Tale Of Two Cities Essay Topics

Tale of Two Cities Essay
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 from the hatred of their hearts. The suffering the low class people of France
endured during the time of this story was more than unbearable. As Dickens describes "Far and wide,
lay a ruined country, yielding nothing but desolation....show more content...
She was just asking for a gravestone for her husband but the Marquis quickly trotted off in his
valet leaving her far behind. This heartless act left sadness in the woman's heart, but the evil
Marquis Evermonde could care less. He "drove as if he were charging an enemy, and furious
recklessness of the man brought no check into the face, or into the lips of the master."(Dickens
113) When Gaspard killed the Marquis "he was hanged there forty feet high and left hanging,
poisoning the water." The French did not care that the little water the poor had to drink was being
poisoned or that they killed a man. They wanted to warn the peasants that revolting would not be
tolerated; yet it still occurred. Dickens directly warns that, so long as the ruling class refused to
take responsibility for the way that they govern, they are destined to be violently
overthrown."(Galegroup 1). Although the aristocrats were asking for it "Violent oppression breeds
violent rebellion which becomes a new king of oppression"(Bloom C) .The violence of the peasants
was their response to their pain and no prosperity. "Dickens is always reminding the reader that the
revolution, though a frightful moral disorder was born of Unspeakable suffering, intolerable
oppression, and heartless indifference. Society was diseased before the fever broke out."(Gale E)
"Headlong, mad and dangerous footsteps to force their way into anybody's life, footsteps not easily
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Theme Of Class Struggle In A Tale Of Two Cities
A Tale of Two Cities is a novel by Dickens written in 1859. It is one of the most famous
productions of world literature. Dickens' first purpose was to publish this work through a
newspaper. In fact, he ended up publishing his novel in his All the Year Round literary magazine
for 31 weeks. The novel is set place in London and Paris and is shaped around one of the most
restless periods of history, the French Revolution. Charles Dickens tries to show the insight of the
French Revolution in which the bourgeoisie and aristocrat class carried out a bloody strife on the
lower classes. Dickens displays this in a very realistic and frustrated fiction. The novel basically
revolves around the lives of its characters before and after French Revolution....show more content...
(Book 1, Chapter 7) This shows that no matter what the case is, if you are lower in class you lose.
Dickens portrayed class struggle as one of the main causes of the Revolution. If we compare the
pictures Dickens painted to the information in historical sources we will see that he is accurate.
''There was political turmoil among the upper classes, huge population growth among the peasants,
and frustrated bourgeois class.''(Revolution and Masters)
Dickens continues to illustrate corrupted power. Monseigneur's cruel philosophy illustrates the
mindset that has crept into the most privileged class and demonstrates how power can corrupt. The
contrast between his philosophy and his nephew's beliefs further underscores the suffering of the
masses. (Book 2, Chapter

A Tale of Two Cities Speech
A Tale of Two Cities Speech "The storming of the Bastille…the death carts with their doomed
human cargo…the swift drop of the guillotine blade–this is the French revolution that Charles
Dickens vividly captures in his famous work "A Tale of two cities". With dramatic eloquence, he
brings to life a time of terror and treason, a starving people rising in frenzy and the to overthrow a
corrupt and decadent regime. With insight and compassion, he casts his novel of unforgettable
scenes with unforgettable characters: the sinister Madame defarge, knitting her patterns of death, the
gentle lucie manette, unswerving in her devotion to her broken father: the heroic Sydney Carton,
who gives his life for the love of a girl who...show more content...
Therefore how can the character of lucie be anything other than the nurturing, supportive, entirely
femine wife and mother? Not if *censored*ens is to stick to his obligation of the moral teachings of
the 19th century. What is to be said of *censored*ens's moral teachings anyway? His presentation of
love, hate? Which are the main facets to each character? The characters representing both themes are
unmistakable. The moment that the reader comes in contact with Lucie Manette, later Lucie darnay
they are faced with the epitome of the beautiful, righteous, woman, and later wife, that
*censored*ens quite obviously thought that every woman should be. Even at Lucies introduction to
Lorry, she curtseys to him and Mr. *censored*ens wastes no time in indicating "young ladies made
curtsies in those days". This introductory scene climaxes in the quintessence of femininity in those
days with Lucies fainting, one that now days would put her unflawed position in to question but to
Dickens only served to reinforce it. The reader is made to believe that Lucies character is one of
purity and innocence a pure foil to the villainy of the latter mentioned Mrs. defarge. Which brings
me to the Villainous characters. At the other side of Dickens seemingly "moral lecture" are the
characters of Mr. and Madame Defarge, note the emphasis on Madame, an entirely foreboding and
strong title. While Lucie's

