Since the beginning of civilization, social hierarchy has shaped the formation and development of society. Whether it is the power of a single monarch or that of a democratic council of officials, authority always induces change both in the lives of those under the government and also in the lives of those in power. Charles Dickens' timeless novel A Tale of Two Cities follows the conspiracies buried in the heart of the French Revolution, between Paris and London. Centering on the cast of the Manettes, the Evremondes, and those touched by the gentle hand of the former or the evil hand of the latter, the classic tale is a tale of undeniable love and sacrifice in the midst of a raging revolution. Although Dickens dramatized government corruption and power-hungry nobles as the cause of immense social upheaval, the Marquis, Madame Defarge, and Charles Darnay also fell to the wrath of power and its consequences. As illustrated in A Tale of Two Cities, the idea that even the most upright individuals are tainted and warped by authority prevails as a horrible, yet realistic, truth. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay First, the Marquis's characterization and actions serve as a classic example of how power corrupts one's moral identity. In “Monsignor in the City,” the Marquis Evremonde storms away from Monsignor's reception, only to see his speeding carriage hit a child on the road. In response to his crime, the Marquis coldly blamed his father, exclaiming: “It is extraordinary to me that you cannot take care of yourselves and your children... How do I know what damage you have done to my horses?... . I would gladly trample any of you down and exterminate you from the earth” (Dickens 111-12). This quote demonstrates the haughty and callous manner of the Marquis, who prioritizes the safety of his horses over the life of an innocent child. Born into the noble family of Evremonde, he lacked compassion for the peasants as he thought they could simply abandon a life of poverty for a better life. For a man with considerable influence, the Marquis certainly did not value the lives of the lower classes. The Marquis Evremonde therefore represents the French aristocracy and its unanimous contempt for the citizens. Furthermore, as revealed in Doctor Manette's secret letter, the Marquis and his brother took advantage of their aristocratic power to hide Doctor Manette after he learned of the heinous crimes committed against a peasant woman and her brother. After intercepting Manette's letter to the minister, "the two brothers...identified him with a single gesture...and [he] was taken to [his] living grave," at the Bastille where he would be unjustly imprisoned for 18 years (Dickens 329 ). Therefore, the Evremondes used their status and heritage to commit atrocities such as these, which would later dictate the law to the infamous Evremonde family. The French peasants feared the nobility for their recklessness regarding the authority they were privileged to hold. Overall, the Marquis embodies the French elite class in A Tale of Two Cities in their corruption of power and the resulting injustices they commit on the lower classes. While Dickens credits the upper class as the primary abusers of power, Madame Defarge's actions also distinguish her as someone overwhelmed by the temptations of authoritarian control. Willful and bloodthirsty for the fall of the Evremonde, revenge fueled Madame Defarge's mission to end the nobility with aguillotine shot. Being the younger sister of the peasant girl and boy killed by the Marquis, Defarge vowed to avenge them by putting an end to the Evremonde line. However, her anger consumed her when Madame Defarge targeted those who had any connection with the Evremondes, including Lucie Manette and her daughter, as she “cared nothing that [Darnay's] wife should become a widow and his daughter an orphan; that was insufficient punishment, for they were his natural enemies and his prey, and as such had no right to live” (Dickens 359). Thus, as leader of the French Revolution of Saint Anthony, this influence in deciding who lives and who dies (or rather, whose name is and who is not) has committed her to superseding any morality of her conscience. He would have had satisfaction only in killing all of the Marquis's descendants, regardless of their connection to the crime against his sister. Carrying the blood of the Evremonde family and marrying an Evremonde was enough for Madame Defarge to mark them. When Lucie implored Madame Defarge to side with Darnay, she bluntly rejected her request, arguing: "The wives and mothers we are accustomed to see...have they not been highly regarded?...All our lives, we have seen our sister - do women suffer, in themselves and in their children, poverty, nakedness, hunger, thirst, disease, misery, oppression and abandonment of every kind?" (Dickens 267). Ironically, Madame Defarge failed to reflect on her actions which can be compared to the horrible injustices of the Marquis himself , thus tearing families apart and destroying the lives of many. Ultimately, despite Madame Defarge's firm stance against the nobility, her control of the Revolution corrupted her just as it did the Marquis. Starting from the incidents with the Marquis and Madame Defarge, the concept of the insidious nature of authority applies even to those who do not abuse their sovereignty, as in the case of Charles Darnay Born Evremonde, but by renouncing his title and his association with the infamous Evremonde family, the family's reputation preceded. Charles Darnay and consequently led to much suffering during his life. While Dickens emphasized how his ancestors polluted the simple life he tried to live, “Drawn to the Loadstone Rock” describes Darnay's reflection on the potential results of returning to Paris: “He knew very well that, in his horror at the act culminated the bad deeds and the bad reputation of the old family home… He knew very well, that in his love for Lucie, the renunciation of his social place, although not new to his mind, had been hasty and incomplete” (Dickens 238). This quote shows that Darnay could not escape his family's history, even when it threatened the lives of his wife and daughter. Furthermore, this ties in with Shelley's statement; despite his divergence from the Evremonde lineage, atrocities related to the family he was born into still haunted him, and this was a direct result of the powerful position in society that Darnay had inherited. Another example is when Monsieur Defarge denied Darnay his rights, ignoring their mutual relationship with Doctor Manette and Lucie. The two argued about the reasons for Darnay's coming to Paris: “'I came here voluntarily, in response to that written appeal... Isn't that my right?'...'Other people have been similarly buried in worse prisons , first Hour.' "But never from me, Citizen Defarge." «I won't do anything for you. My duty is to my country and the people. I am the sworn servant of both of you'” (Dickens 251). As shown in this quote, Defarge judged Darnay by Evremonde's title rather than by,.