Final answer:
Madame Defarge from 'A Tale of Two Cities' is always engaged in knitting, which serves as a symbolic activity to mark enemies of the Revolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the character Madame Defarge from A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. Madame Defarge is constantly engaged in knitting. However, it is important to note that her knitting is symbolic, as she encodes the names of the enemies of the Revolution into her patterns so that they are marked for death when the time comes. This activity is seemingly benign but actually holds significant political power and implications for those whose names are included in her registry of revenges.