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Long A Tale of Two Cities
Long A Tale of Two Cities
By
Charles Dickens
Darnay returns to England, and several more years pass. He and Lucie
have a daughter. One day, Mr. Lorry tells to Darnay that he has received a
letter addressed to a Marquis St. Everyone in care of Tellson's. Darnay says
that he knows the man and will deliver the letter. In truth, Darnay is the
Marquis St. Evrémonde, a descendant of the corrupt rulers of France. The letter
is from an old friend who has been put in prison unjustly and who fears that he
will soon be executed. Darnay realizes that he must go.
He leaves for France without telling his wife. He quickly realizes that the
situation is worse than he could have imagined. A Revolution has taken place;
the peasants have overthrown the government and are murdering anyone who
they feel represents the old guard. Darnay is immediately taken into custody,
though he tries desperately to explain that unlike his uncle and father, he is on
the peasants' side and wants to help them. They disregard his testimony, and
none other than Ernest Defarge, who has since become a Revolutionary, sends
Darnay to prison. By this time, Lucie and her father have learned that Darnay
has returned to France, aware that Darnay is probably in grave danger; they
reached France to help him. Mr. Lorry is also present takings care of Tellson’s
French office. The Revolutionaries treat Dr. Manette as a hero.
When Darnay is tried for his life in front of a corrupt tribunal Dr.
Manette's testimony saves him. He is freed, but before even one day passes,
he is re-arrested because of Madam Defarge (Ernest's cruel and vengeful wife),
a leading Revolutionist, who wants to finish whole Evremonde family. On the
following day Darnay is tried, convicted and sentenced to death by the tribunal.
Dr. Manette, knows that the situation is hopeless and shattered by the trial,
reverts to his old abnormal state.
By this time, Sydney Carton has arrived in Paris. He learns about Darnay’s new
trial and impeding execution. He also overhears ( )اق ﮯa plot
against the lives of Lucie, her father and her daughter. Acting quickly, he tells
Mr. Lorry to have a carriage prepared an hour before the execution. He reaches
to the prison on the day of Charles' execution with the help of a spy ()س
and an informer. But once he gets inside, he uses his physical resemblance to
Darnay. He enters Dannay’s cell and drugs him. He then exchanges clothing
with him, and the spy smuggles Darnay out of the prison and into a waiting
carriage that also includes Dr. Manette, Lucie, and Mr. Lorry. He tells no one of
his plan, and not even the Manettes know it. They are waiting in their carriage
for Carton, fully expecting that he will join them and that they will leave France
in a hurry. The rest of the family is in danger because of Madame Defarge, who
wants to denounce all of them. The peasant that the Evrémonde brothers
murdered was her brother, and she wants revenge against Darnay and his
entire family. The spy smuggles Charles to the waiting carriage, and the family
escapes France. Carton, however, goes to the guillotine and dies for Lucie,
fulfilling his promise to her that he would die "to keep a life you love beside
you." Just before he dies, he thinks to himself that his final act is far better
than anything else he has ever done.
Just before he is beheaded, Sydney Carton prophesied for a better society
emerging from the holocaust ( )
دand of his own survival in the
memories of the Darnay family, and he faces death in serenity (ان،)ن
and triumph.
Q 1:
What is the significance of the title of the novel “A
Tale of Two Cities”?
Answer:
The title, “A Tale of Two Cities”, is symbolic and significant as the
novel describes the incidents revolving around the two cities-London and Paris-
against the background of the French Revolution. The events in the two cities
are artistically balanced by the writer. The alternate movement between the
two cities highlights the contrast between them.
Before the present title is decided upon, Charles Dickens thought about
various other titles. In the preface to “A Tale of Two Cities”, he says that the
idea of this novel came while he was acting in Frozen Deep. Various other titles
came to his mind. He thought about, “Buried Alive”, “One of Those Days”, “The
Thread of Gold”, “The Doctor of Beauvais”, “Recalled to Life”. But finally he
settled for “A Tale of Two Cities”. “Buried Alive” would only have been Dr.
Manett’s story. “Recalled to Life” would also have been appropriate as most of
the characters, Lucie, Charles, Sydney, Jarvis Lorry, Jerry Cruncher and Dr.
