Examples Of Duality In A Tale Of Two Cities

Throughout A Tale of Two Cities, Dickens incorporates duality through the comparison of London and Paris and through the development of characters from these cities which strengthens the work as a whole. The initial instances of duality can be seen in the very first paragraph of the novel when Dickens describes the ruling parties in the two countries. Through this comparison it can be inferred that although there are differences between the cities, there is homogeneity between them as well. “There were a king with a large jaw, and a queen with a plain face, on the throne of England; there were a king with a large jaw, and a queen with a fair face, on the throne of England,” (Dickens 13). The idiom used to describe the two kings exemplifies

Primarily, Lucie can be described as passionate because when she was about 18 years old, she pledged to care for her deranged father who she had no idea was still alive. “‘ I am going to see his ghost! It will be his ghost -- not him!’” (Dickens 34). By having Lucie think that she is going to see the ghost of her father, Dickens illustrates the separation between the two which reveals the purity of her love and compassion. Through Lucie sacrificing much of her life to nurse her father back to ordinary, Lucie’s compassion is stressed. Moreover, Lucie can further be described as angelic through her appearance. Obviously, it can be inferred through the quotation, “The young lady, to whom all eyes had been turned before, and were now returned again, stood up where she had sat.” (Dickens 78) that Lucie is very pretty. Additionally multiple times throughout the novel, Dickens describes Lucie as having “golden” hair. Through this description of Lucie it can be surmised that her appearance matches that of an angel. All in all, Lucie can be characterized as an “angel” for her sacrifices and compassion which supports the idea that London represents love. Conversely, Madame Defarge is generally described as the opposite of Lucie which demonstrates that Paris represents hate. Madame Defarge herself can be characterized as a devil for her omnipresent violent and bloodthirsty actions. “She put her foot upon his neck, and with her cruel knife--long ready--hewed off his head.” (Dickens 218). Madame Defarge truly is ruthless and will stop at nothing to bring the french government down which she attempts to do through numerous and unnecessary violent actions that is described in the quotation. Also, generally speaking, most of the French citizens who participated in the revolution often too committed these violent actions which