A Tale of Two Cities The novel “A Tale of Two Cities” presented the rising conflict between the classes in France. Charles Dickens was able to incorporate many motifs during the story, one of the main ones being doubles. The motif allowed Dickens to tell the story from the aristocracy perspective and the people’s perspective by constantly going back in forth between England and France. Throughout the novel, Dickens described both the obscene excesses of the aristocracy and the people during the revolution.
In the novel “A Tale of Two Cities” written by Charles Dickens, we find that several characters have strong ideals and are driven to take the path that they do. Dickens gives credible motivation to each of his characters to explain why the characters are doing the thing that they are. Two characters with exceptionally strong drive throughout the story are Miss Pross and Madame Defarge. Miss Pross is a symbol of love in the story and we find that all of her love and dedication is driven by Lucie. On the contrary, Madame Defarge is a symbol of hate and that is derived from the horrendous things that the Evrémonde brothers had committed to her family.
Works Cited Dickens, Charles. A Tale of Two Cities. Barnes and Noble Classics, Introduction and Notes by Gillen D’Arcy Wood. Charles Dickens. “EFFECTS OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION ON FRANCE.”
“‘As a wife and mother,’ cried Lucie, most earnestly, ‘I implore you to have pity on me and not to exercise any power that you possess, against my innocent husband, but do use it in his behalf. O sister-woman, think of me as a wife and a mother!’ Madame Defarge looked, coldly as ever, at the suppliant, and said, turning to her friend The Vengeance: ‘The wives and mothers we have been used to see, since we were as little as this child, and much less, have not been greatly considered? We have known their husbands and fathers laid in prison and kept from them, often enough? All of our lives, we have seen our sister-women suffer, in themselves and in their children, poverty, nakedness, hunger, thirst, sickness, misery, oppression, and neglect of all kinds?”
Dickens expresses an attitude of pity towards the peasantry of France, and is derisive towards the aristocracy. He conveys his feelings through repetition, tone, and syntax in the passage. These devices are used to foreshadow the animosity and anger of the oncoming revolution. Firstly, Dickens uses repetition to emphasize the living state of the common people in France.
A Tale of Two Cities, written by Charles Dickens, surrounds the cities of Paris and London during the late 1700’s. The novel takes place during the French Revolution, a period of social and political upheaval in France and England. While peasants died in the streets from hunger, aristocrats had more money and power than they knew what to do with. A Tale of Two Cities describes, in detail, the poverty of the time period, as well as the struggle of a people able to overcome oppression. The novel is largely based off of occurrences Dickens experienced during his childhood.
Book II, Chapter 11: A Companion Picture, picks up later that same night with Carton and Stryver working on some papers inside of Stryver’s council. While they were working they were talking and drinking wine casually. Stryver, in an arrogant manner announces that he intends to marry Lucie. Carton ignores Stryver’s words doing his best not to let them get to him.
Once he married his wife, Lucie, and joined the Mannette family, he quickly found a joyful, fulfilling life in London. He soon became the father to a little girl who brought light into the quiet home. “Ever busily the winding golden thread that bound them all together, weaving the service of her happy influence through the tissue of all their lives…Lucie heard in the echoes of years none but friendly and soothing sounds. Her husband’s step was strong and prosperous among them; her father’s firm and equal.” (Dickens, p.162) Disturbingly, about the same time in France, the Revolution was mounting like a tight capsule about to burst.
“A Tale of Two Cities”, a famous historical fiction novel written by renowned English author Charles Dickens brings the reader to the late seventeen hundreds, taking place between the cities of London and Paris. Along the course of the story Dickens uses elements of literature and motifs to grasp the reader and emphasize situations. Dickens’ use of motifs help highlight character qualities, and establish the mood or setting of the story. His use of water throughout the story aids the reader in understanding and seeing where there is change or intense feelings. Water symbolizes change, rebirth, or can foreshadow future events.
Throughout A Tale of Two Cities, Dickens utilized his expressive descriptions of the mobs of Britain and France to create distinct similarities and differences between the two countries. One major similarity of the two mobs is their desire for revenge. In England, the mob is driven to revenge after they find out that in the hearse was a spy against the crown. Instead of mourning the death, they instead use it to act against traitors of the country: “The crowd approached; they were bawling and hissing round a dingy hearse and dingy mourning coach, in which mourning coach there was only one mourner, dressed in the dingy trappings that were considered essential to the dignity of the position” (Dickens 14). This quote shows that the crowd was not there to grieve for the lost, but instead to take action for what the deceased had done before.
In The Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, the French Revolution is painted in contrasting shades of light and dark. Light represents the good in characters and the overall setting, while darkness is used to convey the increasing malice in France during the French revolution. As the novel continues, the darker elements of the book begin to show themselves in the main protagonists. The French revolution brings about “circumstantial darkness”, affecting the mentalities and behaviors of the participating characters to take drastic measures to protect themselves and the ones they love. The revolution affects Dr. Manette, Madame Defarge and Carton’s psyche, highlighting their inner “darkness”.
Have you ever had a moment, an instance in time where you really wished for a do over? Throughout A Tale of Two Cities, various of Charles Dicken’s characters are “recalled to life.” Recalled to life is known in today’s time, a second chance. Charles Darnley is a prime example of this “life do over” theme. Charlie’s Darnays uncle Marquis Evrémonde is a French aristocrat who embodies an inhumanly cruel caste system.
Share. Dr. Jeremy Sherman from Psychology Today explains that revealing secrets is the fundamental law for all relationships; failing to communicate creates division and strife. The concept of the revelation of secrets applies to A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. Often, secrets hold a negative connotation that cloud the positive aspects they can bring. Whether Dr. Manette’s letter from Court, Darnay’s letter before his journey to France, or Carton’s profession of love to Lucie, the revelation brings greater love, compassion, and understanding.
Therefore, Dickens uses a critical tone towards the aristocrats in the story, such as the Monseigneur and Monsieur the Marquis . In A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens uses tone to be critical over the aristocrats in the book. One aristocrat that Charles
Written during the difficult times of the French Revolution, A Tale of Two Cities written by Charles Dickens describes the reality of this time period. Through the development of characters, satirical tone, and a disheartening outcome, Dickens truly connects with the Victorian audience and helps them understand why change must occur in their society. Monseigneur The Marquis represents the french extravagant and hypocritical lifestyles of the french aristocracy. Although his life is supposed to be lived without excessive pleasures due to his position as a holy man, Monseigneur “had the truly noble idea that the world was made for them” while staying “in his grand hotel in Paris”
