The Flow Of Water In A Tale Of Two Cities

Eben Malcolm

Mr. Myatt

Honors English 9

18 May 2023

The Flow of Water, and the Change it Represents Water, a fundamental of life, and a sign of life again. Used often in literature, especially in A Tale of Two Cities, a fiction novel by Charles Dickens. The novel takes place during the late 18th century in France in the heart of the revolution, contrasting Paris and London, but also displaying the rebirth of the French revolution. Dickens uses water to represent this change and rebirth, a reference originating in the Christian tradition of baptism. In the novel, water is used to symbolically represent change, particularly when Charles’s life changes as he crosses the channel over to France, the flow of a fountain before the revolution, and

After receiving Gabelle’s letter, Charles heads back to France in an attempt to save him, and he starts his journey by crossing a body of water, the same one he crossed when he originally was reborn as Charles Darnay. In the novel, Dickens writes; “..as he left all that was dear on earth behind him, and floated away on the Loadstone rock” (pg 223 Ln 33). In this quote, Dickens displays that Charles' whole life changed, and it all happened when he crossed a body of water, a reference to two things. Firstly, it references his original rebirth when he crossed the body of water and changed to Charles Darnay. Secondly, it uses the presence of water to represent change, as he is surrounded by water during the

Manette’s rebirth and the cause of his long imprisonment in the Bastille. At the start of the chapter, the reader is introduced to a calming scene, Dr. Manette during a winter evening, taking a walk on the water, when suddenly a carriage rapidly approaches, the carriage that will lead to his eventual imprisonment. From the novel; “... I was walking on a retired part of the quay, by the seine … when a carriage came along behind me, driven very fast.” (pg 292 ln 21). This quote is another connection of water to rebirth, as this is the spark to the story of how Dr. Manette is reborn as 105 North Tower. This is also an example of change, as this is the ultimate change in the life of the peasant family, and in the Manette