Free Essays on A Tale of Two Cities

A brilliant plot was laid out by the author, Charles Dickens, in the novel â€Å"A Tale of Two Cities.† Revolving around the troubled times of the French Revolution in France and England, characters outline the foundation of a plot that involves: love, revenge, evil, courage, and sacrifice. The concluding chapters of this novel ultimately shows how the evil effects of revenge can bring out one’s bad side, and also ends with the central protagonist sacrificing his own life for his love and his friendship. In my opinion, I liked how in the end, Sydney Carton, one of the main characters in this novel, sees a better world before entering the guillotine, thinking not of himself, seeing a world where he gave to others. Sydney Carton is a character that helps weave an interesting and dramatic plot. He is first introduced as a frustrated, immature alcoholic, but in the end, he made the ultimate sacrifice for a good friend. Carton was a look-a-like of Charles Darnay, a languid protagonist that has a tendency to get arrested. Though Carton’s character changed overwhelmingly throughout this novel. Carton loved the same woman as Charles Darnay was married to, Lucie Manette. During the middle of the Revolutionary War, Darnay is arrested in France for being an enemy at the state. Because of two antagonists who happens to be key leaders of the French Revolution wanting to seek revenge on Darnay’s family, Darnay is sentenced the death penalty. With his everlasting love for Lucie, and mended friendship with Charles, Carton saved Lucie and her father from being murdered by one of the key leaders, and gets into the prison in which Darnay was held. Carton made a sacrifice by attending the guillotine in place of Charles since he looked so much like him. Throughout the novel, there are many action scenes that occur in Bastille, Tellson’s Bank, the home of the Manettes, and the streets of Paris. But the best parts of the book was when... Free Essays on A Tale Of Two Cities Free Essays on A Tale Of Two Cities In Act I of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Denmark is portrayed as being in a state of political and social unrest. The character Horatio helps to convey this state of unrest and to foreshadow, through his words and actions, impending war with Norway and possible turmoil for the country. The new King Claudius proves himself to be an inferior leader through his dishonest speech and riotous, disgraceful behavior; he is the leader of the nation and therefore represents the state of the nation. In the first scene, the guards are on duty outside of the castle when the ghost of the dead King Hamlet appears. Horatio asserts that the ghost brings words of caution to the men that the county is headed for some sort of struggle, which probably means an attack from Norway. Horatio also speaks of Hamlet’s battles with King Fortinbras of Norway; Hamlet had conquered much of Fortinbras’ land, so now the Norwegian king’s predecessors seek to win that land back. The appearance of deceased King Hamlet is, in itself, a sign of something wrong in Denmark, as any country that has recently lost a king must have some unrest. The fact that Horatio thinks upon first sight of the ghost that it must bring a warning to the men about the possibility of conflict with another nation is a sign of unrest in Denmark, as Horatio would probably have to have a preconceived idea that the nation should expect some sort of trouble to be convinced that the ghost brings such a warn ing. Horatio’s account of the past battles between Denmark and Norway and the fact that those who now rule Norway are seeking to regain the land they lost to Denmark are direct evidence that Denmark is going to be attacked by Norway. After seeing the ghost, Horatio makes an allusion to Rome before the fall of Julius Caesar; A little ere the mightiest Julius fell, The graves stood tenantless, and the sheeted dead ... Free Essays on A Tale of Two Cities A brilliant plot was laid out by the author, Charles Dickens, in the novel â€Å"A Tale of Two Cities.† Revolving around the troubled times of the French Revolution in France and England, characters outline the foundation of a plot that involves: love, revenge, evil, courage, and sacrifice. The concluding chapters of this novel ultimately shows how the evil effects of revenge can bring out one’s bad side, and also ends with the central protagonist sacrificing his own life for his love and his friendship. In my opinion, I liked how in the end, Sydney Carton, one of the main characters in this novel, sees a better world before entering the guillotine, thinking not of himself, seeing a world where he gave to others. Sydney Carton is a character that helps weave an interesting and dramatic plot. He is first introduced as a frustrated, immature alcoholic, but in the end, he made the ultimate sacrifice for a good friend. Carton was a look-a-like of Charles