Manette, are recalled to life or resurrected ( " ز ﮦ#) in some way or the
other. However, the title “A Tale of Two Cities” is even more appropriate and
symbolic as it assumes universal significance.
In fact the two cities, London and Paris, are introduced at the beginning
as if they were two characters. London as well as Paris is being administrated
badly. In London, robberies are common, religious intolerance; superstitions,
greed and death are dominant. The priest, military officers, nobility, aristocrats
are all corrupt. Spiritually, socially and politically, there are no moral
standards. People are victims of the divine rights of the nobility and of fate.
The poor and the rich are robbing and being robbed. The hangman ( $"#،د%
& )دﯾﮯواtoo is busy in hanging people for miscellaneous deeds, ranging from
murders to small thefts. Law and order is in a sad state.
Paris is not in a better state. Death lurks (
)*"تin every nook and
corner as the ruthless aristocrats exploit the masses. The monarchy ( ﮨ,
-./) is equally corrupt. Economic instability is accompanied by prejudice,
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indiscriminate (ر1, ﮯ،ل3 )ﮯ اkilling and lack of trials. Corruption and
injustice reigns in churches and courts. The aristocrats are supposed to look
after the tenants ( )
ن دﯾﮯ واﮯbut they are blind to their needs. Hunger is
written on every face and the flowing wine is symbolic of the bloodshed of the
Revolution. St. Antoine Street is a miniature ( ﯾ4 "ﭨ6) Paris where hunger
and bloodshed are common features.
The lives of the characters are interwoven by means of the two cities. Dr.
Manette is imprisoned in France for eighteen years, for championing the poor
and truth. Refuge and restoration is only possible in England. Charles
Evrémonde too leaves France, the country of his birth, for England, where he
gets peace of mind.
However, England is no refuge. Though Lucie, her father and Charles live
peacefully in Soho Square, they are compelled by fate to move to Paris, where
violence engulfs them. Neither of the two cities is peaceful heaven. The events
in France engulf the lives of the characters in England. Violence, hatred and the
Revolution spare none, not even England and overrun the life of the people in
England.
The moral corruption is a little better in England. In London, the mock
funeral of Cly can be contrasted with the genuine but violent funeral of Foulon
in Paris. Paris is hub of mob violence, murders and butchery. The old Bailey
Court in London is a place of sensational executions, whereas the courts in
Paris do not give the prisoners any opportunity to be tried. The prisoners are at
the mercy of the aristocrats. While conservative England is not heading
towards any Revolution, France is heading towards the French Revolution.
The cities can be contrasted in the other way too. While the French
characters appear to stand for hatred, the English characters appear to stand
for love. Marquis Evermonde, Madam Defarge, Defarge stand for hatred, Dr.
Manette, Lucie, Jarvis Lorry, Miss Prose and Sydney Carton stand for love.
However, love and hatred are not restrained to any particular city. Defarge, a
Frenchman, is loyal to Dr. Manette; Sydney, an Englishman, moves pessimism
to love, from England to Paris.
Sydney Carton, an Englishman, is redeemed (&ت د7) in Paris, where he
performs the ultimate sacrifice. Injustice and betrayal ()دهہ دﮨ, love and
hatred, honesty and unity constitute a part of both the countries. Ultimately,
love triumph through the process of redemption, irrespective of location.
London and Paris are placed side by side. While book one moves from
Paris to England, book two, continuously moves between the two. While all the
characters and both the cities merge in book three. Dirty streets, hunger and
blood differentiate Paris from the peace and tranquility (;=ٔﯾ،,.:) of
Soho Street in book two.
To conclude, it can be said that parallelism and contrast between the two
cities link and merge them. The title is highly remindful and symbolic as the
two cities stand for the universe and humanity in general.
Q 2:
Discuss the plot construction in “The Tale of Two
Cities” by Charles Dickens.
Answer:
The plot of a novel is an integral (> ور،?.) part of the story. It should
be logical, credible (@رA? اB), meaningful and full of suspense. Whereas the
story has a beginning, middle and end with a focus on central idea or ideas,
the plot is a logical, causative (وہ،C@) and artistic relation between the
beginning, middle and end.
