Positive Change In Charles Dickens's A Tale Of Two Cities

In the story it is clear that the peasants had valid motives to kill and be angry, but some nobles were unjustly persecuted. Dickens uses character foils, flashbacks, and the theme of suffering throughout the book to create an even balance of portraying both sides of the revolution as victims. This allows readers to sympathize with both sides of the revolution in the story, but also in the historical event. This book allows readers to see into the lives of characters who very likely could have been real people during the French Revolution, and that that there truly are two sides to every

2. Why did Dr. Manette give his name as "One Hundred and Five, North Tower" (p. 44)?

Authors have often uses natural phenomena to comment on what is happening among the characters. Dickens wrote a book called, “A Tale of Two Cities” which was about the French Revolution and how life was like in the 1800’s. Natural phenomena are things from nature that Dickens uses for the characters in the book, for example, animals, the weather, flowers, and anything that occurs in nature that will fit what is happening among the characters, and the book. He also uses symbols, themes, he creates the atmosphere in the beginning of the book, and an outlook of what is about to happen in the book. We’re about to look at the different types of natural phenomena that Dickens uses in his book. On Chapter 5, Dickens uses an example of natural phenomena, which was when during the summer thunderstorm at the Manettes’ house in Soho. Dickens’s use of nature to mirror human emotions is effective.

The novel, A Tale of Two Cities, was written by Charles Dickens and was published in 1859. A Tale of Two Cities is a historical fiction based during the French Revolution. As two groups of people who both live in London and Paris find themselves in a situation that affects all of them, which ends with some deaths and suffering. Charles Dickens purpose for writing A Tale of Two Cities was to inform and amplify the readers mind on human nature. Throughout the book Charles Dickens uses many themes and characteristics, that bring out human nature in all his characters, to broaden the view of the readers.

Humanity is inherently flawed. Charles Dickens illustrates this in his novel A Tale of Two Cities as he writes about the lives of the Manettes and the people they draw around them. In this novel, Dickens uses Sydney Carton, a main character in the novel and the lover of Lucie Manette, to reveal his thoughts about the inherent nature of humanity. The characteristics of humanity change and mutate with the experiences of each person and the workings of their own mind, as illustrated by Mr. Stryver’s inhumane and thoughtless treatment of Sydney, the first time Sydney saves Charles Darnay’s life, and Sydney’s love for Lucie Manette.

It is said that; “The greatest sacrifice is when you sacrifice your own happiness for the sake of someone else” (Unknown). In Charles Dickens’s A Tale of Two Cities, Sydney Carton sacrifices his life for Charles Darnay, the husband of the woman he loves, Lucie Manette. He loves her so tenderly that he is willing to give his life for her happiness. Sydney Carton describes his existence as a waste of life, where he encourages himself to not take action or help someone. Instead of helping others, he would rather be drunk. He is not married. However, then he meets Dr. Manette’s daughter, Lucie Manette, and he falls for her. However, she doesn’t love him. Sydney Carton is tired from his wasted life, so he goes to Lucie Manette to tell her about a promise, where he is ready to give up his life for her love.Sydney Carton overhears Madame Defarge about some plan, where she is going to accuse Lucie’s family and then they will die and she can take her revenge. The redemption of Sydney Carton, in A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, shows that character is given another opportunity to show the better of themselves when they redeem themselves. Dicken’s attitude toward redemption says that one can benefit

Manette as an example of how one can evolve from being completely broken to then facing their place of torment. His story is revealed when he divulges the devastations of the Bastille with Lucie, recalling how all he did was think about the child who he never got the chance to see. One night during his captivity, while looking at the same moon which he refers to, he says “I have looked at her when it has been such torture to me to think of her shining upon what I had lost,” (190). The moon which the doctor speaks of is a constant reminder of all the time that has passed while he is stuck in prison; all the time he could of had with his child, but has been wasted. The symbolism of the moon depicts the depressed state Manette is in; the novelist, Shusterman would even describe Manette’s life as being in a phase of“darkness.”