Darnay, a languid protagonist that has a tendency to get arrested. Though Carton’s character changed overwhelmingly throughout this novel. Carton loved the same woman as Charles Darnay was married to, Lucie Manette. During the middle of the Revolutionary War, Darnay is arrested in France for being an enemy at the state. Because of two antagonists who happens to be key leaders of the French Revolution wanting to seek revenge on Darnay’s family, Darnay is sentenced the death penalty. With his everlasting love for Lucie, and mended friendship with Charles, Carton saved Lucie and her father from being murdered by one of the key leaders, and gets into the prison in which Darnay was held. Carton made a sacrifice by attending th e guillotine in place of Charles since he looked so much like him. Throughout the novel, there are many action scenes that occur in Bastille, Tellson’s Bank, the home of the Manettes, and the streets of Paris. But the best parts of the book was when... Free Essays on A Tale of Two Cities ‘Imagery' I ask you to believe that he has a heart that he very, very seldom reveals, and that there are deep wounds in it. My dear, I have seen it bleeding." Charles Dickens uses different stylistic techniques when he writes but the most effective technique is imagery. All the different uses of imagery that Dickens' uses creates different images, moods, and feelings on how the reader takes in the book. Different kinds of imagery that he uses is animal imagery, water imagery, and blood imagery. One example of imagery that Dickens' uses is blood imagery. In the novel, "A Tale of Two Cities" the use of blood imagery is very important. A number of events are foreshadowed through blood imagery. A wine cask had broken in the streets of St. Antoine which gathered everybody in the street to come and drink it. Everyone gathered until the very last drop of the wine was finished. "The wine was red wine, and had stained the ground of the narrow street in the suburb of Saint Antione, in Paris, where it was spilled. It had stained many hands, too, and many faces, and many naked feet, and many wooden shoes. The hands of the man who sawed the wood left red marks on the billets; and the forehead of the woman who nursed her baby was stained with the stain of the old rag she wound her head again." (Dickens, pg 37) This is an example of blood imagery and of how the streets and the people were going to be covered in blood because of the revolution that was coming. Another example of b lood imagery is, "No sooner was the acquittal pronounced, than tears were shed as freely as blood at another time, and such fraternal embraces were bestowed upon the prisoner by as many of both sexes as could rush at him........."(Dickens, 282) This quote is talking about the coming revolution that is going to take place and how much bloodshed that will take place. This at least gives the reader more suspenseful and more images to expand their readi... Free Essays on A Tale Of Two Cities Recalled to Life Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities has a dual background, the French Revolution and England. Dickens used this background of revolution to add suspense and strength to the characters’ sprit. The characters who are â€Å"recalled to life†, a resurrection reference, are strong willed and courageous. These three men who are â€Å"recalled to life† are: Doctor Manette, Charles Darnay, and Sydney Carton, (7-10,374-380). Doctor Manette is the first one who is â€Å"recalled to life.† He is very upset after being in prison for eighteen years. In those eighteen years of prison, it has made him unable to recall where things are or how to do things, (7-10). He is then insane from being locked up for so long and requires the care that his daughter Lucie and Lorry, an agent for Tellson’s Bank, (24-31). Lucie and Mr. Lorry take care of Doctor Manette and â€Å"recall him to life.† In the long run, Doctor Manette gets his life back or gets to start over, (42-53). The second person who is â€Å"recalled to life†, is Charles Darnay. He is on trial for treason in England and may be put to death, (63-69). Sydney Carton, Darnay’s double saves Darnay from imprisonment and death, telling the people that Carton and Darnay look alike so how would they really know who did it. Through that Darnay is given another change to life, and is then â€Å"recalled to life,†(79-83). The last and important instance of someone being â€Å"recalled to life† is Sydney Carton. He has recently switched places with Darnay and now is awaiting his turn at the guillotine, (353-371). While awaiting his death, he realizes what he is doing is the best thing that he has ever done and would not change anything. He is going to give his life for the one that he loves and cares about. Sydney is satisfied with himself and is no longer a drunken fool, but a hero that now can love himself. By dying and saving Darnay for Lucie, Carton is â€Å"recalled to lif...