Historical accuracy is extremely important while both reading and writing a piece of literature. Especially when one is constructing a work that is centered around an important historical event, such as the French Revolution in A Tale of Two Cities. Throughout the first chapter of his novel, Charles Dickens provides an excessive amount of information regarding France and England, along with the condition of their citizens during the time period. With his often cryptic descriptions of the late eighteenth century, Dickens begins to set the scene for what is yet to come. However, rather than simply feeding the information to readers, Dickens’ descriptions of pre-revolutionary Europe allow the them to make their own conclusions, and wonder how
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At first glance, the famous antithesis, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” appears to be more of an assumption rather than a factual statement (3). This seemingly opinionated stance taken by Dickens throughout this chapter leaves readers questioning his reliability and accuracy regarding the historical context of his novel. Despite the fact that Charles Dickens was not alive to experience the events outlined in his novel, the first chapter of A Tale of Two Cities, entitled “The Period,” is full of historically accurate information that strengthens his credibility. Throughout the entirety of the French Revolution and the events leading up to it, the citizens of Europe were provided with both the best and worst of time. In the year 1774, King Louis XVI came into power in France. He was a poor leader from the beginning, gaining little respect from the people. In fact, he was known for being impulsive and easily manipulated. Overlapping the …show more content…
Particularly in France, the citizens were growing irritable with the way their government was being run. At this point, the people of Europe had no respect for their leaders, no voice whatsoever, and were in desperate need of change. Preparations were beginning for what would later become the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror. Dickens cryptically discusses, “a certain movable framework,” which implies that guillotines were being produced in secret (4). The fact that Dickens mentions guillotines along with the secrecy of revolutionary preparations is extremely accurate, considering that there was an extreme sense of paranoia present at all times. People were constantly accusing one another of being traitors or spies, knowing that if there were “any suspicion that they were awake, [they were] to be atheistical and traitorous” (4). This idea will most definitely reoccur in the later chapter of A Tale of Two Cities, as this feeling of paranoia only heightens as the revolution continues to progress. Additionally, throughout the chapter, fear is a common tone, as Dickens describes disturbing events and aspects of European society. It is almost as if he is attempting to instill a feeling of fear into his readers, in order to better explain the time period. However, he
At first glance, the famous antithesis, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” appears to be more of an assumption rather than a factual statement (3). This seemingly opinionated stance taken by Dickens throughout this chapter leaves readers questioning his reliability and accuracy regarding the historical context of his novel. Despite the fact that Charles Dickens was not alive to experience the events outlined in his novel, the first chapter of A Tale of Two Cities, entitled “The Period,” is full of historically accurate information that strengthens his credibility. Throughout the entirety of the French Revolution and the events leading up to it, the citizens of Europe were provided with both the best and worst of time. In the year 1774, King Louis XVI came into power in France. He was a poor leader from the beginning, gaining little respect from the people. In fact, he was known for being impulsive and easily manipulated. Overlapping the …show more content…
Particularly in France, the citizens were growing irritable with the way their government was being run. At this point, the people of Europe had no respect for their leaders, no voice whatsoever, and were in desperate need of change. Preparations were beginning for what would later become the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror. Dickens cryptically discusses, “a certain movable framework,” which implies that guillotines were being produced in secret (4). The fact that Dickens mentions guillotines along with the secrecy of revolutionary preparations is extremely accurate, considering that there was an extreme sense of paranoia present at all times. People were constantly accusing one another of being traitors or spies, knowing that if there were “any suspicion that they were awake, [they were] to be atheistical and traitorous” (4). This idea will most definitely reoccur in the later chapter of A Tale of Two Cities, as this feeling of paranoia only heightens as the revolution continues to progress. Additionally, throughout the chapter, fear is a common tone, as Dickens describes disturbing events and aspects of European society. It is almost as if he is attempting to instill a feeling of fear into his readers, in order to better explain the time period. However, he