Charles Dickens as a novelist has all types of plots. His later novels have
organic (C ﯾB )ز * ﮯand complex plots which are made interesting due to
humour, suspense and sensational events. In “The Tale of Two Cities”, he
has artistically interwoven two tales, two cities, history and story, public and
private life and a variety of themes through few selected characters, suspense,
symbolism, parallelism and contrast.
Dual Location:
In “A Tale of Two Cities”, the story moves simultaneously between
London and Paris. The political and social atmosphere in the two cities is
miserable as hunger and death walk in search of the preys in the two cities.
The scenes in London are more peaceful as compared to Paris, though poverty,
hunger and violence and brutality are present in both cities.
Coincidences:
In the course of the story, many things happen unexpectedly. In spite of
the coincidences there is a witty suspension of disbelief as the readers realize
that it is not a typical love story. Though at times the turn of events seem like
of a fantastic fairy tale, the story is interesting and there is dramatic element
of suspense as to what will happen next.
In fact, at time the coincidences seem superficial. But later events add up
to the climax. It is a coincidence that Sydney and Charles look alike, that
Sydney overhears Madam Defarge making plans to kill Lucie that Sydney is
present in France at the end. Though a lot of events seem unbelievable, they
add a dramatic touch, heighten the suspense and seem acceptable as a part of
life.
Suspense:
The element of suspense is present from the beginning till the end.
Throughout our curiosity is aroused as to who is Dr. Manette? Why has he been
imprisoned? What will happen to him? What did Defarge find in cell 105? There
is suspense at each and every stage as the plot moves forward. However, all
loose threads are tied logically at the end as our curiosity dies out.
Tight Structure:
In fact, no event is really superfluous. Even seemingly superfluous events
like Charles’ trial at Old Bailey court, Barsad’s accusation of Charles for treason
(وتK، ارL), Sydney’s judging his resemblance to Charles, Sydney’s promise
to Lucie that he would do something great for her, Madam Defarge’s intense
hatred, all add to the plot of the novel. In the end the climax seems believable.
Eventually, all events lead to Sydney’s sacrifice and act of love.
Weaknesses:
In spite of tight structure, “A Tale of Two Cities” has raised a lot of
controversies. While some regard it Dickens’ best novel, other feel it is not
convincing. Madam Defarge’s death is considered inconsistent even though
Dickens called it an act of divine justice. Even Sydney’s death is regarded as
highly romantic filled with so much sentimentality. However, that is not the
case.
Conclusion:
To conclude, it can be said that characters and situations, two venues,
facts and fictions, symbolism, parallelism, suspense, humour and pathos etc.
have led to the excellent and balanced plot of “A Tale of Two Cities”.
Q 3:
Discuss Dickens’ views about Revolution with
reference to the novel “A Tale of Two Cities”.
Answer:
The background and the main subject of “A Tale of Two Cities” is the
French Revolution. Actually, Dickens was inspired by Carlyle’s book the “The
French Revolution, which he read again and again. As a result, Dickens has
mixed private lives with this dramatic and historical event. It is a novel about
historical events and personal tragedy. As it is an expression of Dickens’ view
about the French Revolution, the private lives of the characters mirror the
Revolution and their lives are mirrored by it.
Conditions in France:
At that time, the social and political conditions in France and England
were horrible. In France, it were even worst, where monarchs (ﮦ, )دbelieved
in divine rights of kings. The French King, Louis XV, known as the butterfly
king, was uncaring and had a spendthrift ( چ: لOP) wife. During this period,
the noblemen enjoyed special rights and were exempted from taxes. As a
result of this, the common people had to pay double taxes. This exploitation of
the masses was seen in all fields of life. The rich even went so far as to
dishonor poor peasant women. The economic differences between the haves
and have-nots obviously dissatisfied the poor and oppressed. The economic
differences and exploitation obviously lead to political revolts and uprising. The
Revolution is an inevitable consequence of this tyranny and exploitation. Many
crimes are committed by the Revolutionaries in the name of liberty and
vengeance.
