Chicago Sample CHARLES DICKENS A TALE OF TWO CITIES AND POLITICS AND THE NORTON ANTHOLOGY OF THEORY AND CRITICISM

CHARLES DICKENS’ A TALE OF TWO CITIES AND POLITICS AND THE NORTON

ANTHOLOGY OF THEORY AND CRITICISM

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Introduction

The author, Charles Dickens presents the history of French Revolution in a Tale of Two

Cities and Politics in a way that clearly depicts the aspects of politics and society and their major

changes and how they relate to the contemporary lifestyle of humankind. In his book, Charles

employs the accounts of French Revolution to show struggle between the people in power, the

despots and the determination of the subjects to overthrow aristocracy. The period is succeeded

by a series of assassinations and bloodshed and many peasants lose their lives in such a historical

moment. In this book, therefore, the author presents contentious issues with regards to politics

where the reforms and campaigns for equality in society were believed to be a result of the poor

subjects through their revolutionary efforts. However, the book further illustrates the savagery

associated with revolutionaries after ascending to power as depicted by Madame Defarge.

In addition, the author highlights a love story that surrounds a number of characters in the

novel. Nonetheless, Charles professes that his own love as well as, marriage was bound to a

spectacular failure irrespective of the stability that most of the love stories exhibit in the novel.

He asserts that his marriage to Catherine was an unhappy occurrence and thus, goes ahead and

confesses his love to the young actress, Ellen Ternan. The incident led to separation between him

and Catherine in 1859. Such a split is one of the most contemporary issues that the author

connects his readers with.

Discussion

The novel presents the topic of social struggle and characters’ struggle in a socially

stratified environment. The author outlines differences that exist between the group of

individuals who hold positions of power and those from the least groups in the society and

therefore, contributing to the construct of the privileged as well as, the underprivileged or

possibly those who do not to be any close position of enjoying those privileges borne of power.

In this regard, the author presents the aristocrats in France to exercise a complete power over

their subjects or those who belong to the lower classes and hence, executing some of the

practices that are socially unacceptable such as denial of freedom and deprivation. Dickens

employs the prison manuscript of Doctor Manette which showcases information that clearly

illustrates the manner in which subjects are dragged like animals in this society.

The insistence

of Jerry Cruncher regarding the ways in which sentences are executed, that is, they are stern as

well as, violent and therefore, indicating some horrible elements of savagery in the novel.

Furthermore, the bank clerk’s iteration on the same incident where he regards it as the process of

the law is a clear indication of how the system is corrupt and inhuman towards the lower-class

individuals in Dickens’ society. It is also imperative to assert that in this type of society, the poor

have no power to control anything in their wellbeing and feel not to be part of their nation as

formidable citizens.

“Samples of a people that had undergone a terrible grinding and regrinding in the mill,

and certainly not in the fabulous mill which ground old people young, shivered at every

corner, passed in and out at every doorway, looked from every window, fluttered in every

vestige of a garment that the wind shook. The mill which had worked them down, was

the mill that grinds young people old [ ...]” (1.5.6)

However, after the reversal of power, the author mentions that the lower class in the

society that was subjected to all forms of harassments by those in power makes an assertion of

what one can refer to as retaliation. Therefore, the peasants are depicted to exercise power on the

aristocrats in ways such as imprisonments as well as, mass executions. The case is clearly

Charles, Dickens. A tale of two cities. (New York: Putnam, 1892). P. 1.5.6

Ibid

illustrated through Darnay’s assertion which claims that after he was placed in the prison, the

peasants had changed their faces and were appearing in a more rough style while in charge and

even the prisoners’ faces indicated politeness and civility.

The author demonstrates the impacts

on Jerry Cruncher where he is illustrated to be deeply influenced by the process of revolution and

his positive feeling with regards to the uprising of the lower class individuals in France as a

result of the revolution.

From the Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism, Edward Said mentions aspects of

political dominance where there are cases in society that are borne of unequal relations with

regards to power. In his contribution to the Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism, Said

continues with the perspective of Orientalism surrounding the manner in which people

demonstrate their civilizations. He concludes that with the political dominance resulting into

unequal powers and subjecting the state in a situation of the governors as well as, the governed,

Said indicates that it reaches a point in history where the subjects or the lower-class citizens

practically rebuff the idea of colonization and hence, fight for decolonization. The case is evident

in the novel, A Tale of Two Cities and Politics as shown above where the French poor rose to get

was theirs from the aristocrats. However, he mentions that the struggle of the lower class to such

a position is a costly event and this illustrates how people’s lives were claimed in the process of

French Revolution.

