A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens Marbella Pleitez

Biography Charles Dickens, a British novelist, was born on February 7, 1812 in Kent, England. As he was growing up he wished to have a well economic situation with his family but it turned out to be the opposite. His dad fell into deep depths which caused his family to go to a depths of prison. Since Dickens was the eldest child male he was forced to work in factories leaving his education behind to paid his father’s depths. After the depths were paid, at age 15 he was offered a job as an office boy which was a big step that took him to the next level as an author since he started publicizing at the law courts of England.

Dicken’s Purpose, Argument and Theme • • The purpose of A Tale of Two Cities is to portray the French Revolution as a symbol of horror, dishonor, mistreatment and injustices towards citizens which demonstrates the wanting liberty for them as well. It was a brutal oppression that control the liberty and rights of the people and by writing this piece, he shows the lackluster of England France, the two cities. Since Dickens was born in the Victorian era he also echoes on the emotions of the people, especially on the poor by mentioning how they suffered and were miserable. He argues that there should not be injustices and brutal oppression towards indefensible people Theme: Social injustices

AUDIENCE Dickens made the government the targeted audience. Since he did not assent with the laws that were created during that period of time his writing novel made him free to elaborate on his thoughts on the unfairness made to the poor that demonstrated the morals and modesty of the people.

Historical Background • • • When written: 1859 Where written: Rochester and London Victorian era period Refers to the reign of Queen Victoria in England from 18311901 where there were many high morals, modesty and proper expectations of people. In addition it reflected the emotions of the poor and the needy ones

CHARACTERIZATION Charles Darnay (Charles Evremonde) escapes from the out rages murders of the revolutionaries to find liberty in England to be away from the injustices in France. In the novel, he is the most attractive and critical character who Dickens establishes as the hero of the text. He is seen as the hero of the novel because Darnay tries to convey liberty not only to himself but to the citizens by quitting his position in the French aristocracy. Quitting this position demonstrate how he does care of taking over control of the people because he sees this power as useless since he does not find liberty for him nor the people. In addition, Dickens uses Darnay to represent himself in the novel considering the mistreatment in his childhood which he conveys in the novel with the injustices.

TONE Sarcastic “You weren't. And if you were, I won’t be took the liberty with. Here! your mother’s a nice woman, young Jerry, going a praying again your father’s prosperity. You’ve got a religious mother, you have, my boy: going and flopping herself down, and praying that the bread-and-butter may be snatched out of the mouth of her only child. ” (56: 8: 1)

Writing Style Going back to the sarcastic tone Dickens uses on Mr. Cruncher, he creates a very humorous and sarcastic style in the novel with Mr. Cruncher. Diction connotative diction Example: “Repression is the only lasting philosophy. The dark reference of fear and slavery, ” observed the Marquis, “ will keep the dogs obedient to the whip…” • •

Insightful Passage Chapter 13: The Fellow of no Delicacy “To none. No, Miss Manette, to none. If you will hear me through a very little more, all you can ever do for me is done. I wish you to know that you have been the last dream of my soul. In my degradation I have not been so degraded but that the sight of you with your father, and of this home made such a home by you, has stirred old shadows that I thought had died out of me. Since I knew you, I have been troubled by a remorse that I thought would never reproach me again, and have heard whispers from old voices impelling me upward, that I thought were silent for ever. I have had unformed ideas of striving afresh, beginning anew, shaking off sloth and sensuality, and fighting out the abandoned fight. A dream, all a dream, that ends in nothing, and leaves the sleeper where he lay down, but I wish you to know that you inspired it. ”

EVALUATION This novel gave me a more understanding of the time period back then with the injustices that were mainly made to the poor. It has show me how society does not change because the economically injustices are still contain within our society with the poors and we still have the a closed mind. It is important for me to know this historical background because I know where the customs come from and being a woman that has an education is a motivation for me. In addition, I agree with Dickens’s sentiments towards the government because he characterizes the inequalities of the government which we do not have to follow.