Though Dickens highlights the social and political events, he is of the
opinion that mass murders and bloodshed are not the answer. The salvation
lies in moral regeneration and not social and political uprising. Though he
stands for the poor and oppressed but does not consider the Revolution as an
ideal solution. In “A Tale of Two Cities” Dickens describes the exploitation of
the poor by the aristocracy and the subsequent furry of Revolutionaries who
executed similar evil deeds to take revenge.
The cause of the Revolution is stressed all along. The whole novel
highlights the poverty and hunger, the callousness and cruelties of the
noblemen. The aristocracy created such an atmosphere that ultimately bursts
into an explosive Revolution.
Scenes of Violence:
The novel is full of horrible scenes related to the Revolution. Dickens
focus on the mass-butcheries, the injustice, the bloodthirsty mob, the
sharpening of weapons at grindstone, the guillotine ( ﮯ واQJB .=د
E.), heads bouncing, all are clearly portrayed as monstrous and inhuman.
The violent aspects of the Revolution are further highlighted in the fall of
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Bastille; Defarge’s cutting of Governor’s head, the hanging of Foulon and the
burning of the chateau ( "* رت4: ﮟ *ٔوں. T اP). In short, the novel is full
of scenes of violence and bloodshed.
A Meaningless Horror:
By focusing on the causes and ugly aspects of the Revolution Dickens
tries to highlight the meaningless horror of the Revolution. It is shown to be
monstrous, inhuman and unjust. The cruel cycle of violence and hatred is
never ending. There is no ending to tyranny and cruelty. Dickens points out
that suffering, oppression and injustice lead to diseased society, uprising,
bloodshed and murders.
Moral Regeneration:
According to Dickens, the Revolution is not the solution of oppression and
suffering. What is required is love and moral regeneration. This is highlighted
through Sydney’s sacrifice and prophecy at the end. He says:
“I see a beautiful city and a brilliant people rising from the abyss
(*ﮩ "ٔﯾ،رL) and in their struggles to be truly free, in their triumphs
and defeats, through long years to come.”
Thus, his vision of a brilliant city can come true only through love and
sacrifice from each and every man, rich or poor.
Conclusion:
Thus we see that Dickens in not a Revolutionary. Though, he feels that
the Revolution is a natural consequence of social oppression, he is not a
champion of the Revolution. He does not approve the violence, as he feels it is
self-destructive. That is why, Madam Defarge who personifies that hatred and
vengeance of the revolutionaries, loses her life in the final struggle between
the forces of hatred and love. In the ultimate analysis love is the answer to
hatred and violence, oppression and cruelty.
Q 4:
What are the major themes in “A Tale of Two
Cities”?
Or
Resurrection and renunciation are the major
themes of the novel “A Tale of Two Cities”.
Answer:
The main themes of “A Tale of Two Cities” are resurrection and
renunciation. Originally resurrection is taken in religious terms as the
resurrection of Jesus Christ. But here, it is taken in various forms and this main
theme is illustrated again and again as it overshadows the social, political and
love themes in the novel.
Mental Resurrection:
Initially, Dickens had planned to call his novel “Buried Alive”, as this was
the main idea behind the novel. The novel starts with the release or recall to
life of Dr. Manette who was buried alive for eighteen years in the Bastille. His
daughter Lucie, who had always thought that he was dead, is shocked to find
that he her father is not dead but had been imprisoned for such a long time.
She promises to bring him back to life. With love and care she resurrects him
to life mentally and intellectually. Every time he faces a problem, he goes back
into his past but is resurrected and emerges mentally stronger.
Physical Resurrection:
Charles Darnay, Marquis Evermonde’s nephew atones ( )رﮦ اداfor the
sins of his ancestors and disowns his legacy and country. He comes to England
to lead a decent and simple life. Thus he is resurrected as he atones for the
bloodshed caused by his ancestors. Later on, in England he is accused of being
a spy but at the last minute he escapes the gallows due to his resemblance
with Sydney. This too is a form of resurrection. History is repeated once again
when Charles goes to Franc to help his former servant, Gabelle. There he is
arrested by the revolutionaries and is condemned (ادﯾV) to death. Though,
he is released by Dr. Manett’s efforts but he is rearrested arrested because of a
letter written by the doctor when he had been in prison. This letter is used
against Charles and he is condemned to death. At the last moment, he is saved
by Sydney Carton who dies for him.
