Articles Notes
Key words: social injustice, class struggle, resurrection
> Social injustice in The Tale of Two Cities
>The injustice varies such as the political injustice, economical injustice and social
injustice.
>Tremendous power and realism the sufferings of the poor,and the way in which
aristocrats oppressed and abused them.
>How ordinary men and women were driven by their suffering to become implacable
murderers of the aristocracy
>Related to the class struggle because those who feel the negative effects of social
injustice begin to struggle against it.
>Dickens vividly paints the aristocratic maltreatment of the lower classes, such as when
Monseigneur only briefly stops to toss a coin toward the father of a child whom he has
just run over.
>the element of the individual as well as the group seeking equality as the book goes
through the rebellious times of the French Revolution.
>“Does everybody here recall old Foulon, who told the famished people that they
might eat grass and who died, and went to Hell?”(Dickens 202)After this we see the fate
that happened to old Foulon. After Foulon died“his head was soon upon a pike, with
grass enough in the mouth for all Saint Antoine to dance at the sight of”(Dickens 204).
This is a prime example of justice because they got Foulon back with what he
threatened to get them with. He threatened the people to eat grass, and they killed him
and stuffed grass in his mouth. This is the epitome of an eye for an eye,revolution style.
> The Struggle Against Aristocracy In a Tale of Two Cities
>To make up an interesting story about a group of imaginary people.
>To link this story with certain known facts about the French Revolution, such as the
storming of the Bastille, the setting up of revolutionary tribunals, the execution of
aristocrats by the guillotine.
>To make the readers think more deeply about some of the important matters involved
in the story: life and death, riches and poverty, vengeance, and so on.
>The French society of the eighteenth century was struggling as a result of longstanding feudal system of government. All political power lay in the hands of the King
and those who held about two-thirds of the landthe clergy or “First Estate” and the aristocracy (the “Second Estate”).
>”It was the best of times, it was the worst of times …” itself reflects the stark contrast
between the Second Estate and the Third Estate.
>In the initial chapters of Book I, the major character Dr. Alexandre Manette is
introduced as being “recalled to life”.
>Book II depicts incidents which occur five years after and describes the villainy of
Marquis d‟ Evermonde.
> Resurrection in a Tale of two cities
Time: French revolution
> Main idea:
>The interweaving themes of love, redemption, good versus evil, and resurrection.
>Being sympathy for the plebeian and pitilessly reveal the social vices.
Believe in the possibility of resurrection and transformation both on a personal level
and a social level
>Heroes would be remember by people who they had saved before.
> What author wanted to appeal
>Attention to the extraordinary violence of the French Revolution
>Shows that the overthrow of a government by violent means inevitably leads collapse.
>Ultimately expresses the belief that this violence will be give way to a new and better
society
> Resurrection:
>Literal meaning
*Rising up from the dead, the resumption of life
*Different religions believe in people
*Various religions offer the idea that the identity of a person lives on in some other form
instead of people died both physically and spiritually.
> Meaning in the novel
>Extended and rebirth - associated with rejuvenation
>Many characters reborn - have a new chance at life
>Can start their life again.
>Lucie is responsible for the resurrection of two main characters, Dr. Manette and
Carton’s lives.
>Compassionate, gorgeous, kind, unselfish and benevolent character, always willing to
help others.
>Seeing everyone as the same - finding their two sides
>Loving other people, giving them hope, love, and warmth
>Lead her father and carton to rebirth - although they were surrounded by difficulties
> Resurrection of Dr.Manette
>Being taken away from his pregnant wife - lead to insanity
>Being put in jail because he knows the information that Marquis St. Evremonde didn’t
want him to spread
>He experienced rebirth when he was picked up by his friends and family.
>Lucie helped him to relieve from his miserable memory.
>Made him understand what love was again
>He started to become a normal person under Lucie’s love and determination
> Resurrection of Sydney Carton
>His life was meaningless and worthless
>Lucie gave him confidence by encouraging him and telling him he was capable for
bettering things - he stopped getting drunk and trying to be a better person
>He thanks what Lucie had done for him - saving Darnay even the he needed to
sacrifice himself - seeing it as a way of redemption
>Devoted himself to Lucie
>He would never die - resurrected his own life by giving himself a new purpose
>A hero that now can live or die with himself.
>Resurrection of Charles Darnay
>Carton save Darnay from prison and death - using Carton’s own life