Background of the Novel
Historical Context
The last two decades of the 18th century is marked as a turning point in the history of Europe. The French Revolution that began in 1789 changed the political landscape of Europe. With the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte, the citizens of France destroyed the centuries-old institutions of feudalism and absolute monarchy. The poor economic policies of the king and the discontent of the citizens with the French monarchy gave rise to the upheaval. King Louis XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette, were executed.
Though the French Revolution could not achieve its ultimate goal and turn into a chaotic bloodbath, it played an important role in influencing the modern nation by portraying the inherent power of will of the common people.
The French Revolution, just like the American Revolution, was started to inculcate political liberty and rational thought among the masses. The ideals that the Enlightenment period of the 18th century inculcated in the people were soon compromised when the Revolution of French citizens turned into “terror.” Moreover, the French Revolution was not restricted to France.
It also cast a sharp and long shadow on nineteenth-century industrialized Britain. With the advent of industrialization, Britain was divided into two classes: the rich and the poor. The Elite classes started fearing the oppressed class to start the Revolution and rebel against the monarchy; however, political compromises and wake-up calls by literary figures like Dickens attempt to stop the crisis in England.
Literary Context
The genre of historical fiction is founded by Sir Walter Scott. In order to display the historical war-time, Scott created the fictionalized characters in his novels. One of his famous novels on war-time history is Waverly.
Just like the distinct narrative voice of Dickens, Scott narrator also off and on explains, preaches, expounds, and makes jokes. The Middlemarch by George Eliot contains multiple plots and has realistic psychological details, therefore evolving the genre of historical fiction.
The novelists like Dickens, Scott, and Eliot used the genre of historical fiction to talk about the problems that were prevailing in their societies. They would use the events of the past to reveal the present to revolve around the crisis. The novels of these novelists discuss how individuals are created and shaped by political history and vice versa.
A Tale of Two Cities Summary
The novel opens in the year 1775 with Mr. Jarvis Lorry traveling on a mission to Dover to meet Lucie Manette. Mr. Jarvis Lorry is the employer of Tellson’s Bank in England. On his way to Dover, Mr. Lorry happens to meet a man who gives him a mysterious message, and Mr. Lorry replies with the message, “Recalled to life.” At Dover, in a restaurant, Mr. Lorry meets Lucie Manette and reveals that her father, Dr. Alexandre Manette, is alive, whom she thought had been long dead.
For 18 years, Dr. Manette had been clandestinely imprisoned in France. However, Monsieur Defarge, the old and former servant of Dr. Manette, has smuggled him out of prison and hid him in the upper story of the store. In Paris, Defarge now owns a wine shop, which is the center of the rebellious activities that result in the French Revolution. In the meantime, Madame Defarge, wife of Monsieur Defarge, enlists the name of the enemies of the Revolution by knitting. When Lucie and Mr. Lorry arrive to receive Dr. Manette, they find him in a dark corner, spontaneously making shoes. He has been left insane by prison. They receive him lovingly and return to London.
During their return to London, Lucie and Dr. Manette met Charles Darnay, the French aristocrat. He does not withstand the policies of his family against the working class and leaves France to go to England.
The story jumps to the year 1780. Charles Darnay is standing trial in London for spying. Lucie and Dr. Manette also attend the trial. Mr. Stryver is a defense lawyer of Charles Darnay. However, his associate Sidney Carton, a drunk and bored-looking man, win the case. Carton ruins the credibility of the witness by pointing out his resemblance to Darnay.
The wealthy aristocrats of France ignore the misery of poor people who are dying due to hunger and are staggering in luxury. The carriage of Marquis St. Evremonde, a wealthy aristocrat, irresponsibly runs over a child and kills him.
When he reaches his castle, he meets Charles Evremonde, his nephew, who has returned from England. Charles Evremonde is actually Charles Darner. In the meeting with his uncle, he abandons his association with his family. When Marquis is sleeping in his luxurious room that night, he is murdered.
Charles Darnay, Sydney Carton, and Stryver being impressed with Lucie, frequently pay their visit to Dr. Manette and Lucie. When Mr. Stryver decides to ask Lucie for marriage, he is warned by Mr. Lorry that his proposal will not be likely to be accepted by Dr. Manette and Lucie. Similarly, Carton admires Lucie for how she proved to be a person who changed his life by making him believe that he still has scraps of goodness hidden inside him, despite the ruined past he has.