Duality In A Tale Of Two Cities
In chapter twenty–one, "Echoing footsteps", of Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities, Dickens
utilizes the idea of a raging sea to embody the rage and anguish of the Jacquerie in their first
glorious moment of revenge. In "Echoing footsteps," Dickens uses his recurring theme of duality to
build tension, and, as he is writing a historical novel, accurately remarks on the personality of the
French revolutionaries as a violent and vengeful sea. He begins in London, remarking on the quiet
home life of the new Darnays, the only echoes being the pitter–patter of their new daughter's feet.
Then he turns to France, where the echoes are much louder, "But there were other echoes, from a
distance... as of a great storm in France with a dreadful sea rising."...show more content...
Dickens, acknowledging the severity and suddenness with which the French Revolution started,
describes the revolutionaries as a "whirlpool of boiling water." (223). Having been pushed aside,
neglected, and degraded for so long, the Jacquerie are no longer willing to submit to the French
aristocrats. Their anger having brewed, it bursts out, no longer contained within their homes and
secret wine–shop meetings, but rather turned on the outside world, like a tempest set loose. As
Dickens describes their "Storming" of the Bastille, he uses this sea imagery, describing their rally
as a "vortex" to which "every human drop had a tendency to be sucked towards" (223). He
continues with this characterization of the mob as a relentless ocean, which fits the personality of
the Jacques as a hive–mind group with a tendency towards violence instead of reason, much like
waves set loose on an unsuspecting ship. After they have rallied, their army having collected, "the
living sea rose, wave on wave, depth on depth, and overflowed the city to that point," (223) and
they began their attack on the Bastille. Bloodshed and violence ensues as the Jacques spare no
guard, no official in the prison, and soon enough, "A

Tale Of Two Cities
"What then is freedom? – The power to live as one wishes" once said by Roman politician Marco
Cierco, exemplifies the dream of the lower class before the French Revolution that would eventually
become a reality with perseverance and strength. One novel in particular, follows a family and
revolutionaries before and during the revolution. A Tale of Two Citiesby Charles Dickens is a novel
that has implemented the French Revolution in its tale. Some may wonder, what was Dickens' actual
attitude towards this life–changing event? Is it possible to find out with his writing? Using
characters from his tale such as Dr. Mannette, Charles Darnay and Madame Defarge, it will be
argued that Dickens is mostly sympathetic towards this great rebellion but...show more content...
It is possible that Dickens' used Darnay to show the injustice that happens to the aristocrats during
this time. Darnay, himself, a victim of the injustice of this period is being imprisoned in la Force
prison without a reasonable reason. "Beginning with these reprisals, thousands of Royalists,
nonjuring priests, Girondists, and other elements charged with counterrevolutionary activities or
sympathies were brought before revolutionary tribunals, convicted, and sent to the
guillotine"(eds.b.ebscohost.com). This quote is the evidence of the inhumanity, violence and total
injustice that the French revolution came with especially to the uppeclass. For example, the
revolutionaries judge Darnay from his family name without even realizing to think that Darnay is
different and send him to prison. Darnay is also used as a character that is trying to hose down the
situation in Paris because of news from his postmaster/tax–collector Monsieur Gabelle and how the
rebels are rebelling against him. Dickens' understands the corruption and immorality within France.
Like the revolutionaries, one can tell that he was supportive of the ideas that were inspired by the
Enlightenment."Voltaire attacked the church and absolutism; Denis Diderot and the EncyclopГ©die
advocated social utility and attacked

This is a very important passage because it establishes the theme of duality from the get–go. It was
the most luxurious time for the upper class, and the worst of times for everyone else. It was the age
of wise philosophy and learning, it was also the age of foolish policies and unnecessary suffering.
This theme is further expressed in the first chapter when Dickens talks about the religious and justice
systems in each country. England is fascinated by supernatural ghosts and other religious
phenomenon. In France people pay attention to religion out of fear rather than actual interest. The
author also compares France's harsh justice system to England's lax one. Criminals overrun England;
And when the courts do serve justice they do so indiscriminately,

