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Critical analysis of A Tale of Two Cities
Analysis of a tale of two cities
Critical analysis a tale of two cities
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Katie Mecca
Mrs. Eggleston
English 1 Honors
23 October 2014
A Tale Of Two Cities
The setting is in the year 1775, England and France are undergoing a period of social cataclysm and mayhem. The forces that are advancing to revolution in France are colliding with a circle of people in England, causing their futures to be irreversibly intertwined. Many of the characters fight internal struggles as well as battling hardships that originate from the revolution.
From being recalled to life, to leaving footprints, to being stained with blood, Dickens uses literary devices to help the reader become more connected with the story. In A Tale of Two Cities, Dickens uses devices such as motifs, metaphors, symbols, and foreshadowing to give us a mind-
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set into the political climate of the French revolution. From the beginning of A Tale of Two Cities, the idea of being resurrected is ever-present. The proposition is seen on a personal and communal level. Without this hope of being resurrected, some characters fall to corruption to ensure this hope is crushed in others. For example, throughout the novel, Madam Defarge’s life is dedicated to knitting the names of those who must die for the revolutionary cause. Madam Defarge goes as far as to almost murdering Mrs. Pross to preserve this arrangement. In other instances, some characters go insane because they have lost hope. Dickens portrays this in the terror of the mobs in A Tale of Two Cities, and in the way Foulon is beaten to death with grass stuffed into his mouth (Dickens, 220-222). It is also seen in the dancing and singing of the unruly citizens murdering prisoners (Dickens, 261), and in the manner in which the disorderly people stormed the bastille. But Charles Dickens does not leave us without aspirations of an optimistic world. In the early chapters, Doctor Manette, who has been in prision for 18 years, is mentally insane. With the guidance of his family and friends, he is resurrected into a life worth living. Also, in the beginning of A Tale of Two Cities, Jerry Cruncher is a short-tempered man who beats his wife and a “resurrection-man”, working to dig out graves and sell the remnants to scientists. But by the end of the book, it is he who is resurrected. He works with Sydney to help Charles family escape and has desisted form digging graves. Carton is seen in Chapter 9 reciting a verse from the Bible, “I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die.” (Dickens, 311). Sydney’s one great hope is to be resurrected. He fulfills his dreams by the end of the book. By giving up his life for the ones he loves, he becomes a Christ-like figure. In the final pages, Dickens suggests that Carton is finally resurrected by giving his life a meaning and being reborn into the hearts of the ones he loves. On the same page, Dickens suggests that the city is also being resurrected. The death of France and the beautiful, reborn city of Paris is coming into light. The idea of “footprints” is another recurring element in A Tale of Two Cities. Footprints are something everyone has in common. Yet Dickens uses literary devises to transform footsteps into a symbol for the revolution and for the character’s lives. As well as using footprints to illustrate the lives of the characters, Dickens also uses the sound of footprints to metaphorically separate the different political climates of England and France. The chaotic footprints of Paris versus the peaceful footprints of England. For example, in Paris, when the red wine spills and the desperate citizens lap it up, it stains their naked feet and shoes (Dickens, 30). The fact that their feet are naked or wear wooden shoes contrasts with how Monsieur the Marquis has “softly-slippered feet.” (Dickens, 125). However, some footprints do not make sounds, the citizens have sounds of depression and the crying out of hopeless children contrasting with Monsieur the Marquis’ footprints that do not make a sound. (Dickens, 125). “There was a great hurry in the streets of people speeding away to get shelter before the storm broke; the wonderful corner for echoes resounded with the echoes of footsteps coming and going, yet not a footstep was there.” (Dickens, 101). The oppressed people stomp their feet in a cry for attention, yet they are never heard. Lucie is the only one that hears the footsteps of the angry revolutionaries that will come into her life and inevitably crush her happiness. In the beginning chapters, the footsteps are far off and distant. As times goes by, the angry footsteps are coming closer to Lucie’s life, gaining momentum. The foot that has once been stained with red wine is stained with red blood, and blood can not be washed off so easily. Lucie finally comes to a close encounter with the dangerous footsteps as they take Charles Darnay away. Lucie is the only one that hears the footsteps, everyone else is oblivious to them. Dickens also uses the remnants from the footprints as a symbol. The red blood that stains the streets were they go, reminding them that they cannot escape their sin. Or the mud on Mr. Lorry’s boots whenever he comes home, shows how Mr. Lorry is tainted by the job he does. Dickens paints Lucie as a perfect person with an aroma around her of love and tranquility. Her footprints are clean and pure. It is seen when the people of the revolution are dancing and singing around Lucie, the street becomes a “slough of blood and dirt.” (Dickens, 265).When Madame Defarge appears, she puts a “footstep in the snow” (Dickens, 265). This is symbolizing how Madam Defarge crushes the white and pure aroma of Lucie with her dark shadow. The footsteps are not always so ominous and dark.