Spiritual Resurrection:
Though Charles is resurrected from death, again and again, it is Sydney
who is actually resurrected spiritually. Though an intelligent man, he is a
wastrel (=وارﮦ،), who is totally demoralized with life. His love for Lucie
inspires him with courage, faith and humanity and he promises to repay the
compassion ( ا:،Q/ )رshe has shown to him.
Thus, when Charles is condemned to death, he planes to die for him. He
remembers his father’s funeral, where the priest had said,
“I am the Resurrection and the life”.
He planes to bring life to Charles and makes a plane for his ultimate
sacrifice. He drugs Charles, exchanges clothes with him and sent him in a
carriage to Lucie, Jarvis Lorry and Dr. Manette. Sydney, thus, becomes Christ
life figure full of love and compassion. Before dying he has a vision of the
entire city and its people rising from chaos and gaining freedom. In fact, he
visualizes the resurrection of the city and the masses. His sacrifice makes him
to achieve ultimate resurrection.
Roger Cly and Foulon are resurrected in a grotesque way. While Cly fakes
death to escape the anger of his animies, Foulon fakes death to escape the
fury of the revolutionaries as he once told the people to eat grass, when they
were dying with hunger. Thus their resurrection is comical. Miss Pross’
brother’s resurrection is also comical.
Political Resurrection:
Besides the resurrection of characters, there is social and political
resurrection. The oppressed French masses revolt against their exploiters so
that they can face a better life. Though, they aim for social and political
regeneration, they are so overcome by emotions that they go for violence.
Stability might take time but the resurrection is seen through Sydney’s
ultimate vision.
A Warning to England:
Another theme closely related to the resurrection theme is that revolution
can happen anywhere. The cruel and heartless ruling class in France compelled
the people to revolt. Dickens seems to be saying that this can happen in
England too.
A Meaningless Horror:
Another underlying theme is Dickens’ view that Revolution is monstrous
by its activities. He intends to point out the meaningless horrors of the
Revolution, the bloodshed and butcheries.
Renunciation:
Another theme is renunciation. While Charles renounces his legacy,
Sydney renounces his life. Charles’ act of renunciation raises him in high
esteem as it is an illustration of his generosity and humanity. Sydney’s
renunciation of his life makes him achiever of tragic dignity. He dies for
humanity thus his renunciation is Christ like.
Conclusion:
To sum up, we may say that “A Tale of Two Cities” have multiple
themes which are interwoven artistically. The various themes are expressed
through a group of private individuals who are swept into the whirlpool of
public event like the Revolution.
Q 5:
“A Tale of Two Cities” is a historical novel. Discuss.
Or
“A Tale of Two Cities” is related to a most influential
incident of history, but it is not complete historical book.
Comment.
Answer:
“A tale of two cities” is a historical novel related to the period before
and all through the French Revolution. Previously, Dickens had written one
historical novel, Barnaby Rudge, which dealt with a period of English history.
When he wrote “A Tale of Two Cities” he was feeling great interest in
history. However, “A Tale of Two Cities” is not a complete story of French
Revolution.
As a historical novel, A Tale of Two Cities” has obvious limitations. It
does not give a complete picture of either the English or the French political
world of those critical years (1775-1793). In this novel, Dickens describe the
beginning of discontent in France, the rising dissatisfaction of people with the
aristocrats and the turmoil caused by the public fury and the cruelties
committed by the revolutionaries during the years of French Revolution.
Dickens does not describe the progress and culmination of French Revolution.
He gives us brief and scattered account of the main event. But, by this he tries
to convey to us all the horror of the French Revolution. He gives us no
systematic analysis of the causes of the French Revolution. At the same time,
Dickens takes no notice of the leading historical personalities of the French
Revolution, such as Mirabeau, Lafayette, Robespierre and Napoleon. He does
not show the struggle of the government for money in the time of depression,
the difficulties of parliament and philosophical thinking behind the Revolution.
Dickens main concern was to show that extreme injustice leads to violence. In
the first part of the novel, Dickens sympathizes with the poor and
downtrodden, but in the end these very people become villains and he rejects
them.