Charles Darnay asks Dr. Manette’s permission to marry his daughter Lucie. Moreover, he wants to tell him his real name; however, Dr. Manette refuses to know until the day of the wedding. After the wedding, he is upset and feeling alone when his daughter and son in law go for honeymoon, Dr. Manette setbacks into his madness and starts making shoes. Mr. Lorry comforts him to recover, and the other day he was all fine and wants Mr. Lorry not to tell Lucie about the episode when she returns. Lucie and Charles Darnay give birth to a daughter.
The story again jumps to the year 1789. To destroy the monarchy, Defarge leads the rebellious peasants in Bastille. He investigates the old cell of Dr. Manette and discovers a letter written by Dr. Manette in a chimney. They later use this letter against him. The French Revolution was at its peak, and the new state has been declared. However, the citizens are growing extremely fierce and capture the aristocrats and kill them by execution. Charles Darnay goes to Paris when he receives a letter from his servant, Gabelle, asking for his help. However, Darnay is taken into prison.
To rescue Darnay, Lucie and Dr. Manette go to Paris and join Mr. Lorry, who has been there on a Bank Business. The 18 years of imprisonment make Dr. Manette a local hero. With his influence, he gets a trial for Charles Darnay; however, it takes a year. Lucie walks near the prison every day in the hope that Charles Darnay may see her. With evidence of Dr. Manette, Charles Darnay is freed. However, on that very night, he is again imprisoned by the charges carried by Madame Defarge and Monsieur Defarge.
Jerry Cruncher and Miss Pross have also come to help Dr. Manette and Lucie Manette. On the streets of Paris, they encounter Solomon Pros, the brother of Miss Pross. Jerry recognizes him as John Barsad, who was a witness of the allegation against Charles Darnay in the trial in England. Carton also appears and forces Barsad to cooperate with him in helping Charles Darnay or else he will reveal him as a spy.
At the second trial of Charles Darnay, Madame Defarge shows the court a letter written by Dr. Manette that she previously found in a chimney. In the letter, Dr. Manette wrote how the father and uncle of Charles Darnay – Evremonde’s brothers – abused a peasant girl and to protect themselves imprisoned Dr. Manette. Darnay is sent back to prison with the sentence to death. Dr. Manette loses his consciousness, thinking that his letter has caused the death of Charles. Moreover, Sidney Carton overhears the conversation of Madame Defarge, who has resolved to eliminate the line of Evremonde by killing Lucie and her daughter. At that spot, she also revealed to be the sister of a peasant girl and boy whom Evremonde abused and killed.
Carton makes a plan with Mr. Lorry to immediately arrange a carriage for everyone to escape for England and handover his identity paper to him. With the help of Barsad, Carton goes into the prison where Charles is imprisoned. He drugs him and switches his clothes with him. Thinking that Sidney has lost his consciousness due to overdrinking, Barsad takes Charles, disguised as Sidney Carton, to the carriage arranged by Mr. Lorry. Mr. Lorry, Dr. Manette, Lucie, her daughter, and Charles Darnay leave for England. They do not know that Sidney has replaced himself with Charles Darnay.
Soon after their departure, Madame Defarge shows up at the apartment of Dr. Manette to kill Lucie. However, before she could get in and know that Lucie has fled to England, Miss Pross stops her at the gate. The two start arguments and Madame Defarge takes out her pistol to threaten Miss Pross but shoots herself. The sound of a gun deafens Miss Pross.
While moving to the place of execution, in place of Darnay, Carton holds the hand of a young lady who has been accused of wrongly. He dies, realizing that the sacrifice he has made for Lucie is the greatest thing he has done in his life ever.
A Tale of Two Cities Characters Analysis
Sydney Carton
Sidney Carton is the most vigorous character in the novel A Tale of Two Cities. At the beginning of the novel, he appears to be a drunk and lazy lawyer who aggregates a little concentration in his life. For him, his existence is nothing but supreme waste and claim that he does not care for anything or anyone. However, the readers realize that there is a deep feeling inside Sidney Carton that he wants to articulate it but is unable to do.
