Title of A Tale Of Two Cities By Charles Dickens
A Tale Of Two Cities
Charles Dickens
About over all structural balance of the novel, 'A Tale Of Two Cities,' Hellen Rex Killer commented, "The two cities are London and Paris. The time is just before during The French Revolution. A peculiar chain of events knits and weaves the lives of a few simple, private people with the outbreak of a terrible public event." In this novel Dickens has artistically interwoven two narratives, two cities, history and story, public and private life and a variety of themes through a few selected characters, suspense, symbolism, parallelism and contrast. The alternate movement to and from both the cities highlights the contrast between them and makes them stand out as a symbol of the world.
The novelist has used the symbolic title 'A Tale Of Two Cities' to unfold the incidents revolving around the two cities, London and Paris against the background of The French revolution. Infact the two cities are introduced at the beginning as if they were two characters, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness ... In both countries it was clearer than crystal to the lords of the State preserves of loaves and fishes, that things in general were settled for ever." Poverty, hunger, violence and brutality are common factors that bind the two cities. Though a happening of France, the revolution not only stirs the peaceful life of Paris but also of London.
In 'A Tale Of Two Cities,' the plot is well knit as those of Jane Austen, Scott or Thackeray. In this novel, he has put a surprise upon his readers that he can build plot in an architectural pattern which covers a vast space covering the city of London and Paris. These two cities - London and Paris were at par. The Government and Judiciary in both the cities were almost equally deplorable. Both the cities suffered from intolerance and fanticism. "If gold rust what shall iron do?" complained Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century. Both London and Paris were rusting and yet just a few characters radiated like gold.
Dickens sum up the moral, social and political standards of London and Paris, "the king with a large jaw and queen with a plain face on the throne of England, there was a king with a large jaw and a queen with a fair face on the throne of France." In every nook and corner of Paris the ruthless aristocrats exploit the masses. Corruption and unjustice reign in churches and courts. The aristocrats are supposed to look after the tenants but 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. Antonie Street is a miniature Paris where hunger and bloodshed are common features.
London also presents a drab and colourless picture. Poverty was there, hunger was there, there was inequalities, galore and violence but no revolution was possible in England, a proverbially conservative country. Dr. Mannet on being realised could not like anywhere in France. His daughter Lucie could attend upon him only in London. A refugee from France could find an asylum in London. Marquis Evremonde once said, "They say those boastful English that is the refugee of many."
In the novel, venue of action shifts intermittently. The refugees in London proceeded to Paris, not for sightseeing, but for necessity. Action is divided between two cities. While book one moves from Paris to London, book two continuously moves between the two. Certain conditions are identical in two cities. In London we watch the mock funeral of Cly. In Paris we watch a genuine funeral of Foulon, a member of the Nobility.
The lives of the characters are interwoven by means of the two cities. Dr. Mannet is imprisoned in France, for eighteen years, for championing the poor and truth. Refuge and restoration is possible only in England. Charles Evremond also leaves France the country of his birth for England where he gets peace of mind.
However England is a place of no refuge. Though Lucie, her father and Charles live peacefully in London, they are compelled by fate to move to Paris where they were caught in violence. Neither of the two cities is a peaceful heaven - the events in France influence the lives of the characters in England. Violence, hatred and the revolution spare none.
The two cities also stand in opposite poles in few aspects. While the French characters stands for hatred, the English character stand for love, however, love and hatred are not restrained to any particular city - Defarge, a Frenchmen, is Loyal to Dr. Mannet ; Barsard, an Englishman is a spy; the corrupt Jerry Churcher becomes honest in Paris. Sydney Carton, an Englishman, is redeemed in Paris where he performs the ultimate sacrifice. Injustice and treachery, love and hatred, honesty and integrity constitute a part of both the countries. Ultimately love triumphs through the protest of redemption irrespective of location.
Dickens has introduced diverse elements in 'A Tale Of Two Cities.' But with his deft workmanship and artistic vision he has built up a structure involving the incidents happened either in Paris or in London. David Cecil says, "Dickens may not construct the story well, but he tells it admirably." If we agree to the first part of the sentence, we shall have to review why the critic complaints of the structural defect. Perhaps he has not made the remark about 'A Tale Of Two Cities.'
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