Tale Of Two Cities Rebirth
A Tale of Two Cities
By Charles Dickens
The idea of resurrection and rebirth pervades in this novel. How does Dickens use this theme? Do
these themes of resurrection and self sacrifice and the setting of the French Revolution have
anything to do with one another? Why is this the time and place of the novel?
Brief Historical Background
The novel, A Tale of Two Cities
, takes place during the onset of the French Revolution, which shook
the Western world with its violence and new ideas on freedom and the aristocracy. It was a period of
major political and social change in the political history of both France and Europe during which the
French governmental structure took on the Enlightenment's ideals democracy, citizenship, and...show
more content...
His inspiration for the novel was brought about by a play he starred in, wherein a man sacrifices his
own life so that his rival may have the woman they both love. This was the basis for the love triangle
relationships between Charles Darnay, Lucie Manette, and Sydney Carton in the novel. Moreover,
Dickens appreciated the play for its treatment of redemption and rebirth, love and violence. The
novel is seen to transpose these themes onto the French Revolution, which seemed like an event that
embodied these same issues on a historical level. The theme of rebirth and redemption is constantly
seen in the novel, especially since it took place during such a turbulent time of much change and the
countless "rebirths" of France's government.
Resurrection and Rebirth The most reoccurring theme in this novel is the theme of resurrection
and rebirth. Dickens examines this theme on a political/national level in the form of France's
plight, while more explicitly examines it in the character of Carton. Many literary techniques
have been employed by Dickens to call attention to this theme and it will also be the central
discussion of this paper. The other theme of sacrifice is closely associated with the former, and
will also be discussed in this paper. This novel shows Dickens' belief in the possibility of
resurrection and transformation, and it is shown to the readers on both a personal and societal level.
The very beginning of the

Tale Of Two Cities Comparative Essay
Change is something that must come and will always come, whether it be for better or for worse.
This is especially the case in the changing of power in our world, to spark this change, people will
fight until they die. Everybody can justify their plight with speeches of justice and necessity, but
whether or not the ends justify the means is something that every person must decide for themselves.
The theme of revolution is explored in both A Tale of Two Citiesby Charles Dickens and Battleship
Potemkin by Sergei Eisenstein, but their portrayals of it differ greatly. Throughout his Novel, Dickens
clearly shows that he sympathizes with the peasants, but that he has very mixed feelings towards the
way that the revolutionaries get what they want....show more content...
Both author's perspectives on revolution are displayed in the ending of their respective works
and they could not be more different. A Tale of Two Cities ends with the hero of the story: Carton
about to be executed at the guillotine. The story does not end with a huge celebration, but it ends
melancholic and ambivalent. It is then stated, "Crush humanity out of shape once more, under
similar hammers, and it will twist itself into the same tortured forms" (Dickens 659). He is saying
that regardless of the intent of the revolutionaries, since what they did was through similar means
of the aristocrats, everything will still end up the same way. He continues by saying, "Sow the
same seed of rapacious license and oppression over again, and it will surely yield the same fruit
according to its kind" (Dickens 659). Since the revolutionaries used violence to get what they
wanted, they are no better than the aristocrats themselves and once they get into power, they will
become the same as the aristocrats. They will continue the same cycle, but they will now be the ones
in power. The ending of A Tale of Two Cities emphasizes that the revolutionaries' violent means were
contradictory to their original

