Summary:
The story runs like a damaged anthill pouring ants. I find Dickens swaying from Shakespeare to Poe a mystic and somewhat poetic slide. At Times very hard to follow. The story is amuck with
characters being introduced at odd times. The characters although fictional gives a good account of the human suffering and the terror of the times. It is interesting to note Dickens continued interest with spiritual metaphors in this work following the same interest of spirituality shown in A Christmas Carole.
A TALE OF TWO CITIES
BY
CHARLES DICKENS
This work is actually a cryptic narrative on "Duality" the first few words of the book begin the
"Duality" theme. The year is 1775 and the French revolution is in its infancy. A battle between
the aristocracy and the peasants, and Doctor Manette and his "death"" And "resurrection"" are
somewhat a duality. Actually Manette spent 18 years in the Bastille going in and out of sanity.
After the mail-coach chapter, which seemed boring, we find ourselves in 1780^five years later.
Charles Darnay, a French aristocrat had renounced his true name, St. Evremonde, and moved to
England. Stands accused of treason against England. Sydney Carton a colleague of the lawyer
defending Darney, and also a rouge and a drunkard with a less than desirable reputation, steps
into the case and is able to acquit Darnay. Carton shows the court the resemblance between
himself and Darnay and explains the authorities might as well accuse Carton. Duality again is the
theme. The evil Marquis St. Evremonde hates the "peasantry" as expressed by his running down a
plebian child with his carriage and blames the peasants for his inconvenience.
Charles Darnay arrived at the St.Evremonde estate the same night, curses his uncle and the
the aristocracy. He renounces his ties to the St. Evremonde name and returns to England. The
Marquis is murdered that night for the childs death by Gaspard. Doctor Manette, now reunited with his
daughter Lucie, is somewhat sane due to the care and nurturing of Lucie. Darnay ask The Doctor for
Lucie's hand in marriage. Duality again arrives, Carton has also fallen in love with Lucie and
claims she has made him a better man. Lucie marries Darnay. Carton and Darnay remain friends
through all this and pledge to keep their friendship. Madame Defarge is introduced in this chapter
a bitter woman who sits and knits in her wine shop. She hates the aristocracy. It is interesting to
note that in Greek mythology vengefulness and fate is linked to knitting or weaving. The year is
now 1789 Gabelle a gentleman assigned to caring for the St. Evremonde estate is jailed when the
aristocracy is overthrown writes Darnay and pleads for help. Darnay departs for France knowing
he could be in great peril himself. Because Darnay is related to the St. Evremonde family, he is
arrested and jailed upon arrival.
At Darnay's trial Madame Defarge produces a letter found in Doctor Manette's old cell that tells
how Darnay's Father and uncle, the brothers St. Evremonde, had raped a woman and stabbed a man
to death. Doctor Manette had been summoned by the St. Evremonde brothers, but fearing the Doctor
might tell what had happened, they had him arrested. Now Darnay would face execution. Carton
visits Darnay in jail with the aid of an English spy John Barsad. Carton drugs Darnay switches
clothing and John Barsad carries Darnay to freedom. Again duality allows for this event. John
Barsad oddly enough turns out to be the brother of Miss Pross the very loyal aid to Lucie
Darnay. Sydney Carton is executed saving the life of Charles Darnay. Daulity again comes into
play when a young seamstress faces the guillotine with Carton and they comfort each other along
the way. Madame Defarge plans to have Lucie and the Darnay's daughter executed as well.
Defarge arrives at Lucie's apartment only to find Miss Pross alone. Charles, Lucie and Doctor
Manette, along with the Darnays daughter have already fled to England. Defarge and Miss Pross
scuffle and Defarge is shot by her own gun.
The story runs like a damaged anthill pouring ants. I find Dickens swaying from Shakespeare to Poe
a mystic and somewhat poetic slide. At Times very hard to follow. The story is amuck with
characters being introduced at odd times. The characters although fictional gives a good account of
the human suffering and the terror of the times. It is interesting to note Dickens continued
interest with spiritual metaphors in this work following the same interest of spirituality shown in
A Christmas Carole. The book that brought him back as an author.
"This was indeed a Tale of Two Cities."
This is the complete article, containing 692 words
(approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page).
