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What Does Shadows Symbolize In A Tale Of Two Cities

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The opening of A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens refers to the time period as “the season of Darkness”. Darkness and shadows are scattered throughout the novel, adding to the overall eeriness. Each character and situation is accompanied by gloom, death, and darkness. Dickens’ use of imagery throughout the novel gives the reader a clear depiction of the scene along with the ominous backgrounds. Charles Dickens utilized the motif of shadows to reflect the darkness of the history and concealment of the truth. First, Charles Dickens applied the motif of shadows to reflect the dark events of history. A Tale of Two Cities is set during the time of the French Revolution. Although the revolution’s intention was for freedom, many innocent people were brutally accused and murdered. For example, Charles Evrémonde, called Darnay, was sentenced to death because of …show more content…

Lorry unveils to Lucie that her father, perceived to be dead for eighteen years, has been alive in “a large, dark room, furnished in a funereal manner with black horsehair, and loaded with heavy dark tables… the two tall candles on the table in the middle of the room were gloomily reflected on every leaf” (Dickens 19). Later, young Jerry discovers his father, Mr. Cruncher’s, true occupation, a Resurrection man, by following him to a graveyard late in the dark night. Following this, during Darnay’s trial, it is revealed that Doctor Manette was called on to try to treat the two peasants that the Evrémonde brothers had abused. The brothers had Manette jailed, merely to conceal any report of their crimes. The chapter in which these secrets are uncovered is entitled “The Substance of the Shadow.” In a following chapter, “Darkness”, the sinister Madame Defarge declares her desire for revenge on Charles Darnay and his family, since it is revealed that the peasants were her brother and sister. These and other secrets throughout A Tale of Two Cities are frequently accompanied by the symbol of

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