In A Tale of Two Cities, we also see Sydney Carton’s footsteps, which are the most memorable footsteps of them all. Throughout the book, Carton impacts Lucie’s life. He tells her, “I wish you to know that you have been the last dream of my soul.” (Dickens, 149). He aches to give her a life she loves, hoping it would redeem his. In Chapter 15, “The Footsteps Die Out Forever”, Dickens uses this title to reflect the one last impact Sydney Carton has for Lucie. He hopes to make his footprints pure, by washing his sins away through death for the ones he loves. Carton died to protect Lucie from a corrupted life, without the burden of death and sin. He protects Lucie by breaking the never ending cycle of revenge. “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” 1 John 4:18. This is symbolic of the story of Christ and the unconditional love he has for us all. He would die to make footsteps clean, and to be able to clean our feet from sin. In Carton’s last moments, he sees the chaotic footsteps of Paris dying down, “A beautiful city and a brilliant people will rise from this abyss, and, in their struggles to be truly free, in their triumphs and defeats…the evil of this time and the previous expiation for itself and wear out.” (Dickens, 371-372). Dickens has compared footsteps and the action of the revolution to a great storm. During any storm, it is disastrous and sometimes horrifying, but it always will die down and leave new soil to rebuild upon. Sometimes, storms can even leave a
rainbow. Dickens leaves no doubt that the crowd scene in front of the wine shop is foreshadowing. From the way they lap it up like dogs, or the way they smear it on their faces is a symbol for the bloodshed of the revolution. Dickens goes as far as having one of the men write blood on the wall to represent this. It also represent the manner in which they will become bloodthirsty animals that will be so desperate for killing. The wine stains their clothes and body, representing how the guilt and rage will leave stains on their hearts. Madam Defarge is lurking in the background silently watching this happen. Dickens foreshadows that she will be the one to watch these people go insane and enjoy it. From being recalled to life, to leaving footprints, to being stained with blood, Dickens uses literary devices to help the reader become more drawn in to the story. The suffering of the revolution has impacted many lives, and Charles Dickens gives us a glimpse into some of those lives. He shows being recalled to life to highlight the death and he gives hope for the future in this time period. He also gives the footprints to show how easy it is to have footprints tainted and how hard it is to wash them. Some footprints will always follow you until you make resolution. Dickens gives footprints in love and how love can impact lives, even though they may die out. Lastly, Dickens uses the staining of red wine to help the reader understand the bloodthirsty citizens and how depression can cause people to loose their mind. Dickens uses devices such as motifs, metaphors, symbols, and foreshadowing to give us a mind-set into the political climate of the French revolution.
Many types of literary devices are used throughout the book A Christmas Carol. Dickens often uses similes and metaphors every so often. ___examples___. Readers can often point out that the author was also very repetitive throughout his novel. Repetition has multiple reasonings, yet I believe it highlights how important something can be.
Power can allow one to make decisions for others than will benefit them, but too much power can cause one to become corrupt. In the novel, A Tale of Two Cities, the author, Charles Dickens, views power as a way in which corruption arises. Throughout the novel, Dickens speaks about three characters who starts to abuse their power as time passes in the novel. Dickens portrays the characters of the Monseigneur, the Marquis of Evermonde, and the revolutionaries as characters who goes through a change as a result of power.
Dickens used his great talent by describing the city London were he mostly spent his time. By doing this Dickens permits readers to experience the sights, sounds, and smells of the aged city, London. This ability to show the readers how it was then, how ...
Charles Dickens uses an unusual method of serialization that resembles that used by daytime soaps. After covering several plot developments of several characters, usually primary ones, he switches to a series of subplots involving other characters, usually secondary ones. For example, after Dickens covers the adventure of the Marquis St. Evremonde, he jumps back to Darnay. The effect is a narrative hook that encourages the readers to go on. This leads to suspense and, of course, a successful tale.
Throughout A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens repeats a number of symbols and motifs. By employing these two literary devices throughout the duration of the story, Dickens is working to emphasize the importance of these specific components of the story. Motifs and symbols represent repeating ideas that help the reader to understand, as well as highlight the author’s central idea. Dickens employs the usage of symbols and motifs, such that by using both he adds a layer of significance and deeper meaning to actions, people, as well as objects. Additionally, by using symbols and motifs, Dickens is able to create a story in which both the characters, and the plot are interwoven.
...he will do anything for her, even die for someone she loves. Lucie recalls Sydney by opening him up to doing something with his life. He later uses this new mindset to save Charles’s life. After Sydney is inspired to make something of his life he vows to do something good. To do this, he dies for Charles Darnay to show his love for Lucie. This is how Sydney Carton is recalled to life.