Tale Of Two Cities Essay
Oliver travels through many places throughout the book. He goes through many cities and also the
countryside. Charles Dickens describes both the locations in a very different way. He has a total
opposite opinion on both the places. He explains the city as a place where the criminals, unsafe and
disgusting. The countryside, however, is described as splendid, safe, and place where the rich
people live.
Dickens explains the city very negatively. He usually believes that the poor people live in the cities.
In addition, he explains that there are many criminals living in the city. Criminals like, Fagin, Sikes,
and Monks, own a clumsy apartment in the city. Dickens stated, "To reach this place, the visitor
has to penetrate through a maze of close, narrow, and muddy streets, thronged by the roughest and
poorest of waterside people, and devoted to the traffic they may be supposed to occasion," (Dickens
671). In addition, he describes the city as a very filthy, unclean, vulnerable and unsafe area. Dickens
explain the city as, "The mud lay thick upon the...show more content...
He describes it as a home of the rich and wealthy. Also, as a beautiful and scenic location. Maylie's
cottage was in the countryside. They enjoyed the time they spent there. It was a very peaceful
place. Dickens describes the cottage as, "Who can describe the pleasure and delight, the peace of
mind and soft tranquillity, the sickly boy felt in the balmy air, and among the green hills and rich
woods, of an inland village! Who can tell how scenes of peace and quietude sink into the minds of
pain–worn dwellers in close and noisy places, and carry their own freshness, deep into their jaded
hearts!" (Dickens 421). Dickens described the countryside as, "The dew seemed to sparkle more
brightly on the green leaves; the air to rustle among them with a sweeter music; and the sky itself to
look more blue and bright." He always expressed it as a

Tale Of Two Cities
In this passage, Dickens uses the motifs of the farmer and woodsman to develop the theme of fate.
He accomplishes this by describing the partially ploughed field and cut–down forest, which both
represent Death and Fate respectively as they were introduced in the beginning of the book.
Furthermore, it is also inferred that the current season in the story is autumn due to the leftover red
and yellow leaves left on the remaining trees from the wood as Dickens describes. In literature,
autumn can symbolize the coming of hard times as well as harvest and for the setting of Tale of Two
Cities, this oncoming omen would be the French Revolution. Death and Fate help develop the theme
of fate by being these silent forces that inevitably bring the France

Change can be a good thing. Charles Dickens, a fine author of A Tale of Two Cities uses many
themes throughout his work, but the main theme he focuses on is redemption. The idea of
redemption has to do with someone changing their outlook on life and making a difference from
what they used to be. An alcoholic becoming a hero, a thief becoming a honest man, a crazed man
becoming a leader, and a bystander becoming honorable. The transformation of an ordinary person
to someone who benefits many people is an example of true redemption. Dickens includes a few
specific characters that relate directly to this theme. Dr. Manette, Charles Darnay, Jerry Cruncher,
and Sydney Carton are identified in a couple of instances where it appears that their...show more
content...
A man who gives up everything for a woman shows that love has nothing to do with materials, but
with those around you."I would abandon it" (95) and "Heaven is my witness that I love her!"
(102). Charles Darnay, the husband of Lucie, gave up his entire name "EvГЁrmonde" to be with
his true love! His whole family name, including his inheritance were the things he was giving up
on to achieve happiness. The mayor of Paris, Gabelle, then disrupted the jolly atmosphere after a
few years. He sent a letter to Charles EvГЁrmonde, though Charles gave up that name and was
known as Darnay. Gabelle sent a pleading letter for Darnay to save him in Paris, so Darnay went
because he knew it had to do with his previous name. The redemption of Darnay was unique
because he was willing to go to Paris to reason with the people over there that he given up his title.
He redeemed his family's honor and respect by being the better person and going to stand up for
what his ancestors did to upset the French people. Darnay proved that not all "nobles" are bad to
the lower class people. Criminals have a tendency to stick to their own beliefs. Jerry Cruncher had
his mind set on the activity he was participating in and he would even call himself an "honest
tradesman". Cruncher was a grave robber and once he finished his night time job, he would return
home with "rusty hands under his pillow" (125). His wife Mrs. Cruncher would always pray for him
and "flopping" was

Tale Of Two Cities Compare And Contrast Essay
In looking at the novel, A Tale of Two Cities, written by Charles Dickens, and the Masterpiece
Theater film version, produced in 1989, three similarities between the two can be found to include
the characterization of Dr. Manette, the trial of Charles Darnay in London, and the history of
Madame Defarge. The novel and film, A Tale of Two Cities
, follow the characters in London and
Paris in the midst of the time during and leading up to the French Revolution. Throughout the story,
there are many aspects that are present in both the novel and the film, those of which vary in type,
from characters to events to setting. Wherefore, three of the parallels present in the novel and film,
A Tale of Two Cities, are the portrayal of Dr. Manette, Darnay's trial in London, and Madame
Defarge's backstory. One way in which the novel and the film are similar is the way in which Dr.
Manette is presented earlier in the story. The quote from the novel that shows...show more content...
The excerpt from the book that illustrates this takes place when Jerry Cruncher arrives at the
courthouse for the trial of Charles Darnay. "Everybody present, except the one wigged gentleman
who looked at the ceiling, stared at him. All the human breath in the place rolled at him, like a
sea, or wind, or a fire. Eager faces strained round pillars and corners, to get a sight of him;
spectators in back rows stood up, not to miss a hair of him; people on the floor of the court laid
their hands on the shoulders of the people before them, to help themselves, at anybody's cost, to a
view of him–stood a–tiptoe, got upon ledges, stood upon next to nothing, to see every inch of him"
(75). Likewise, this scene in the movie features a rowdy crowd that pays much attention to Charles
Darnay, however, in the movie, also in the book, Sydney Carton's attention is fixed on the ceiling.
Thus, Darnay's trial in London in the book and the movie are

