Tale Of Two Cities Spies Analysis

Throughout the late eighteenth century, the world was full of secrets, codes and undercover information. In this time of the influential revolution in France, it was even more important to keep information quiet. The novel A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, first published in 1859 focuses specifically on the French Revolution in the late 1700s. This novel is mainly based on the lives of the Manette’s, those that interact with them, and the secrets of the past associated with each character. Through this novel, Dickens introduces the secret undertakings of the revolution and the spies that seek out all this information. Revolutionary spies being people stationed in France that secretly collect and report the plans or activities of the

The techniques spies use, the public views of spies and the fears and dangers associated with the role of being a spy, are all well presented throughout the novel.

The lives of spies in the late eighteenth century often revolved around the techniques they used to gain information. A technique spies use to avoid attracting suspicion is hiding among the common populace, this done through disguises. This technique is used in a chaos zone in Paris, being the grindstone. The double handled grindstone used to sharpen knives and swords destined for killing is turned by two men in “most barbarous disguise[s]. False eyebrows and false moustaches… stuck upon them” (Dickens 272). The disguises of these men keep them from being identified but also allow them to be in a crucial location for information and provide interaction with the people, without directly taking part in their cause. Likewise, the English spy John Barsad is found trying to utilize a similar technique on the Defarges. In hopes to determine whether the Defarges are known as revolutionaries or not, Barsad addresses Monsieur Defarge when they first encounter “by touching his hat and saying… ‘Good day Jacques’”

The spies of both Britain and France are aware of their position in society and the views and feelings cast upon them by the people. Barsad is described to know “as everyone employed as he was, did, that he was never safe; that flight was impossible” (312) and that the danger of threats was always awaiting him. The idea that this form of work is dangerous insights that spies would find themselves constantly living in fear and in worry that one wrong move could lead to their death. At the same time, a strong sense of fear is represented when Miss. Pross unexpectedly reunites with her devotedly loved brother Solomon, more commonly known as John Barsad. With her immediate addressing of him as Solomon, he stays calm but informs her, “ don’t call me Solomon. Do you want to be the death of me?” While saying this “in a furtive and frightened way” (307). Barsad being identified by his sister in public proposes itself as a very dangerous situation for him and could easily get him into trouble or even killed if he is discovered. By the end of the novel, Barsad falls into a dreadful spot of being found out by Sydney Carton and is undoubtedly being blackmailed by him for his services. Throughout providing service to Carton, which happened to be the switching of Carton and Charles in prison, Barsad begs