Though, in his conversation with Charles Darnay, who has been recently proved guiltless, comments about Lucie. However, his tone was sardonic and bitter and let down his growing interest and developing feelings for Lucie. Ultimately, he gathers courage and confesses his feelings for Lucie to her. Unknowing that Lucie and Darnay are soon going to marry, he proposes his love for Lucie and also claims that he is not worthy of her. This event changes the life of Sidney Carton and makes the basis for the sacrifice that Sidney makes for Lucie at the end of the novel.
Madame Defarge
Holding an act of ruthless revenge, Madame Defarge symbolizes the turmoil of the French Revolution. In the initial chapter of the novel, the readers find her sitting in the chair of the wine shop, knitting quietly. Nevertheless, her outward inactiveness contradicts her persistent desire for revenge. Along with her knitting the clothes, she also knits the names of her revolutionary enemies in her “mental register.”
The real wildness of Madame Defarge is shown when Revolution breaks with the full force. The way terror and chaos destroy Paris, Madame Defarge turns on Lucy and invades both the physical and psychological space of Lucie. At first, she enlists the name of Lucie and her memory into the register of people who are meant to die in the Revolution. She then breaks into Lucie’s apartment to see Lucie mourning the death of her husband, Charles Darnay and then kills her.
Dickens points out that the ruthlessness and hatefulness of Madame Defarge are not inherent but is the result of suffering, oppression, and tragedy she faced at the hand of Evremondes. Though Lucie and Charles Darnay have not done any harm to her, they both are related to Evremondes: Darnay by blood and Lucie by marriage. But still, Dickens does not approve the retributive policies of justice of Madame Defarge, and therefore the readers do not feel any sympathy for her.
The oppression of aristocrats has mage Madame Defarge, an oppressor; likewise, the victims of the oppression of Madame Defarge will turn out oppressors as well. Madame Defarge dies with the shot of her own gun. Through this, Dickens symbolizes that the revengeful attitude that Madame Defarge embodies turns out to be self-damning.
Charles Darnay (a.k.a. Charles Evrémonde)
After renouncing his connection with the Evremondes, Charles Darnay abandons his family and position as the French aristocrat and goes to England. Though Darnay supports the revolutionary ideal of human liberty, he is not a radical revolutionary like French masses. He symbolizes the middle position between the mistreatment practiced by the aristocracy and the lethal anger displayed by the revolutionaries.
Charles Darnay displays a heroic character of obligation and justice when trying to help the oppressed peasants and endangers his own life by helping Gabelle. But Charles also deceives himself by thinking that he can change the power and make the Revolution a positive change in France. Moreover, Charles is not able to see the potential of Sidney Carton and is guided by his wife, Lucie, to believe in the potential of Sidney Carton. Darnay is the representative of virtuous but imperfect humanity.
Lucie Manette
She is the daughter of Dr. Alexandre Manette and wife of Charles’ Darnay. She resurrects or restores her father back to life after eighteen years of imprisonment. She has the qualities of devotion, innocence, and enduring love. In the novel, she is the main figure which symbolizes goodness and laces a “golden thread” that binds together an essential group of people against the cruel forces of politics and history. She also displays religious faith. She believes in Sydney Carton when no one else believes in him. It is her kindness that inspires Sidney for his utmost deed of sacrifice.
Dr. Alexandre Manette
He is an accomplished physician who lived in France and has been imprisoned for 18 years in Bastille. The unjustified imprisonment makes him lose his mind. He embodies a horrible psychological shock of oppression from subjugation. Lucie’s love “resurrects” or restores him to his life. Manette also represents the idea that suffering can also turn into a strength. When he goes back to Paris to rescue his son in law, he gains the authoritative position in the French Revolution. To return Charles Darnay’s favor of resurrection, Manette saved him in the trial. But his old letters again lead to Charles’ execution. He ultimately becomes a tragic figure and falls into madness. The life of Manette shows that individuals are always entrapped in the strong forces of history.
Monsieur Defarge
He is the former servant of Dr. Mannete and smuggles him from the prison. He owns a wine shop that he uses to organize the revolutionaries of the French Revolution. Monsieur Defarge, like his wife Madame Defarge, is aggressively dedicated to dethroning dictatorship and retaliating discrimination. However, he does not support his wife’s planning to kill Lucie Manette. Due to this characteristic of mercy, Defarge becomes a symbol of the French Revolution that failed. The revolution lost its vision and turned into terror and chaos.