Charles Dickens characterizes the settings in his novel, "A Tale of Two Cities," through indirect
comparison and contrast between Paris and London during the French Revolution, a political and
social upheaval from 1789–1799; "There was a king with a large jaw and a queen with a plain face
on the throne of England; there was a king with a large jaw and a queen with a fair face on the
throne of France. In both countries it was clearer than crystal to the lords of the State preserves of
loaves and fishes, that things in general were settled for ever. (1.1.2)" His distinguished way of
approaching these two cities bolsters the image of the characters he wants to convey through his
novel. When doing so, Dickens creates the environments of a...show more content...
Fortunately, Darnay does get acquitted; however, it was not because justice was served. Dickens's
demonstration of this scene portrays that there isn't much of a difference between the Londoners and
the Parisians, which sets a frightening image for France, considering the situation that is about to
unfold. The courtroom is one of the three major settings Dickens demonstrates for London. The
second setting in London is Manette's house in Soho and the third setting is the Tellson's Bank. On
the other hand, Tellson's is the representative of a British business and culture. Tellson's Banks
seems to be living up to the stereotypical British business corporation Dicken's identifies it to be;
Tellson's Bank by Temple Bar was an old–fashioned place, even in the year one thousand seven
hundred and eighty. It was very small, very dark, very ugly, very incommodious. It was very small,
very dark, very ugly, very incommodious. I was an old–fashioned place, moreover, in the moral
attribute that the partners in the House were proud of its smallness, proud of its darkness, proud of
its ugliness, proud of its incommodiousness. They were even boastful of its eminence in those
particulars, and were fired by an express conviction that, if it were less objectionable, it would be
less respectable. This was no passive belief, but an active weapon which they flashed at more
convenient places of business. Tellson's[...] wanted no elbow–room, Tellson's

– A Historical fiction
A Tale of Two Cities is a novel categorized as historical fiction. Historical fiction is a composite
material, with a portion of history embedded in a matrix of fiction. A Tale of Two Cities is
appropriately titled, as the novel is the story of England and Revolutionary France; as a result it can
be categorized as historical fiction. ATale of Two Cities is parallel to history in many different
respects. The English setting, and atmosphere, is similarly portrayed, as it actually existed in the
seventeenth century.
In the novel, Dickens goes into more detail about Revolutionary France in history with regards to
setting, politics and the social structure, as well as the events, which occurred...show more content...
Whether it was the best of times or the worst of times depended on one's point of view. The quote
describes the spirit of the era in which this story takes place.
Dickens also shows that crime ran rampant and robbery and murder were common occurrences in
England at the time. "Daring burglaries by armed men, and highway robberies, took place in the
capital itself every night" (Dickens 36). This shows the terror that the highwaymen brought to the
people in England.
The Old Bailey, a court of law, which stands beside the famous Newgate Prison, is the place
where Charles Darnay was tried for treason. The Old Bailey was a real court in London. Prisoners
were kept in the gaol, brought next door for trial, and hung on the street outside, until 1866
(Dickens 406). " 'You know the Old Bailey well, no doubt?' said one of the oldest of the clerks to
Jerry the messenger" (Dickens 89). The Old Bailey was a court of law until it was renovated and
called the Central Criminal Court.
The Tellson's Bank, where Mr. Lorry works is based on a real life bank called Thelusson's Bank.
"Tellson's Bank by temple bar was an old fashioned place even in the year one thousand seven
hundred and eighty" (Dickens 83). Dickens needed a name for the organization, which brings Lucie
and Dr. Manette from France to England; he had read about Thelusson's Bank in Carlyle's work and
shifted the name to Tellson's Bank, which

