People compare everything, from sports teams to ice cream flavors. These comparisons can even be between one’s self and another person. People do this action in order to see how they feel, such as seeing if they like one idea more than the other. Because of this, authors use comparisons for duality. Charles Dickens is known for using comparisons in many of his works, such as Great Expectations, A Christmas Carol, and most notably, A Tale of Two Cities (Snodgrass). Recognized for its famous introduction, the novel constantly uses contradictions. Dickens purposely uses these contrasts throughout A Tale of Two Cities to change how the readers feel. He shows contrast everywhere, whether it be the words, characters, or setting he chooses. Dickens
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When the characters are first introduced during the trial, Dickens describes Charles as a well-looking, self-possessed gentlemen (Dickens 70) and Sydney as an untidy, careless drunk (Dickens 84). This introduction to the characters automatically makes the readers more sympathetic towards Charles, since everyone at the trial wants him to be convicted, even though he seems to be a decent man. On the other hand, readers seem to be indifferent to Sydney since his drunkenness makes it appear as if he brought his fate upon himself. While confessing his love to Lucie, Sydney describes himself as a “self-flung away, wasted, drunken, poor creature of misuse” that is not good enough for her, and he confesses that he would give his life for her or anyone she loves (Dickens 56). The situation changes the reader’s …show more content…
“France, less favoured on the whole as to matters spiritual than her sister of the shield and trident, rolled with exceeding smoothness down hill, making paper money and spending it” (Dickens 14). Due to this description, the readers view France as a chaotic, unorganized country compared to England. Dickens uses France’s characteristics to set disorderly scenes there, and it also shows the readers that the chaos suits the spirited characters that come from there. A wine cask spills in the streets of Paris, and people rushed to it since they were so hungry (Dickens 38). The English are viewed as strict, reasonable and orderly, while the French are frantic and distraught. The wine cask resembles the desperation of the people in France, and it shows that they are willing to do whatever the leaders need of them. This characteristic is also shown later in the novel with the revolutionaries, and it influences the reader’s view of the characters. After Darnay was declared not guilty, the English crowd leaves the trial ¨in search of other carrion” (Dickens 85). Dickens uses this description to show how both the English and the French had violent tendencies, even though the English appeared to be the lesser of two evils. Shown between the two settings of England and France, duality is what Dickens uses to control the reader’s
When the characters are first introduced during the trial, Dickens describes Charles as a well-looking, self-possessed gentlemen (Dickens 70) and Sydney as an untidy, careless drunk (Dickens 84). This introduction to the characters automatically makes the readers more sympathetic towards Charles, since everyone at the trial wants him to be convicted, even though he seems to be a decent man. On the other hand, readers seem to be indifferent to Sydney since his drunkenness makes it appear as if he brought his fate upon himself. While confessing his love to Lucie, Sydney describes himself as a “self-flung away, wasted, drunken, poor creature of misuse” that is not good enough for her, and he confesses that he would give his life for her or anyone she loves (Dickens 56). The situation changes the reader’s …show more content…
“France, less favoured on the whole as to matters spiritual than her sister of the shield and trident, rolled with exceeding smoothness down hill, making paper money and spending it” (Dickens 14). Due to this description, the readers view France as a chaotic, unorganized country compared to England. Dickens uses France’s characteristics to set disorderly scenes there, and it also shows the readers that the chaos suits the spirited characters that come from there. A wine cask spills in the streets of Paris, and people rushed to it since they were so hungry (Dickens 38). The English are viewed as strict, reasonable and orderly, while the French are frantic and distraught. The wine cask resembles the desperation of the people in France, and it shows that they are willing to do whatever the leaders need of them. This characteristic is also shown later in the novel with the revolutionaries, and it influences the reader’s view of the characters. After Darnay was declared not guilty, the English crowd leaves the trial ¨in search of other carrion” (Dickens 85). Dickens uses this description to show how both the English and the French had violent tendencies, even though the English appeared to be the lesser of two evils. Shown between the two settings of England and France, duality is what Dickens uses to control the reader’s