Examples Of Foreshadowing In A Tale Of Two Cities

A page Turner

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” its 1775 and poverty bestrews the streets of France. Dickens illustrates how conflict and turmoil among the penniless common people eventually leads to the harrowing French Revolution. In "A Tale of Two Cities" by, Charles Dickens the author uses foreshadowing to reveal many future events in the novel as well as revealing the revenge of the poor people against the aristocracy. Dickens continually uses foreshadowing i to warn upcoming events. The use of foreshadowing leads suspense and curiosity, which urge the reader to continue reading and go on to solve the mystery.

The first use of foreshadowing the rise of the revolution, Dickens does this by illustrating events like

the breaking of the wine cask in front of the Defarge’s wine shop. This shows the desperation of the common people. The wine foreshadows the blood that will flood the streets of France once the revolution begins. “The wine was red wine, and had stained the ground of the narrow street…one tall joker so besmirched, his head more out of a long squalid bag of a nightcap than in it, scrawled upon a wall with his finger dipped in muddy wine-lees- BLOOD”(Dickens 28). In chapter two of book three, the revolution finally becomes a reality for France, and the French people kill hundreds of the imprisoned aristocracy at the grindstone. The earlier scene at the wine shop foreshadowed this rebellion. Also, Lucie readily hears footsteps echoing throughout the house. “I have sometimes sat alone here of an evening, listening, until I have made the echoes out to be the echoes of all the footsteps that are coming by-and-by into our lives” (Dickens 99). These footsteps foreshadow the approaching revolution. Later, we are taken back to the Mannet’s house and learn that the footsteps have become more frantic.” The footsteps were incessant, and the hurry of them, became more rapid” (Dickens 99). This intensity in the echoes of footsteps foreshadows the French people storming the Bastille. These footsteps throughout the Mannete house makes the reader wonder who will be affected by these footsteps that allude to the revolution.

Also, Dickens foreshadows the fate of Sydney Carton. It all stated in the coutroom when Carton gives the letter to Stryver pointing out the Carton and Darney look very similar this foreshadows the switch between the two at the end. “Standing side by side, both reflected in the glass above them” (Dickens 76). Throughout the story the reader notes that Catron has feelings for Lucie for exsample, when he denies his feelings at the Old Bailey. Carton says, “Who made the Old Bailey a judge of beauty? She was a golden haired doll (87)”! He insults Lucie to hide the fact he is in love with he. Catron insults Lucie to cover up the fact that he has a deep love for Lucie but feels like he is not worthy of loving a girl such as Lucie. These questions of self-doubt and self-worth foreshadows Catron tremendous sacrifice were he proves to himself, and others that he is worthy and how much he would do anything for Lucie -“For you, and for any dear to you, I would do anything” Carton says (147). This promise is the key to Carton’s fate, and he foreshadows his doom when he follows through with the switch between him and Darney. Also, Lucie has compassion for Carton. Even though she hardly understands his feelings, Lucie has faith. He tells Charles to not be too judgmental. She asks Charles to have faith in Carton; she believes he is a troubled soul capable of doing good. “I fear he is not to be reclaimed; there is scarcely a hope that anything in his character or fortunes is reparable now. But, I am sure that he is capable of good things, gentle things, even magnanimous things” (Dickens 201). Lucies compassion and understanding for Catron foreshadows the sacrifice catron will do for Lucie and her daughter. Lucie has this unspoken respect for Caron that we later understand when Caron makes the identity switch between Carton and Darney costing him his life.
Next, Dickens foreshadows the fate of the Marquis. Throughout the story the reader can note the people that want a revolution hate the Marquis. At dinner between Charles and Marquis Charles says, “That I believe our name to be more detested then any name in France (118).The Marquis replies “’A compliment’”, said the Marquis, ‘to the grandeur of the family” this shows that he is completely oblivious to what is going on in France. His blurred vision to reality in France leads the people of France to hate him. People are dying on the streets and aristocrats are waited on hand and feet. For instance, The Marquis’s coach ran over a child and he replied “’It is extraordinary to me, said he ‘that you people cannot take care of yourselves and you children’” (102). Then Defarge throws his coin back into the carriage, showing his anger. This event angers the people, and foreshadows the death of Marquis later in to story when Gaspard stabs him in his sleep for running over his son.
The next event dickens foreshadows, is the fate of Madame Defareg. Throughout the story the readers see Madame Defarge knitting. The knitting foreshadows the fate of everyone on her registry. But, her hunger for revenge foreshadows her downfall. “But the woman who stood knitting looked up steadily, and looked the Marquis in the face. It was not for his dignity to notice it; his contemptuous eyes passes over her, and over all the other rats and leaned back in his seat again, and gave the word “go on” (Dickens 108). Also, Madam’s Defage’s coldness towards Lucie foreshadows her plan to kill Lucie. Repeatedly, Lucie asks for mercy and to use her power to help the Mannate family. “As a wife and mother” cried Lucie most earnestly. “I implore you to have pity on me and to not and not to exercise any power that you possess against my innocent husband, but to use it on his behalf. O sister women, think of me as a wife and mother!” Madame Defarge looked, coldly as ever” (Dickens 206). Later, in book three, chapter fourteen Mademe defage goes to kill Lucie. This plan is interrupted when Miss. Pross stops her at the door and Madame Defarge get into a tussle causing Madame Defarge’s pistol to go off, killing Madame Defarge. Miss. Pross shows no Mercy as Madame Defarge showed to her “ladybird”, Lucie.
Lastly, Dickens foreshadows Dr.

Manette‘s connection with the Evremondes. It starts when Dr. Manette is first introduced to Charles Darnay, Dr. Manette gives no sign of recognizing Charles. However, "His face had become frozen, as it were, in a very curious look at Darnay: an intent look, deepening into a frown of dislike and distrust, not even unmixed with fear” (Dickens 78). This reappears when Dr. Manette tells Charles not to reveal his name till the wedding day. when charles tries to tell his real name Dr. Manette says “Stop!” and we start to hint that there is more going on. “Stop!” “for an instant, the Doctor even had two hands at his ears; for another instant, had his two hands laid on Darney’s lips”( Dickens 132). Dr. Manette’s relapse lasting for nine days after talking to Darnay, on the wedding day can be assumed that the relapse was caused by hearing of Charles' former name. Also, at Charles’ second trial a letter is found written thirty two years earlier by Dr. Manette, explaining the doctor’s story We learn that he was brought by Charles’s father and uncle who were Evrémonde to help young women who was screaming due to the abuse by the two men. He promised himself he would get these men punished for the horrible treatment of the young women. The letter was then intercepted by the men. The doctor was put into prison for eighteen years. Dickens purposely included the earlier scene where the doctor has a dramatic relapse for nine days after hearing Charles’ true name to foreshadow that Charles Darnay has a connection with the doctor's

imprisonment.
So, how does spilt wine on the street of France or lingering footsteps become important in a Historical Fiction novel?