Tale Of Two Cities Literary Analysis Essay
Even when it is pitch black out, there will always be some light. A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles
Dickens, is comprised of three books which scream out Dickens's logic and purpose behind these
books. From the opening lines of the book to Sydney Carton's sacrifice at the end of the book, at
the turn of every page Dickens engages the reader to read more and to figure out how all the
pieces fit together. Dickens helps by creating parallels to the two cities, Paris and London,
characters, and many other key ideas. These connections weave the whole book together and help
make the theme pop out at you like a children's pop up book. The moral of A Tale of Two Citiesis
that everything has a positive side and a negative side to it, no matter how...show more content...
Dickens talks about London negatively to emphasize that despite the fact that things right now are
positive, there will always be somewhere that is dark/negative, and that it will not always be one
way or the other, it will change.
In addition to just the setting and the time period, Dickens created Sydney Carton, the
embodiment of the dark/negative side. He is a careless alcoholic lawyer who thinks he is nothing
but a waste of space and does not know what his purpose in life is. Dickens portrays him as
someone who does not have feelings for others and does not even care about anything pertaining
to him. However this illusion was intentional because we later find out that Carton is not
heartless, but does indeed has feeling for Lucie Manette, "He had loved Lucie Manette from the
hour of his danger" (Dickens 228). This detail links almost the whole book together because the
whole book Carton has bad luck. The main importance of him having feelings for her is because
he still shows her that he cares for her even though she marries Charles Darnay, not him.
Throughout the rest of the book Sydney still cares and loves her and won't move on. Dickens drills
into the reader's mind that Sydney has the worst life out there, where everything does not go in his
favor. It is not revealed until the end about how there is still some

Tale Of Two Cities
A Tale of Two Cities is exactly as the title suggests: a tale of two cities. The two cities that the
novel focuses on are London, England and Paris, France. London is still upset after losing the
Revolutionary War with America, which the French had supported, while Paris is on the brink of its
very own revolution: the French Revolution. While these two cities may seem so far away that the
events could not be connected anyway, a person could not be more wrong. The story mainly follows
two families whose lives become more intertwined as the story moves along. Those two families are
the Manettes and the Defarges. Through the actions and inactions of one Charles Darnay, these two
families will meet unconventionally and for the worst.
A character in this Charles Dickens classic that I would...show more content...
Monsieur would probably have a job working in America's Congress, because of his reluctance for
inducing change. He wants to see a different occur in the world that he lives in, but has no clue if
what he is doing correct or when it should end. In today's congress, the Senators and
Representatives are in constant debate on what changes they would like to employ in American
politics. Both sides, Democratic and Republics have their own vision on the changes that they
would like to see put in place but how to do so usually rests on the hands of other people, people
like Madame Defarge.
Madame Defarge, in today's society, would probably by the leader of some kind of radicalistic
group, probably a women or mothers against group. Madame knows exactly what changes need to
be made in her society and how that change is going to occur. She only wants her way and for
others to do exactly as she wants. Like others that are leaders in radicalistic groups, Madame enjoys
the fact that there are others that appreciate this view and that they will do anything in order to see
her personal vendetta carried

Tale Of Two Cities Analysis
Charles Dickens, a brilliant author back in the 1850's, wrote "A Tale of Two Cities" in order to
describe the similarities between the forces that led to the revolution and the oppression and unrest
occurring in England. The French revolution impacts history because the time period in which it
takes place is before and during the French revolution. The French revolution signifies the essence of
a rapid change, nevertheless, this change tore France right at the heart, where all the government was
"functioning". France was torn apart because of the rebellions of the Bourgeoisie, against the rich
aristocrats, consequently the monarch Louis 14th. Charles Dickens went further. He conveys the idea
of the French revolution through the use of...show more content...
The discrimination in the novel is shown through the ways the royalty and aristocracies live
compared to the lives of the lower class. During the French revolution, the aristocrats were
significantly prosperous than the poverty, as shown in the wine scene. The difference in classes
is shown in a scene where the wine bottle breaks in front of a store, and peasants run to lick up the
wine, (book one chapter five), without any disregard of the mud that is mixed within it. The
breaking of the wine bottle affects the entire poverty class, "All the people within reach had
suspended their business, or their idleness, to run to the spot and drink the wine." The peasants
were so poor they did not care about the wine being dirty, they were just happy to be capable of
having a drink. In Tale of Two Cities there are 2 types of social classes due to aristocracy being
the main idea to govern, This idea for centuries, was dictated by social and religious convention.The
gap in the classes and the lack of care for peasants caused hatred among the peasants towards the
aristocracy. The mistreatment of the peasant class of the aristocrats lead to the French revolution.
The hatred of the peasant class towards the rich is what the French revolution or any revolution is
built on. These inhumane discriminations led to a massive bloodshed of a revolution against anyone
who was even