Ibid

Walter, Benjamin. "The work of art in the age of its technological reproducibility [first

version]." Grey Room 39 (2010): 11-37.

The Said’s contribution helps us to understand the aspect of sacrifice in the Dickens’

novel in order to attain the highly awaited happiness of the nation for the lower class citizens.

Dickens analyses the theme of sacrifice of sacrifice at both levels of personal or individual, as

well as, the national level of sacrifice. In this regard, the revolutionaries affirm that the fight of

ensuring egalitarianism in France will attain its achievement through terrible expenses in which a

number of aspects human life will have to fall short of their priorities. The author mentions the

sacrifice of both loyalties and personal loves in this context. In chapter seven, the arrest of

Darnay helps us to understand the aspect of sacrifice of personal loyalties which are way below

the interest of the state. The action of Madame Defarge towards her husband by strongly

objurgating his devotion towards Manette is a clear element that helps us to understand the

notion of sacrifice in the struggle for French egalitarianism. Furthermore, the case of Carton and

his transformation in which he becomes a moral man in the society by sacrificing his initial state

and thus opts to suffer for friends in order to attain happiness for himself and others in the fight

against inequality.

The author commences his novel with a motif of double in which contrasts, literary

devices, and structures are employed to aid in the development of very principal topics in the

French Revolution. In this work, Dickens uses words which clearly demonstrate the central role

of doubles in the novel, “… it was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” In this concept,

the author’s application of various characters such as Madame Defarge and Luice are significant

in the development of the novel’s thematic concerns. From the passages of the novel, Madame

Defarge is depicted as hateful as well as, bloodthirsty as opposed to Luice who takes the position

Ibid

of a caring, nurturing, and loving character. In this contrasting aspect of the two female

characters, the author finds it possible to construct thematic assertions and judgments

surrounding the novel. Furthermore, Luice’s concern and love helps in the development of

spiritual transformation regarding her father’s life which outlines the resurrection and its

possibility as an important area in the novel. On the other hand, Madame Defarge demonstrates

an element of vengefulness which perpetuates the occurrences of human oppression and violence

in the novel.

The application of doubles helps the author to highlight oppositions and contrasts as well

as, in the revelation of hidden parallels in the book. For instance, the presentation of Carton in

the novel affirms him as a foil. In this regard, Darnay reminds him of the failure to be what he is

supposed to. Nevertheless, as the novel wraps up, Carton is depicted to have realized himself and

redeems himself from the “good-for-nothing state” to someone of substance and honor.

From

the articles and books in the Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism, Walter Benjamin brings

out this perspective of doubles which refers him to his experience in the political times he

endured in the Nazis’ regime in France. In this context, Benjamin mentions the aspect of political

potentiality and how people construe them. He adds that, the concept is employs double by

looking at the contrast that exists between the art of film and the art of painting in which

comparisons are developed between two distinct parts of a given material of literature.

Conclusion

Ibid

Edward, Said. "Orientalism: Western representations of the Orient." (New York: Pantheon,

1978).

The work of Charles Dickens with respect to the French Revolution employs a number of

aspects from the contributions made in the Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism. The

themes underlined in the novel as well as, their arguments depend on the constructs developed in

these theories and their respective criticisms. For instance, the application of the Walter

Benjamin’s view of distinction and contrast between different literatures materials is essential in

constructing doubles in the novel to help in underlining differences between characters and in

proper establishment of themes. The Said’s notion of revolutionary efforts from colonization to

decolonization is imperative in recognizing the suffering and sacrifices made in the efforts to

transformation and resurrection of the society.

Bibliography

Benjamin, Walter. "The work of art in the age of its technological reproducibility [first version]."

Grey Room 39(2010): 11-37.

Dickens, Charles. A tale of two cities. (New York: Putnam, 1892).

Said, Edward. "Orientalism: Western representations of the Orient." (New York: Pantheon,

1978).

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