The Suspense is Killing Me

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Recommended: French Revolution in the tale of two cities

Dickens wrote A Tale of Two Cities based on the French Revolution. He knew that inside all the fighting there was a story to be told, even if it was fictional. He grabbed the readers’ attention by putting in suspenseful moments and leaving cliffhangers at the end of each chapter. Through the life of Charles Darnay no one knew what was going to happen next.
In the beginning the Monsieur ran his carriage over a little child. With dismay and an ill looking face the child’s father cradled the boy while Monsieur was throwing shillings at him. Despair and anger filled the air, yet not a soul knew what the father was about to do. A while later a barrel, full of wine, spilt and out came hundreds of people attempting to drink it up. The same man with the deceased child was there and with the wine he spelt out “BLOOD” on the wall. This was a clue of what was coming but it did not fully tell you of what that was.
Dr. Mannett was imprisoned for many years and finally he was being released. When his family came to receive him, he had no memory of them and was hesitant to go with them. Over the years in prison he had kept a journal of his experience and of what he thought of the Evermonds. When he left with his family he forgot this journal. Madam Defarge and Mr. Defarge took it for their own keeping. This was a curious thing to do because it was just full of scribbles and notes. Surprisingly this journal would come back to haunt Dr. Mannett in a few years.
Charles Evermond, the nephew of the Monsieur decided that he was revoking his position to run France and moved to England. He then took it a step farther in not wanting anyone to know who he was and changed his name to Darnay. On his way to England his uncle had a spy follow him; howev...

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... plan, yet the readers were still in suspense of it. Carton found a way into the prison where Darnay was held and instructed him to switch clothes. He then drugged Darnay which lead to the question of what are they doing and will they get caught. Carton swiftly switched places with Darnay; although the risk was yet to come. If they could successfully get Charles out of the prison then Carton would have truly fulfilled his promise.
All the suspense and mystery in this story really grabbed the readers’ attention. Each chapter had its own story beneath the main one. Like a puzzle with each piece a different chapter. Not knowing where the piece goes or what the big picture will turn out become. Dickens planned all of this to make a twisted story full of switches and secrete meetings. This is how Charles Dickens made A Tale of Two Cities full of suspense and mystery.

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