The influence of crowds in a tale of two cities

In a typical crowd there is a lot of commotion and panic, or so that there are enough people present so that you can't spot on individual. Also in the book the gathering of people changes from an audience which is organised to a crowd where anything could happen. Also in a crowd, both in the book and present day there is a ringleader who stirs up the crowd and also persuades them to do things that they might not have done earlier, this is also due to the number of people. In A Tale of two cities the ringleader is Madame Defarge. One of two voices are used to plant the seed or two around which may escalate into a crowd. In the book we are shown the that a crowd or mob can become unstoppable. The mobs at Darnay’s trial was said to be picking him apart with their eyes. There is also a different kind of crowd that we are introduced to in the book, this is a more light-hearted crowd, there for entertainment and to meet other people. These occur at public executions. The crowd feed off the action, they enjoy watching suffering and misery, "for, the crowd came pouring out with a vehemence that nearly took him off his legs, and a loud buzz swept into the street as if the baffled blue flies were dispersing in search of other carrion". This quite shows the strength of a crowd. In many cases in the book the crowds are like a parasite on others suffering, many of the crowds commit violence which means they become a mob.  

There is also a more light-hearted crowd, as we see outside the wine shop.  They all join together and dance, and sing songs.  At the Old Bailey we are told of the power of the crowd, ‘ all the human breath in the place, rolled at him, like a sea, or a wind, or a fire’ this shows that the crowd are unstoppable, like a sea or a wind which is hard for a human to stop. One member of the crowd calls something out and all of a sudden there is an uproar , the crowd is described as turbulent and there could have been no such revolution, if all laws, forms, and ceremonies, had not first been so monstrously abused, that the suicidal vengeance of the Revolution was to scatter them all to the winds. At the last point in the book where we see a mass of people, (at the execution) Dickens doesn’t mention much of the crowds. I think he does this because it is a very special moment and the noise of the crowds shouldn’t spoil it.

Overall I think that the crowds in a Tale of two Cities are quite influential in the outcome of many things such as they are the Revolution. At court cases they can also influence the judges decision as going against the crowd can result in your death, especially in the killing mood which they are in. in this novel the crowds show me that numbers can make a difference, and one voice as in Madame Defarge can motivate then to do things that they might not have wanted to do. No one wants to face the revolutionary mob who are not scared of anything, and wont stop until their objectives are achieved even if it means killing friends. In nearly event big event in the book there are crowds influencing the outcomes. Madame Defarge makes them become bloodthirsty and mercy less. She can influence them because they all believe in the same cause and she is a very powerful character who can persuade people to do what she wants. Without crowds, the novel wouldn’t be as lively, moving and too predictable. This book needs the influence of the crowd.