A Tale of Two Cities
What is A Tale of Two Cities about?
A doctor is released from the Bastille after being falsely imprisoned for almost eighteen years. A young woman discovers the father she’s never known is not dead but alive, if not entirely well. A young man is acquitted of being a traitor, due in part to the efforts of a rather selfish lout who is assisting the young man’s attorney. A man has a wine shop in Paris with a wife who knits at the bar. These disparate elements are tied together as only Dickens can, and in the process he tells the story of the French Revolution. Charles Dickens was fascinated by Thomas Carlyle’s magnum opus The French Revolution ; according to Dickens’ letters, he read it “500 times” and carried it with him everywhere while he was working on this novel. When he wrote to Carlyle asking him for books to read on background, Carlyle sent him two cartloads full. Dickens mimicked Carlyle’s style, his chronology, and his overall characterization of the revolution; although A Tale of Two Cities is fiction, the historical events described are largely accurate, sometimes exactly so. Even so, Dickens made his name and reputation on telling stories full of characters one could be invested in, care about, and despise, and this novel has all of those and more. It also, in its first and last lines, has two of the most famous lines in literature. With the possible exception of A Christmas Carol , it is his most popular novel, and according to many, his best.
Main themes in A Tale of Two Cities
Revolution and violence
In A Tale of Two Cities, revolution and violence provides a lens for understanding the story's core message.
Sacrifice and redemption
The presence of sacrifice and redemption in A Tale of Two Cities connects readers to its enduring relevance.
Resurrection
The presence of resurrection in A Tale of Two Cities connects readers to its enduring relevance.
Justice and vengeance
In A Tale of Two Cities, justice and vengeance provides a lens for understanding the story's core message.
Why A Tale of Two Cities is still relevant today
A Tale of Two Cities remains the best-selling novel of all time, with over 200 million copies sold. Its exploration of revolution, justice, and the cycle of violence speaks to every era of political upheaval. Sydney Carton's final words—"It is a far, far better thing that I do"—rank among literature's most memorable. The novel offers a nuanced view of revolution, sympathizing with the oppressed while warning against mob violence and vengeance. Its themes of resurrection and redemption through sacrifice continue to resonate with readers seeking meaning in times of social turmoil.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is A Tale of Two Cities about?
The novel follows characters in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution, exploring themes of sacrifice, resurrection, and the cycle of violence through the intertwined lives of Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton.
What are the two cities?
The two cities are London and Paris. The novel contrasts the relative stability of England with the revolutionary chaos of France during the Reign of Terror.
Who is Sydney Carton?
Sydney Carton is a dissolute English lawyer who resembles Charles Darnay. Despite his wasted life, he performs the ultimate act of redemption, sacrificing himself to save Darnay from the guillotine.
What does the opening line mean?
'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times' captures the contradictions of the revolutionary era—hope and despair, wisdom and foolishness existing simultaneously.
Is A Tale of Two Cities difficult to read?
While the novel features Dickens's characteristic prose, it is more tightly plotted than his other works. The compelling story of love and sacrifice carries readers through.