Jarvis Lorry
With the development of the plot of the novel, the character of Jarvis Lorry changes from a purely pragmatic and minding-one’s-own-business to an intense and loyal person who devotes his life to protect the family of Dr. Manette and thus become a member of Manette’s family. When Mr. Lorry first meets with Lucie, he asserts that “I had no feelings and that all relationships I hold with my fellow-creatures are mere business relations.”
Indeed, Mr. Lorry is a dedicated and hardworking employee who, on behalf of the bank, risks his life by making a dangerous journey to France. He explains his decision by saying that “if I were not prepared to submit to a few inconveniences for the sake of Tellson’s, after all these years, who ought to be?” however, his actions strongly contradict his words. He time and again claims that he is only concerned with his business; he shows great love and affection to the Manette’s family. It is Lorry who helps Dr. Manette when he lapses into madness after Lucie’s marriage.
He explains the episode to Dr. Manette by saying that he is narrating the case of a hypothetical patient. The end of the life or Mr. Lorry is described in the vision of Sidney Carton as “the good old man, so long their friend, in ten years’ time, enriching them with all he has, and passing tranquility to his reward.” The character of Mr. Lorry symbolizes the life of someone who lives conferring on the integrity and principles of both personal and professional life.
Jerry Cruncher
He is a worker of Tellson’s Bank. He is a short-tempered, gruff, illiterate, and uneducated person. He has the second source of his earnings by doing a job of a “Resurrection-Man.” He digs up the graves and sells the dead bodies to a scientist for experiments.
Miss Pross
She is Lucie’s maid who raised her. She is a tough, gruff, and loyal servant. As she is a symbol of loyalty and order, she is a foil to Madame Defarge – the one who is an epitome of chaos and disorder.
Marquis Evrémonde
He is the French aristocrat and the uncle of Charles Darnay. He is the embodiment of inhumanity and supports the brutal caste system. He displays no sign of humanity in the novel and wants all peasants of the world to terminate.
Mr. Stryver
He is a determined lawyer. He wants to climb the social ladder by marrying Lucie Manette. He is a proud, bombastic, and foolish person.
John Barsad or Roger Cly
John Barsad and Roger Cly are the same person but switch their roles according to the need of the situation. In England and France both, he swears to be loyal to the state, and all his actions are inspired by patriotism. He spies for the British under the name Roger Cly, while in Paris is named as John Barsad. He claims to a person of a high reputation. However, he is involved in crafty planning.
Gabelle
He is the servant of Evremondes and is charged with the allegation of keeping the estate of Evremondes after the death of Marquis Evremonde. The revolutionaries imprisoned him, and he wrote a letter to Charles Darnay for him. This letter makes Darnay visit France and save him.
Themes in A Tale of Two Cities
Resurrection and Transformation
The novel A Tale of Two Cities By Charles Dickens illustrates the possibility of transformation and resurrection. Charles Dickens, in the novel, declares that resurrection and transformation are possible on a personal level, as well as social level. The death/sacrifice of Sidney Carton not only restores the peaceful life of Charles Darnay but also of Lucie Manette and Dr. Manette and Sidney Carton himself. Carton rises to the status of heroism by providing himself with execution. He becomes a Christ-like figure who restores and rescues the lives of others by his death. Even he gives meaning and value to his life. Moreover, at the end of the novel, the narrative suggests that the life of Sidney Carton – like Christ’s life – will be resurrected as Sidney Carton gains immortality in the hearts of people whom he died for.
Moreover, the novel also asserts that the destruction of the old Monarchy of France is a way to the new and beautiful Paris that Carton envisions during execution. Though Carton spends most of his life in idleness and sloth, his final deed shows the human potential for better change. Though most of the novel describes the cruelness of aristocrats and outrageous peasants both, it also delivers the belief that this violence will pave the way for a better society.
The theme of resurrection Dr. Manette is also called forth by Mr. Lorry, who sends a secret message saying that “recalled to Life.” According to this, the 18 years long imprisonment of Dr. Manette is considered as death. The love of Lucie restores Dr. Manette’s life and supports the notion of rebirth.
The Inevitability of Sacrifice
The themes of resurrection are associated with the theme of the necessity of sacrifice. The resurrection reinforces the idea that for the attainment of happiness, sacrifice is necessary. This theme, like the theme of resurrection, is also applicable to both personal and national life. For instance, the French Revolution in France portrays the idea that a democratic and liberal can be established only with a high coast. In order to bring the change, personal loyalties and affection must be sacrificed.
