A Tale of Two Cities -
The French Revolution, in the novel A Tale of Two Cities written by Charles Dickens, is described throughout the novel as a "force of nature"; the revolution came progressively but indubitably sweeping over an entire region with cries of passion, as like rain, and hazardous conditions brought forth from it, as like a storm. This theme weaves itself into the novel's setting and time period from the initiation of the oppression of the poor by the French aristocracy to the Reign of Terror period that killed thousands, thus creating a collectively given message to the reader that the revolution was destined to occur. Not only does the theme target the Revolution as a whole, it illustrates Madame Defarge's strong fervor for revenge against the nobleman particularly the Evremonde family. Madame Defarge is the epitome of an ardent patriot in A Tale of Two Cities; and so, can be exemplified as a hurricane. In the beginning, over a period of time, a hurricane gradually gets stronger out in the ocean just like her hate. Then when let go or when enough strength is gained, it spins in the ocean with intensity and force, just like the oppressed people when they over ran the noblemen. It is unstoppable as it brings along with it flooding, gust
"The sea of black and threatening waters, and of destructive upheaving of wave against wave, whose depths were yet unfathomed and whose forces were yet unknown. The remorseless sea of turbulently swaying shapes, voices of vengeance, and faces hardened in the furnaces of suffering ..." (Dickens 218-9) "...suddenly the sea rose immeasurably wider and higher, and swept Defarge of the wine-shop over the lowered drawbridge, past the massive stone outer walls in among the eight great towers surrendered! ing winds, and an unsafe environment for the region. The sea rises, the wind blows, the waves crash and the forces of nature summon the patriots, once again, for a taste of fires spreading. In the chapter, "Fire Rises", the people of San Antoine come together to watch the chateau of Marquis St. Evremonde burn. "In the roaring and raging of the conflagration, a red-hot wind, driving straight from the infernal regions, seemed to be blowing the edifice away..." (Dickens 230) The fiery passion of the patriots is displayed through the fire that obliterates the chateau and, in a sense, the cruel Marquis along with all his valuable possessions. That night many other fires were lighted throughout France signifying the hunger of the people for death and destruction. The first case where the force of nature shows up is during the storming of the Bastille: So resistless was the force of the ocean bearing him on, that even to draw his breath or turn his head was impracticable as if he had been struggling in the surf at the South Sea, until he was landed in the outer courtyard of the Bastille." (Dickens 215) "For the first time he [Dr. Manette] felt that in that sharp fire he had slowly forged the iron which could break the prison door of his daughter's husband and deliver him ... and when Jarvis Lorry saw the kindled eyes, the resolute face, the calm strong look ... he believed..." (Dickens 269) Here, the readers first get a sense of how the patriots are pushing for retribution; and like nature, this revolution will inevitably occur and will stay its course for a while. The novel opens in 1775,
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1426
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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