Charles Dickens 1859 English

Born in Portsmouth, England, Charles Dickens grew up in London. His father went to debtors' prison, forcing Dickens to work at age 12. In A Tale of Two Cities, Dickens's presentation of the French Revolution serves as a warning against England repeating the same mistakes.

CHARLES DICKENS1812–70

Set in London and Paris, A Tale of Two Cities explores social injustices against both the lower and upper classes. Against the backdrop of the French Revolution, the novel reveals how Lucie rescues her father, her husband, and another man.

Recalled to Life

MAIN CHARACTERS

Novel

Author Year Written Original Language

Former aristocrat; married to Lucie

Charles Darnay

English lawyer; loves Lucie

Sydney Carton

Lucie Manette

French heroine; married to Charles

Themes

Injustice

Dr. Manette is held prisoner for defending a peasant girl, and Charles is later imprisoned for his uncle’s crimes.

Resurrection

Lucie Manette rescues her father from revolutionary France, only to be immersed in another rescue—this time of her husband.

Violence

Abused peasants like Madame Defarge take their bloody revenge on the aristocracy.

Author

Narrator, Book 1, Chapter I

A Tale of Two Cities

Historical

England

Despite its faults, England symbolizes relative order and safety.

France

France symbolizes total chaos, violence, and danger.

Symbols

Thread & Knitting

Thread represents uniting people; knitting represents vengeance.

Miss Pross

Lucie’s governess

John Barsad/Solomon Pross

Miss Pross’s long-lost brother; a spy

Dr. Alexandre Manette

Lucie’s father; formerly imprisoned

in the Bastille

t was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness...

Sources: Dickens Fellowship, Encyclopaedia Britannica, UMass Lowell, Victorian Web

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Monsieur & Madame Defarge

French revolutionaries

A Tale of Two Citiesby the Numbers

Years Dr. Manette spends in prison

18

British spies who claim Charles Darnay is a traitor

2

Books into which Dickens divides A Tale of Two Cities

3

Narrator, Book 1, Chapter I

Jarvis Lorry

Manette’s trustee; Lucie’s guardian