Similarly, when Charles Darnay is arrested for the second time by the revolutionaries, the guard reminds Dr. Manette of the predominance of the interest of the state against the personal interest. A similar lesson is given to Monsieur Defarge by Madame Defarge when he shows his devotion to Dr. Manette. Lastly, the transformation of Carton into a man of moral worth is only possible when he sacrifices his old self. He not only rescues his friend but also guarantees his rebirth by choosing to die.
The Propensity to Fierceness and Tyranny in Revolutionaries
The novel, A Tale of Two Cities, illustrates the Dickens’ uncertain approach to the French Revolution. Though he supports the causes that give rise to the French Revolution, he highlights the wickedness of the revolutionaries as well. Dickens profoundly understands the dilemma of the French peasantry and stresses on their necessity for freedom.
The chapters in the novel that deals with the oppression of Marquis Evremonde effectively show an image of malicious upper classes that blatantly abuses and subjugates the poor class. Though Dickens denounces this subjugation, he also denounces the strategies of the poor classes to gain liberation against it. The peasants do not affect the Revolution truly by fighting against the barbarism with barbarism. Instead, they only give rise to the chaos they suffered themselves.
While depicting the mobs, in the novel, Dickens makes a standpoint and proves it. The scene in which the revolutionaries sharpen their weapons and dance at the execution of the aristocrat is marked as morbid. The apt view of Dickens is illustrated in the last chapter in which he says that “Sow the same seed of rapacious license and oppression over again, and it will surely yield the same fruit according to its kind.” The revolutionaries are turning from oppressed to oppressors. Indeed, the French Revolution is a symbol of resurrection and transformation, and he also highlights the violent act stating it to be opposing it causes.
Class
The French Revolution is caused by class conflict and social unrest in France. The ruling class and the monarchs have done nothing but spent their lives in luxury and wealth. A Tale of Two Cities sarcastically spoofs the affectations of the aristocrats by showing how four servants are busy serving a cup of chocolate to their master.
The narrator says, “Deep would have been the blot upon his escutcheon if his chocolate had been ignobly waited on by only three men.” The French aristocrats are not only lazy and spoiled, but they are also brutal and do not regard the lives of poor peasants. After killing a child under his carriage, Monseigneur heatless tells the poor peasant that he “would ride over any of you very willingly, and exterminates you from the earth.” Moral complexity is added to the novel as Dickens does show not only the brutality and oppression of the upper class but also shows the violence of the lower class.
Justice
The theme of justice presents in the novel through the institutions that are responsible for serving justice and as well as through the individuals who want to attain justice outside the courtroom. In the novel, the imprisonments and the trials represent justice. Though the legal systems are designed to provide justice to the masses, the prisons and courts, most of the time, punish the innocent people. As the legal system failed to provide justice, the individual seeks it outside it. When Gaspard’s son is killed, he realizes that the legal system will never give him justice against the strong and powerful aristocrat, thus killing Marquis in his bed. Similarly, Madame Defarge has been scheming against the Evremonde’s family for years because she knows that the legal system cannot stand against the wealth and power of Evremondes.
Oppression and Revolution
The novel A Tale of Two Cities is based on the French Revolution that started in France in 1789. In the novel, Charles Dickens shows how the oppression of the rulers of France nourished wrath in the masses that ultimately resulted in the rebellion. This process is depicted through the character of Marquis, Evremonde, his treatment with the common people. He killed a child and was not ashamed of it.
Though the reasons for common people to revolt against the brutal aristocrats are justifiable, and the ideals of equality, liberty, and fraternity of the French Revolution were highly praised, Dickens seems to be more pessimistic about it. He shows that the revolutionaries fight against oppression and violence with further oppression and violence. This symbolizes that no matter who is in power, whether common people or the aristocrats will fall prey to the pull to use complete power and suppress others. In short, Dickens illustrates that the way oppression causes Revolution, Revolution, also cases oppression. The cycle can only be broken when mercy and justice are practiced.
Secrecy and Surveillance
In the novel, A Tale of Two Cities, every character seems to have a secret. The forgotten history of Dr. Manette is detailed in his hidden letter; the secret profession of Jerry Cruncher; the attitude of Mr. Lorry regarding his profession; the past of Charles Darnay; the underground activities of Madame Defarge and Monsieur Defarge.