To most, Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities is that book about the poor people and the French Revolution that isn’t Les Miserables where he ravages the rich people, calling them “tigerish,” (Dickens 33) following the lord “ignorancem” (Dickens 33) and saying that they “held life as of no account,” (Dickens 221) right? Wrong. Yes, A Tale of Two Cities is a book by Dickens mostly about the poor people and the French Revolution (that isn’t Les Miserables) wherein he makes metaphorically eviscerates the rich people, but these are all references to the poor, the downtrodden, the little guy, in short, the people we and Dickens are supposed to root for. Dickens, for a genuine friend of the poor, as shown in his books A Christmas Carol, Great Expectations, and Oliver Twist, and as someone who wrote to the masses, disparages the poor quite a bit in A Tale of Two Cities. In the words of Frederick Busch “[Dickens] fears revolution, … the downtrodden in revolt become, to Dickens, downright revolting.” It is not that the gentry in A Tale of Two Cities are the protagonists; rather, that the poor are antagonists as well. To sum, when blood rains from the sky, no one’s hands are clean.
By using the innovative metaphors of a storm, knitting, and water to convey the theme of fate in his novel, A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens is a famous and well-known writer. The storm representing the French Revolution comes down to simply social classes. The hit list that Madame Defarge knitted comes down to simply who dies and who does not. The flowing water comes down to simply the flow of life. Throughout the wondrous and enticing novel, the metaphors turn into symbols that relate to the theme of fate in a variety of ways.
“Constant goodness and purity can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, love and compassion bring people together, and often transform them.” –Albert Schweitzer. It is a central idea in our world that when an individual sows love and compassion for mankind, their actions will positively impact those around them, and they will most certainly reap the benefits. Although a person of this magnitude seems rare in our society today, in Charles Dickens’, A Tale of Two Cities, Lucie Manette is the embodiment of compassion for those around her. In the novel, those whom encounter Lucie view her as pure, noble, strong and loving, and through her endeavors as a compassionate young woman she brings her father peace, transforms various characters in the novel, and in return receives protection and devotion. Lucie’s acts of kindness drive characters to do great things, all the while she keeps both friends and family together and justly remains the “golden thread” that benevolently unites characters in the story. In the novel, A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens portrays the character of Lucie Manette as a pillar of purity, nobility, compassion, and love which in turn allows her to transform those she encounters, revive them back to life, and do great things on her behalf.
Dickens is often held to be among the greatest writers of the Victorian Age. Nonetheless, why are his works still relevant nearly two centuries later? One reason for this is clearly shown in Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities. In the novel, he uses imagery to sway the readers’ sympathies. He may kindle empathy for the revolutionary peasants one moment and inspire feeling for the imprisoned aristocrats the next, making the book a more multi-sided work. Dickens uses imagery throughout the novel to manipulate the reader’s compassion in the peasants’ favor, in the nobles defense, and even for the book’s main villainess, Madame Defarge.
The French Revolution was a chaotic, destructive time. This is clearly illustrated in the book A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. In this novel, there are many examples of inhumanity, especially during the revolutionaries’ attacks against anyone who was believed to be treasonous or aristocratic. Men were very cruel to their fellow men, even creating the monstrous guillotine to kill people faster and more efficiently. Charles Dickens portrays such violence from the French Revolution very well with the symbols of the blue-flies, the storm, and red wine.
The Range of Devices Charles Dickens Uses to Engage the Interest of the Reader in the Opening Chapters of Great Expectations
In the book A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, he compares many characters by including similar and contrasting characteristics between a minor character and a major character. Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton are characters who exemplify this comparison because at the beginning of the novel Carton is portrayed as a drunken, careless man while Darnay on the other hand is the example of what Carton should to be, successful, polite and respectable. While Darnay is considered a major character, he would not be anything if it wasn’t for the physically alike but characteristically different Carton.
History has not only been important in our lives today, but it has also impacted the classic literature that we read. Charles Dickens has used history as an element of success in many of his works. This has been one of the keys to achievement in his career. Even though it may seem like it, Phillip Allingham lets us know that A Tale of Two Cities is not a history of the French Revolution. This is because no actual people from the time appear in the book (Allingham). Dickens has many different reasons for using the component of history in his novel. John Forster, a historian, tells us that one of these reasons is to advance the plot and to strengthen our understanding of the novel (27). Charles Dickens understood these strategies and could use them to his advantage.
Winning critical acclaim, A Tale of Two Cities occupies a central place in the cannon of Charles Dickens’ work. A Tale of Two Cities, published in serial form starting on April 30, 1859, is a historical fiction novel. A dominant theme in this historical novel is the duality found in many of Dickens’ characters. Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities is somewhat autobiographical; emphasizes the key elements of theme, plot, and character; and has received extensive criticism.