Antithesis In A Tale Of Two Cities
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, in addition to Lucie Manette and Madame Defarge are contrasting characters evolving
with the progressing story. Contradicting scenes between London and Paris set the background for
a light versus dark motif. Dickens' use of contrast through antithesis, character motifs and two
different cities demonstrate the intense conflict, change, and struggle that existed during the
French Revolution. Starting with a chant of poetic anaphoras intertwined with antithesis, "It was
the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness,
it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the
season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything
before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct
the other way" (I.I.III), Dickens throws the reader immediately into thought–conflict. Is this going to
be good, is this going

The Themes Of Love In A Tale Of Two Cities
People will do anything for the ones they love. This is clearly shown throughout A Tale Of Two
Cities by Charles Dickens. The two book titles Recalled To Life and the Golden Thread prove
how much the Manettes and others love each other. In A Tale Of Two Cities, Charles Dickens
uses the themes of Recalled To Life and The Golden Thread all throughout the book in order to
show how love is a powerful force that can cause personal transformation. The title Recalled To
Life is a hint to how Lucie's love affects people. It contains many different interpretations and many
diverse meanings. For example, the scene where Jarvis is following the moving carriage and is
confronted by Jerry is essential to the theme of "Recalled To Life". It is important...show more
content...
Lorry tells Ms. Manette about her father. He tells her because he believes that she has the right to
know about her father and so she can love him. When Ms. Manette is informed of her father, it
seems as if she is being recalled to life because she was under the impression that he is dead.
When Lucie discovers that he was only imprisoned, she becomes instantly shocked and she
refuses to believe that he is not dead. Mr. Lorry said "As I was saying; if Monsieur Manette had
not died; if he had suddenly and silently disappeared"(32). Mr. Lorry shows the theme of being
recalled to life as he is talking about Miss Manette's father not being dead. He expresses the theme
because in Miss Manette and Mr. Lorry's thoughts, it is like Monsieur Manette is coming back
from the dead. In conclusion, throughout Book 1 the theme of being recalled to life strongly
develops and is constantly portrayed. Ms. Manette is shocked to find out that her father is alive
and that she can actually love him because she has know that he is dead. She loves him so much
that him being alive amazes her but in a good way. Love causes great transformations within people
such as Mr. Lorry that told Lucie about her father for the sake of

Tale Of Two Cities Essay
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of
foolishness... it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us,
we had nothing behind us..." During the french revolution things for the people became tough
causing people to think they did not have long to live. The population spiked causing tones of
poverty to the extent that lead to the stigma; you should get married and live life because you do
not know how much time you have to live. The famous opening line sets the theme for the rest of the
book. One bold theme that comes out of it is that there is dramatic opposites and nothing
in–between. For example, "we had everything before us, we had nothing behind us," this shows
how you have all opportunities if you went forward, but if you went backwards instead of moving
forward there would be nothing. You are in the middle with each choice and you can either choose
to go north or south (forward or backwards). Lucie Manette is a blue–eyed girl with golden hair. She
was considered an angel because she was a housewife and did everything revolving home–making
perfectly. Throughout the whole story Lucie stayed the...show more content...
It is a very bold statement to start a book off, but Dickens really tied his characters into the theme of
the opening line. Reflecting back from the book there are many details that may seem of little
importance yet ties the theme into the meaning of the beginning. The overall time period of the
French Revolution with the extremes that there was the bourgeoisie or the poor living on the streets
with so little shows that the theme of the opening line was a very prevalent concept at the time. Also,
that the theme of opposites was an overarching concept even in the history of the French Revolution
and not solely within the peoples personal

Tale Of Two Cities Essay Topics

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