Use Of The French Revolution In Dickens's 'A Tale Of Two Cities'

Throughout A Tale of Two Cities, Dickens approaches the historical subject of the French Revolution with a bit of confliction. Despite the fact he supports the revolutionary cause, he often points out the evils of the revolutionaries themselves. Dickens deeply sympathizes with the sufferings of the French peasantry and stresses their need for liberty. However, while he condemns this oppression, he also denounces the peasants’ strategies in overcoming it. In fighting malice with malice, the peasants produce no real revolution; instead, they only continue the violence that they themselves have suffered. Although Dickens views the French Revolution as a symbol of revolution and rebirth, he stresses that its violent methods ultimately caused more harm than good in the end through his figurative language, tone, and

Much of the action in A Tale of Two Cities takes place in Paris during the French Revolution, which began in 1789. In his novel, Dickens shows how the tyranny of the French aristocracy - unjust laws, high taxes, and little or no concern for the well-being of the commoners - fueled a wrath amongst the poor that in time exploded into rebellion. Dickens represents this

By showing how the revolutionaries use oppression and violence to further their own selfish and bloodthirsty ends, in A Tale of Two Cities Dickens suggests that whoever is in power, nobles or commoners, will fall prey to the temptation to exercise their full control. He is fully aware of the sufferings the French commoners endured and acknowledges that at times force is necessary, but believes the revolutionaries mistook their vengeance as natural passion. In other words, Dickens shows that while tyranny will surely lead to revolution, revolution will lead just as surely to tyranny. The only way to break this cycle is through the application of justice and