Dickens first reference to the cause of the French Revolution comes in the
Chapter called “The Wine Shop”. Here he uses the symbol of the mill to convey
the grinding poverty through which the people of Saint Antoine are passing.
Then there are three chapters in which the callousness and the arrogance of a
particular noble are described.
Dickens main achievement lies in mixing the personal lives of a group of
private characters with the events of French Revolution. These private
individuals are Dr. Manette, Lucie Manette, Darnay and Carton. Although, the
major characters have no ideological interest in the Revolution yet they are
driven into the main whirlpool of the Revolution and have to suffer. The death
sentence of Charles is the most unjust when we see that he is on the side of
the people. In his humanity, he even gives up the property of his family.
Furthermore, he was in France to save the life of a poor man who was in
danger. The others are drawn into the whirlpool for the sake of Darnay.
Sydney’s sacrifice is due to Lucie’s involvement.
Although. Dickens does not give systematic theory about the Revolution
yet there is his definite view about it. In this respect, he also seems to have
been influenced by Carlyle. Dickens shows that past is the storehouse of moral
lessons and a terrible moral drama. He has a definite aim in writing this novel,
as he wants to show the effect of social order on the lives of the individuals.
The lives of both Dr. Manette and Sydney Carton are example of it. Dr.
Manette’s coming back to the steam of life illustrates the course of new order.
Sydney’s noble death proves the possibility of rebirth through love. According
to one critic, there is no other piece of fiction in which domestic life of a few
simple private people is in such a manner interwoven with a terrible public
event, so that one seems to be the part of the other.
The fact is that Dickens considers revolution as monster. The scenes of
violence that are described in “A Tale of Two Cities” are really horrible. The
lesson that Dickens wants to teach us through this novel is that violence leads
to violence and hatred is the result of hatred. He wanted that government
should not allow the people to become frustrated and angry that they are
compelled to revolt and become not only violent, but also ruthlessly violent. If
all the noblemen had behaved like Charles and all the intellectuals had exposed
the social evils like Dr. Manette, then there would not have been any such
violent revolution. Dickens never forgets that the French Revolution was the
result of unspeakable suffering, intolerable oppression and heartless
indifference. Society was diseased before the fever broke out. And this
conclusion about the French Revolution is stated in the final chapter of his
novel as:
Q 6:
Discuss Dickens art of characterization.
Or
Dickens is known as a creator of living characters. Do
you agree?
Answer:
Dickens is one the greatest creators of characters in English fiction. There
is large diversity ( قP،Z )رof characters in his novels. A mere glance on
any of his novels is enough to prove his ability of creating amazing characters.
Dickens tries to create variety of individuals in his novels, but he never tries to
probe (
Jا ازﮨ،") deep into them.
“A Tale of Two Cities” is an evidence of Dickens’ ability of character
portrayal. Here too the range is fairly wide, though we do not find the study of
inner working of human mind. Some of the characters like Defarge and Madam
Defarge are truly memorable. It is important to note that Dickens’ purpose was
to allow the character to reveal themselves through incidents and through their
deeds and actions rather than their dialogues. However, Dickens did not fully
succeed in achieving his purpose. Dialogues in this novel also play as much
part in revealing the characters as they did in his earlier novels. In fact, it
would not be wrong to say that dialogues play an even more important part in
characters than incidents.
The characters in “A Tale of Two Cities” have sharply been
individualized. Each character has his or her own recognition. Each stands out
in our imagination and memory as a separate person clearly differentiated from
others. Dr. Manette is an outstanding personality, despite of his repeated
intervals of insanity. Mr. Lorry, the old bachelor, who has grown gray haired in
the service of Tellson’s Bank, is another impressive figure, distinct from
everybody else. Sydney Carton and Charles Darnay though have similar
physical appearance has been sharply differentiated. Lucie represents entirely
different womanhood as compared to Madam Defarge. Never was there greater
and sharper contrast than we find between these two women. Miss prose
belongs to different category altogether. Likewise, Mr. Stryer and Jerry
Cruncher, though both of them are comic characters, have been clearly
distinguished from each other. Even a minor character like the mender of road
has been made to live before us.