The prevailing political instability at the counter results in this secrecy. In Book One, Chapter Three, the narrator points out that “A wonderful fact to reflect upon, that every human creature is constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other. A solemn consideration, when I enter a great city by night, that every one of those darkly clustered houses encloses its own secret; that every room in every one of them encloses its own secret; that every beating heart in the hundreds of thousands of breasts there, is, in some of its imaginings, a secret to the heart nearest it.”
The French aristocrats and the commoner both have spies to find out what their enemies are up to. Both sides inflict harsh punishments once they suspect anyone is spying on them. In such circumstances, no one trusts anyone and suspects everyone. To survive, they all feel the necessity to keep secrets.
Fate and History
Lucie Manette and Madame Defarge identify with the Fates – the mythological goddesses who actually control the “threads.” Lucie is titled as the “golden thread,” whereas Madame Defarge is seen as constantly knitting in the novel. The novel A Tale of Two Cities is concerned with the theme of human destiny due to the presence of these two “Fate” characters. The novel deals with how history shapes the fate of the individual. In the novel, Dr. Manette and Charles Darnay try to change their destinies. Charles makes his way to England and tries to escape the cruel history of his family; however, circumstances made him go to France and face the consequences of his family’s past. Similarly, Dr. Manette uses his connection and influence to rescue Charles Darnay; however, he forgets his own letter that causes his execution. Dickens suggests that forces of history cannot be defeated by political influences but by self-sacrifice.
A Tale of Two Cities Analysis
The novel A Tale of Two Cities is an account of the main conflict between Charles Darnay and Madame Defarge. Charles Darnay wants to break his connection with his family, whereas Madame Defarge wants to hold him responsible for the sins of his family and punish him. The conflict between Madame Defarge and Charles Dafarge embodies the characteristics of the French Revolution. On the one hand, the French Revolution was a response to the injustices done to the peasants’ class over the years; on the other hand, this Revolution causes the death of many innocent people who have not done anything wrong.
Being in association with the institution of exploitation was enough to execute a person. In the novel, Charles Darnay is sentenced to death because he is the son and nephew of the Evremonde’s brothers. The plot of the story is structured in the past before the action of the story begins. The two Evremonde’s brothers abused a peasant girl and brother and then killed him. To eliminate any witness, they also imprisoned Dr. Manette. At the end of the novel, Madame Defarge turns out to be the sister of the abused girl.
The readers learn about the causes of Madame Defarge’s action at the end of the novel. However, they have been driving the plot and reflect that how history discloses. The chaotic Revolution does not start all of a sudden; it is the result of the decades’ old exploitation and injustices by power. Likewise, the crimes that were committed years before by the old generation haunted the new generation and held them accountable for it.
Symbols
Abstract ideas and concepts in a literary text are represented by objects, characters, and figures. Following are the symbols in the novel A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
Wine
The wine shop of Madame Defarge and Monsieur Defarge is the center where revolutionary planning is going on secretly. The wine in the novel symbolizes the strong power of the French Revolution. The revolutionaries, drunk on power, turned from the freedom fighters into the wild beasts on the streets murdering everyone. The deep red color of the wine shows the red color of the blood. When the wine drops from the container, the people rush towards it. It shows how these people are bloodthirsty. Just like the wine everywhere on the streets when the sailor could not transport it to the shop properly, after the Revolution, blood is everywhere.
Golden Thread and knitting
Lucie Manette and Madame Defarge identify with the Fates – the mythological goddesses who actually control the “threads.” Lucie is titled as the “golden thread,” whereas Madame Defarge is seen as constantly “knitting” in the novel. Lucie tries to connect the people around him and is the source of their bondage, whereas, Madame Defarge plans to separate them by knitting their names in the mental register. The novel A Tale of Two Cities is concerned with the theme of human destiny due to the presence of these two “Fate” characters. The novel deals with how history shapes the fate of the individual.
Guillotine
It is the machine designed to execute the people who are sentenced to death. It is one of the everlasting symbols of the French Revolution. The guillotine in the novel shows how the chaos created by the Revolution is institutionalized. It shows how the life of humans is cheap, and murdering has become so easy and emotionless. The guillotine is the death of the ideals of the French Revolution: equality, fraternity, liberty, or death.
