time nor feelings of pity can quench her will. She is aware, that she has to be very patient, waiting for the right
time to have the revenge. For her, preparation is important although it takes a long time, and il is the only way to get the revenge. In her patience, she believes
that soon the time will come, and she can have her revenge satisfactorily. The following conversation between Madame Defarge and her husband may support
the explanation above :
“Well, then,” said Defarge, as if a thought were wrung out of his breast, “it is a long time.”
“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.
Indra Ismayudi Tanjung : A Comparison Between Miss Pross And Madame Defarge In Charles Dickens’ A Tale Of
Two Citie, 2010.
“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 supposed,” said Defarge.
“But when it is ready, it takes place, and grinds to pieces everything before it. In the meantime, it is always preparing,
though it is not seen or heard. That is your consolation. Keep it.” p. 144
Women can be in the same degree of choice that men have. The women may be submissive and truly gentle. However, it seems that Madame Defarge has
proved that woman has the same ability and chance with the men, that woman has her own freedom to have her right and choice in life, her own way to express
her will, just like this quotation states :
“ To me, women” cried madame his wife. “What We can kill as well as the men when the place is taken “ p. 174.
Madame Defarges thought may be reflected through the quotation. She can and will do anything to get her achievement: to do her revenge. Madame
Defarge thinks that although she is a woman, she is also aware of the chance that is offered to her in her life, that she is free to do what she wants to do with her
great ability, even though she is only a woman. Finally, Madame Defarges existence as a woman who seems to dominate
can reveal to her consideration as a woman who steps ahead of her time. In 1992, Gorsky states that the common knowledge said women lacked mens physical,
intellectual, and moral strength p. 27. Thats why the society believes that a woman depends on her husbands will, meanwhile the husbands will is supreme
Indra Ismayudi Tanjung : A Comparison Between Miss Pross And Madame Defarge In Charles Dickens’ A Tale Of
Two Citie, 2010.
and his words are absolute. However, I see Madame Defarge as a different woman. Besides her different appearance, she is also different in role and
position. Dickens seems to perform Madame Defarge as a dominant woman in A Tale of Two Cities, especially when she joins the revolution as the leader among
the marginal women, and when she acts as a housewife. In brief, her environment in the past and present has helped her to create
her as a woman who seems to dominate in society and in home, to be a strong woman who has a strong thought and faith in doing something. Her suffering in
her childhood and the unfairness in her present life in French have created her as a woman who is motivated to defend herself and her society in order to find a
better condition of living. The tragic death of her family has been the strongest motivation in having the revenge toward the Aristocracy. Because of her strong
motivation in defending the honour of her family and the marginal society, Madame Defarge is believed to lead the women, together with her husband in
having French Revolution. In the novel, she is believed to lead the women in having the revolution. Once, she stated :
“I go,” said madame, “with you at present. You shall see me at the head of women, by-and-by.” p. 174.
From the quotation, she has her own self-confidence in leading the women in the revolution. It is true that Monsieur Defarge, her husband, is a great
revolutionary, who becomes the center of the revolution. However, Madame Defarge becomes the real motivator and supporter of her husband and the
marginal society in having the revolution. Her dominant role does not seem to dominate everything absolutely, but without her, her husband may become
Indra Ismayudi Tanjung : A Comparison Between Miss Pross And Madame Defarge In Charles Dickens’ A Tale Of
Two Citie, 2010.
weaker, since he does not really believe that the revolution will be done successfully.
Even though Madame Defarge is a married woman, it seems that her role is showed more than her husband, even in their home. Madame Defarges
dominant role among the women in the revolution seems to influence some of her role as a housewife. Considering their superiority, men expect to work hard
and reap the benefits, and they expect women to remain inside the home. Woman who has suffered when she was a child, Madame Defarge has been motivated and
influenced to be a hard worker and an independent woman. It seems that she keeps on doing her job as a caring wife toward her husband, but she also
performs herself as a great woman who can do every duty by her own effort. The quotation below may show that Madame Defarge seems to dominale her
husbands job by being a dutiful wife :
They turned into the wine shop, which was closed for it was midnight and where Madame Defarge immediately look her
post at her desk, counted the small moneys that had been taken during her absence, examined the stock, went through
the entries in the book, made other entries of her own, checked the serving man in every possible way, and finally
dismissed him to bed. Then she turned out the contents of the bowl of money for the second time, and began knotting them
up in her handkerchief, in a chain of separate knots, for safe keeping through the night. All this while, Defarge, with his
pipe in his mouth, walked up and down, complacently admiring, but never interfering; p. 143
The quotation above can be a good example of Madame Defarges character as a dominant wife, where she seems to manage the business of the
wine shop, while her husband does not try to interfere her at all. Probably, her strong characteristics have motivated her in doing her duly directly. Because of
her great role, her husband. Monsieur Defarge, even admires her. Monsieur
Indra Ismayudi Tanjung : A Comparison Between Miss Pross And Madame Defarge In Charles Dickens’ A Tale Of
Two Citie, 2010.
Defarge seems to have a strong acknowledgement that his wife is not just a common woman, but a strong woman that even stronger than himself, as the
following quotation states:
Her husband smoked at his door, looking after her with admiration. “A great woman,” said he, “strong woman, a
grand woman, a frightfully grand woman p. 150
3.2. The Difference Between Miss Pross and Madame Defarge
