A Tale of Two Cities – Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens published his historical novel A Tale of Two Cities in 1859. The story takes place in London and Paris before and during the time of the French Revolution. The narrative of the French physician Manette, his 18-year incarceration in the Bastille in Paris, and his eventual release to live in London with his daughter Lucie, whom he had never met, is told in the novel. Manette had never met his daughter Lucie. The events of the novel take place against the backdrop of the circumstances that paved the way for the Terror Reign and the French Revolution. Don D’Ammassa, a literary critic, argues in the introduction to the Encyclopedia of Adventure Fiction that the book is an adventure novel since the heroes are in constant risk of being killed or imprisoned. 

It is said that Charles Dickens’s A Tale of Two Cities is one of the all-time best-selling novels, and it is also the author’s most well-known piece of historical fiction.

  The novel received a score of 63 out of 100 on the BBC’s The Big Read survey in the year 2003. The book has been adapted for stage productions, as well as for film, television, and radio, and it has continued to have an impact on popular culture.

A Tales of Two Cities Themes

The novella “A Tale of Two Cities” written by Charles Dickens addresses some of the most important topics in literature, including dualism, revolution, and resurrection. In London and Paris, it was both the best of times and the worst of times in the years leading up to the American and French Revolutions, which were sparked by economic and political upheaval. When discussing the French Revolution, it is impossible to avoid bringing up this central theme. Dickens takes a stand, ultimately expressing his disagreement with the Revolution because of the violent and unrestrained power displayed by the enraged rioters throughout the uprising. Despite this, the tale of the marquis’ rape of the peasant, in addition to other facts of aristocratic persecution of the lower classes, provides some justification for the intentions of the French mob. In the end, he describes the mob as having gone over the limit to an extent that is beyond what happened in England; the mob in France acts with such force that it is comparable to a natural element like fire or water.

A Tales of Two Cities Analysis

In the book “A Tale of Two Cities,” the character Sidney Carton is the one who has the most energy. At the beginning of the book, he gives off the impression of being an alcoholic and a slacker lawyer who has managed to accumulate a small amount of concentration in his life. According to him, his life is nothing but a waste of the highest order, and he claims that he is unconcerned about anything or anyone. The readers, on the other hand, get the impression that Sidney Carton is harbouring a profound sentiment within himself and is struggling to express it but is unable to do so.

In spite of this, statements were made regarding Lucie during his talk with Charles Darnay, who has now been shown to be innocent of the crime. However, his tone was sarcastic and acerbic, which let down his growing interest in Lucie as well as the sentiments that he was building for her. In the end, he works up the guts to tell Lucie how he really feels about her and their relationship. He does not realise that Lucie and Darnay are planning to wed in the near future, so he declares his love for Lucie while also asserting that he is not deserving of her. This occurrence has a profound impact on Sidney Carton’s life and forms the foundation for the ultimate sacrifice that Sidney makes for Lucie at the conclusion of the book.

Main Idea of A Tales of Two Cities

The concept of resurrection is the central theme in Charles Dickens’s A Tale of Two Cities. Throughout the course of the story, a number of the characters are given a figurative second chance at life. For instance, Dr. Manette gets released from prison at the beginning of the novel, and Carton is spiritually resurrected at the end of the novel as a result of his sacrifice. Both of these events take place in the novel. The need of maintaining family units is a central theme throughout the book. The first instance of this motif is seen when Lucie travels to Paris to visit her father there. The prospect of seeing her father again is enough to convince her to go such a great distance, despite the fact that she is afraid he would appear to her more like a ghost than he did in life. After Lucie and Charles Darnay get married, the narrative focuses mostly on their efforts to maintain their family unit throughout the novel’s entirety. When Darnay expresses regret over his impending execution, he does it not for himself but rather for the sake of his loved ones. The ultimate victory is achieved via the selfless act of Carton, a man who does not have a family of his own and who, as a result, ensures the survival of the group that includes the Doctor, Lucie, her husband, and their children.

Conclusion

The last chapter of this book is devoted to a discussion of Martin Luther King Jr.’s passing. Following his death, some African Americans in different parts of the country retaliated with acts of violence at protests. By setting fires, robbing stores, and damaging property in the areas surrounding them, black people in more than 168 places voiced their grief and outrage, not only over the passing of Martin Luther King Jr., but also over the persistence of systemic racism. The reactions of some other African Americans were shocking, including disbelief and dismay. When Nina Simone wondered, “What will happen now that the King of Love is Dead?” in her song “Why,” she encapsulated the feelings of a large number of black people at the time. In Louisville, however, all remained quiet. Dozens of people from Louisville, both white and black, travelled to Atlanta to pay their respects during the funeral. In point of fact, the passing of King appeared to bring blacks and whites closer together.