A Tale of Two Cities Essay

Throughout the novel, A Tale of Two Cities, Dickens uses powerful contrast to present a story that reflects the situations in his life, as well as the life of two cities. Best/worst, wisdom/foolishness, belief/incredulity, light/darkness, spring/winter, hope/despair, everything/nothing; these antithesis springing up from the first paragraph provide contrasting ideas that highlight the extreme conflict revealed throughout the novel. Looking at the character motifs, Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton

Violence and Cruelty Leading to Harsh Rebellion Throughout the novel A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens constantly uses examples of violence and cruelty to show why the French peasants revolted against the aristocracy and to describe the revolt. During the extant of the peasant’s lives before the rebellion they were treated so brutally by the aristocrats. The wealthy people took great advantage of their power and the poor people. When the peasants rebelled they responded with violence and brutality

were poverty-stricken and had no money, food, or water. They were angry with the nobles and wanted revenge. Some turned to mass murders of the nobles, and others turned to help save their loved ones, no matter the fate of their own lives. In A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens developed the theme of sacrifice for others throughout the novel by three thrilling sacrifices: well-being, reputation and the greater good, and the character of Sydney Carton. In the first example, the sacrifice of well-being

are influences by external factors that push fundamentally good individuals to commit deplorable acts. One of the most interesting of these factors is the concept of revenge, and the lengths to which humans will go in its pursuit. Throughout A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens is deliberate in his portrayal of the deleterious effect that a desire for revenge can have on even the most unimpeachable of characters, especially in the lives of Dr. Manette, Madam Defarge, and Gaspard. The case of Dr. Alexandre

power does love have over a person? In A Tale of Two Cities, love has a strong hold on many of the characters including: Mr. Carton, Dr. Manette, and Mrs. Defarge. All of these people deal with their strong love for others in different ways. Carton sacrifices himself, Manette helps his daughter out, and Mrs. Defarge wants revenge on many people. The power of love can redeem oneself or redeem others which is shown by how characters in A Tale of Two Cities interact with one another. One character

A Tale of Two Cities is a story written around 1859. It takes place in London and Paris during and after the French Revolution. Dr. Manette was arrested in England when her daughter was at a young age. Leaving her behind was the hardest thing to do since he would be locked up for 18 years. After 18 long years, they both finally reconcile and things start going back into the normal state. Now free, he and his daughter are called to court as witnesses for a trial. Charles Darnay, the suspect, was accused

so terrible as this dance. It was so emphatically a fallen sport- a something once innocent, delivered over to all devilry- a healthy pastime changed into a means of angering the blood, bewildering the senses, and the heart” (288). Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities Context: As soon as Charles Darnay arrives at France, he becomes a prisoner and is taken to a prison named La Force. After learning about Charles’ departure, Lucie and Dr. Manette follows Darnay to France. Dr. Manette tells Lucie about a window

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” from the novel A Tale of Two Cities is a famous quote no doubt, as Dickens was referring to the French Revolution. Clearly a time in history that would change the future infinitely, and arguably one of the darkest periods in France. Before the French Revolution, arrogance and brutality poisoned the society and eroded the economy. The aristocracy had become cruel and more distinguished from lower classes than ever before. Consequently, the peasants

world, that the lower class is being discriminated against. Poverty is the society’s way of perpetually dehumanizing people and subjecting them to unlivable conditions while calling it just (Taniguchi). Years ago in 1895, Dickens published A Tale of Two Cities, in which he highlighted that “it was the best of times, it was the worst of times” (Dickens 7). Unfortunately, this is still a fact today. The wealthy are in their best times while the poor are being oppressed against. An example of the oppression

I. In A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens, many characters were given second chances as their lives were resurrected. Many of the characters in the novel had ever changing personalities and characteristics. Characters such as Charles Darnay, Sydney Carton, and Dr. Manette develop throughout the novel to evolve into heroic personas. II. Charles Darnay a. Rich, noble man b. Accused of treason against the English Crown, tried as an aristocrat (French traitor) c. Originally seen to be the hero