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How Does Dickens Use Alcohol In A Tale Of Two Cities

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In the novel Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, Dickens uses Carton's alcohol consumption as a way to show the reader that in order to be a selfless person, to do things that don’t benefit the reader. Dickens uses Carton's alcoholic addiction to show the readers that people with no direction need to find direction. Dickens then uses Carton's realization of not needing alcohol as a way to show readers that you should do anything for the people you love. Dickens uses Carton's decision to not drink brandy to show the readers the importance of realizing how to make yourself better for others. Dickens uses Carton's alcoholic addiction to show the readers that people with no direction need to find direction. An example of this can be seen when Carton had just finished arguing with himself in the mirror, drank an entire bottle of wine, and passed out on his couch. “He resorted to his pint of wine for consultation, drank it all in a few minutes, and fell asleep on his arms.” (Dickens 64). Dickens saying that he is drinking by the pint shows how he has no self respect for himself and is accepting the fact that he is allowing himself to pass out. He has no reason to be the man he wants to be because he knows that nobody has faith in him, and everyone knows him as a helpless man. …show more content…

This is seen right before Carton says that he will do anything for Lucie. “When wine had brought no transitory gladness to him” (114). This is showing that he doesn’t feel the same about alcohol and being drunk, and the sensation is not working anymore. He needs a new distraction, and that distraction is Lucie. This means that he is starting to give up alcohol for

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