Footsteps and Shoes
Lucie hears the footsteps of all the people coming into the lives of Manette’s family. These footsteps symbolize fate. It shows how the fate of Lucie is connected with people coming into her life. Similarly, in his madness, Dr. Manette is always seen as making shoes. Shoes are the symbol of the inevitable past.
The Marquis
The character of the Marquis Evrémonde is an archetype of wicked and corrupt social institutions. He exploits the lives of peasants and is completely indifferent to their sufferings. Marquis is a symbol of the brutal aristocrat and cruelty that drives the peasants to revolt against them.
Motifs
The recurrent images, structures, and literary devices in a literary text are called Motifs. The emphasis on the idea helps develop the major themes of a work. The following are the motifs in the novel A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.
Doubles
The very opening words of the novel suggest that the narrative of the novel is centered on the double. The novel opens with the words: “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.” Likewise, the plot of the story is based on the “two cities”: London and Paris. Moreover, Dickens also doubled the characters to highlight the main theme of the novel. The two important female characters in the novel act totally opposite to each other. Madame Defarge is an evil character, while Lucie is loving and affectionate.
Dickens does not compare the two cities or characters by placing them opposite to each other, and he also creates the twins that make the plot of the novel melodramatic. The character of Darnay resembles Sidney Carton in looks. Carton saves the life of Sidney twice by taking advantage of his resemblance to Charles Darney.
Imprisonment
The characters in the novel are struggling against some sort of imprisonment. In the case of Dr. Manette and Charles Darnay, the struggle is evident as they are kept in prison in the jails of Paris. However, the novel also suggests that past memories also serve as the function of prison. Dr. Manette cannot get over his memories of the torturing past he spent in prison. Similarly, Sidney Carton spends much of his life thinking of harsh memories of the past.
Setting of the Novel
The very title of the novel indicates the two settings of the novel. The novel is set in London and Paris. The main action of the novel starts in the year 1775 with Lucie Manette discovering that her father, Dr. Manette is not dead but had been in prison for the last 18 years and ends with the Carton’s sacrifice to the Manette’s family in 1793. The key events of the plot occur in the year 1757 (before the novel begins). This year, Dr. Manette was arrested by the Evremondes. Due to the two settings, Dickens incorporates many storylines occurring at both places simultaneously. All these storylines are brought together in the last part of the novel, where every character of the novel is seen in Paris.
The two settings give a chance to Charles Dickens to compare and contrast the two cities. The novel criticizes both cities differently. London, in particular, and England in general, are portrayed as conservative, old fashioned, and at odds with the times. The narrator voices Dickens by comparing England to a father who “did very often disinherit his sons for suggesting improvements in laws and customs.”
On the other hand, Paris is portrayed as a place of high tension and is on the peak of chaos, for example, and the narrator describes Saint Antoine in the first chapter as “a narrow winding street, full of offense and stench.” It is the place where the violence of the Revolution is at peak. This setting is dominated by the muskets, cannons, and smoke and fire along with the masses that are bloodthirsty.
Style
The style of the novel A Tale of Two Cities is grandiose. The narrator is omniscient who can see both the past and future. The narrator uses his perspective to comment on human nature and foreshadows the upcoming events. The style of the novel also contributes to the outcome of unfolding history. The style also dominates when the narrator describes the prophetic vision of Sidney Carton about the future of Paris.
Tone
The novel has a threatening and philosophical tone. All over the novel, the narrator foreshadows the uncountable sufferings this to come. The narrator also employed images that help to create a dark and threatening tone.
Point of View
The point of view of the novel A Tale of Two Cities has a third-person omniscient. The events of the plot are recounted by the all-knowing and all-seeing narrator. The narrator also provides an understanding of the feelings and thoughts of the characters. The point of view helps to provide a thorough perspective on the historical events that occur in different places. It also allows the panoramic view of all the events taking place in the two cities: London and Paris.
Genre
The novel A Tale of Two Cities belongs to the genre of historical fiction. Though the novel was published in 1859, the main plot of the novel is set in 1775, the years before the French Revolution. The opening line of the novel gives a sense of the time to the reader:
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…
The plot of historical fiction is set before the time it is actually written. It provides a critical view of the events of the past and helps the readers to think more critically than the facts given by historians.