In spite of Dickens’ aim, the fact remains that the above mentioned
characters revealed much themselves through dialogues and much less than
incidents and action. For example, different traits of Dr. Manette’s character
reveal through his conversation with different characters, not through his
actions. In fact, there is hardly any action that he performs. Sometimes, we do
find him busy in shoe making but that is only when he gets a shock and
becomes temporarily insane. When Charles Darnay shows his intentions to
marry his daughter, it is through his dialogue with Charles that we come to
know that he is a loving father and a kindhearted friend. Similarly, it is through
one of his long conversation with Mr. Lorry we come to know why he
sometimes goes back to the state of insanity.
Charles Darnay also reveals the essential traits of his character through
dialogue. Of course, one of his basic traits appears through action also. That
happens when after reading Gabelle’s letter, he at once goes to Paris to save
him. That shows his deep sympathetic nature and his disregard for personal
danger. But his love for Lucie appears mainly through his dialogues. Darnay’s
humanitarianism is revealed to us through his dialogues with his uncle. He says
that Evrémonde family has done many wrongs to the poor and that he would
like to atone some of those wrongs and he had decided to give up his entire
claim to the family property and the family title.
In Sydney Carton’s case, his action to give life for the sake of the
husband of that woman to whom he loves is of the highest importance. It is
this action, which raises him to the status of the hero. When he is on the point
of death, he looks sublime and prophetic. But all the other traits of Carton’s
character appear through dialogues. He has a dialogue with Darnay
immediately after Darnay’s acquittal by the court at the Old Bailey. In the
course of dialogue, Carton says that he is a disappointed drudge ( م1.
& ) ﮯ واand he cares for no man on earth and no man on earth cares for him.
When Darnay is gone, Carton looks at the mirror and says that he hates
Darnay even though there is physical resemblance between them. Then there
is a dialogue between Carton and Stryver. From this dialogue we come to know
that Carton is a seesaw kind of man, up one minute and down the next.
To conclude, it can be said that though Dickens aimed to described his
character through their actions and events, but he could not do this properly.
The most of characters in the novel revealed themselves much through the
medium of their dialogues rather than their actions and events.
Q 7:
Symbolism in “A Tale of Two Cities” is in abundance.
Is it a justified analysis?
Or
“A Tale of Two Cities” has symbolic importance.
Elaborate.
Answer:
“A tale of Two Cities” is full of symbols and symbolic imagery. An
author uses symbolism in order to give wider meanings to his writings. The
symbolic meanings are generally veiled or it may lie at a deeper level than the
surface level. Thus, the use of symbolism gives additional meanings to those
which are apparent on the surface. “A Tale of Two Cities” is full of symbols.
Symbolism is an essential element in the structure of the novel.
The very opening chapter employs two symbols. These are Woodman
symbolizes fate and the Farmer symbolizes death. Here the Woodman is not
just a worker in the woods, and the Farmer is just not the tiller (رA,) of the
soil. The Woodsman represents or symbolizes Fate, while the Farmer
represents Death. The idea is that these two forces are at work in France to
bring about destruction and bloodshed and to ruin human happiness.
The manner in which the author describes the journey of the mail-coach
in the second chapter has also a symbolic significance. It is an uphill journey
and; the hill, the harness (ن. )*"ڑا*ڑ, the mud and the mail are all so
heavy that the horses have a difficult time of it. There is atmosphere of
suspicion all around. The guards suspect the passengers; the passengers
suspect one another and the guard, they all suspect everybody else and the
coachman is sure of nothing except the horses. This whole scene gives the
picture of violent scenes of the French Revolution.
The Broken Wine Cask outside Defarge’s shop and passing peasants’ fight
to lick the spilling wine is symbol of people’s hunger. The hunger is both, for
food and for political freedom. The wine is directly associated with blood, as a
drunken figure writes the word “BLOOD” on the wall with a wine-dipped finger.
Indeed, the blood of aristocrats, later spills at the hands of a mob in the same
streets.
Madam Defrage’s knitting is a whole network of symbols. Into her needle
work she stitches the list of names of all those who condemned to die in the