A Tale of Two Cities Study Guide
“A Tale of Two Cities” was published in Charles Dickens’ own magazine in 1859. He gained inspiration for the plot from another play he participated in as an actor at the time of writing. The book also has a right to be called historical, since the author referred to the French Revolution survivals while collecting the facts for the text.
The events take place in the 18th century. A high-ranking official of a well-known banking institution goes to France with a task: he is meant to notify the daughter of his client, Lucy Manette, that her father is alive. Right after this Dickens takes the readers five years ahead and the story starts to develop in a completely different manner.
The Manette family are involved in the trial of Charles Darnay, who is accused of treason. At the same time, the revolution starts to unfold and the French people seize a lot of government institutions. The country sinks into chaos, fear, and mess. The king is gone and the laws don’t work anymore.
The new government comes with a new agenda. The whole book is a compilation of different stories and sharp transitions from one to another. The characters of the book are very detailed and easy to understand.
“A Tale of Two Cities” is a complex story of an extraordinary family. It’s a story of a major event in the world’s history that changed the lives of millions, but caused even more lives to be ruined.
It’s full of experiments and challenges, both in terms of writing style and plot. The French Revolution in Charles Dickens words acquires new meanings and colors. All its horrors, savagery, barbarity and lust for blood are portrayed through the eyes and actions of simple people who created this Revolution. Each of them is worth discovering.
Author: Frank Frazier
New Essays
It was the best of times… It was the worst of times… It was the age of wisdom…It was the age of foolishness. Those are the evocative opening statements of Charles Dickens’ classic novel, “A Tale of Two Cities,” aptly describing the milieu of the French Revolution: chaotic and yet inspiring...
Charles Dickens set off his controversial book, A Tale of Two Cities with a touch on the authenticity of existence of the plight of the French Revolution under the tyranny of French aristocrats. Unlike his other novels, A Tale of Two Cities was published on a weekly basis in which the first part...
The most interesting and significant character in A tale of two cities is Sydney Carton, the man who has achieved a moral status because he was a sacrificing man. Jerry appears as a clown, while Madame Garange appears too cold and callous to be admired. Carlton is someone unique. Unlike Garange...
Introduction Charles Dickens made an imprint in literature by his classic work of A Tale of Two Cities. The political turmoil that revolved around the story is a reflection of the current social context which Dickens experienced. A tale of two notable cities both leading to become key powers in...