In A Tale of Two Cities, Dickens uses the concept of direct opposites to contrast pairs of object and people several times. One significant instance of this can be seen within Dickens’ use of the time skip from the years before and then during the revolution. Before the start of the revolution, Paris, overall is a regulated city with laws still present. The peasants of the city at this point are profoundly oppressed and regarded as the lowest members of society. While the aristocrats are given the ability to enjoy luxurious lifestyles and control the the lives of the peasants at their own whim. This can be seen through the Marquis’ heartless response to his vassals, “I would ride over any of you very willingly, and exterminate you from the

The motherly Miss Pross and pragmatic Mr. Lorry are loyal servants who sacrifice their time and safety for the Manette family. Mr. Jarvis Lorry is the man of business, but behind his stoic facade he is a very feeling, loving man. In the beginning of the novel, Lorry travels from Tellson’s Bank in England to France in order to resurrect Dr. Manette from his eighteen year “burial.” On his way, Mr. Lorry stops at the Royal George Hotel to consult Dr. Manette’s daughter, Lucie. Ultimately, Mr. Lorry reunites Dr. Manette with Lucie who is “the golden thread that united him to a Past beyond his misery” (Dickens 60).

In A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, it uses duality throughout the story. Duality often refers to having two parts and is usually used with opposite meanings. Charles Dickens wanted us to know about duality by the very first paragraph of his novel. One of the dualities has to deal with the two cities of the title, London, England and Paris, France. Also, some of the dualities show us opposite parallels dealing with two or more people. The two emotions love and hate also have something to do with the theme. I think the use of the doubles is significant

In the sociopolitical novel, A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens analyzes the events of one of the bloodiest revolutions in history, the French Revolution, characterized by its violence after no less than 40,000 people were sentenced to death. The violence of the revolution put irreversible change into motion, helping to bring greater equality between French citizens as a result of the upheaval, and causing political changes that affected millions. Through his changing tone, Dickens conveys that rebellion is necessary to amend the ever-growing divide between the social classes, but the mindless nature of the violence, as a result of mob mentality, is excessive, and blood is unnecessarily spilled.

In A Tale of Two Cities Charles Dickens uses foreshadowing to keep the reader hooked on the story. Dickens uses foreshadowing multiple times throughout the book and if the reader pays close attention they may be able to predict main plot points in the book. Dickens uses foreshadowing to give hints about important plot points that are to come in the novel and keep the reader in suspense.

While the Victorian people called for romantic intrigue and petty drama in the literature of their time, Dickens’ added complexity to his novels not to satisfy the frivolous needs of Victorians but to further the theme of irony in his novel. In A Tale of Two Cities, irony is an ever-present theme and is woven into the plot seamlessly by author Charles Dickens. Coincidence is a complementary theme to irony in this novel. Dickens’ constant implementation of situations of coincidence and chance leads to a greater sense of irony throughout this book. Dickens adds complexity to the plot and further enforces the theme of irony in the novel through circumstances of coincidence, including the indictments of Charles Darnay, the life and associates of Dr. Manette, and Madame Defarge’s need for and path to revenge.

Although the “rebirth” does not take place right then Lucie’s love for her father is never doubted for even a second. In chapter six, when she sees her father for the very first time Lucie says to him, “…that your agony is over...I have come here to take you from it...” (49), this marks the beginning of the doctor’s rebirth. Through this statement Dickens has Lucie promising that she will do anything for her father out of pure love. As the Manette’s travel back to England, in time it becomes clear that Lucie’s love towards her father is beginning to have an impact on his behavior. In chapter five, of the second book Dr. Manette is able to carry on a complete conversation, which shows the readers that he is regaining his sanity. Later on in chapter seven of the third book, Dickens reminds his readers again of how far Dr.Manette has come since that first day in the Defarge’s attic, “No garret, no shoemaking, no One Hundred and Five, North Tower, now! He had accomplished the task he had set himself…" (285-6). It is at this moment that the reader knows he has been resorted back to his old self before he was in prison. Throughout all the hardship and pain the doctor has to endure, his daughter Lucie never leaves his side.

Sacrifice, even when it comes to one’s ultimate end, is crucial in order to survive as a productive race. In the book Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, he illustrates the hardships of the early-nineteenth-century lifestyles. With the resurrection of an evicted man, the novel sprouts from a broken family recovering and growing. This novel incorporates many grand gestures and adventures, such as the French Revolution, treason trials, and the sacrifice of one’s own life in the name of love.