All creative works share common elements, such as character archetypes, conflicts, and themes; some parallels are just more striking than others. The comparison of A Tale of 2 Cities and the TV show, The Vampire Diaries, is an example of one that shares an abundance of striking parallels.
In A Tale of Two Cities, sacrifice is a significant theme. During Charles Darnay’s third trial, it is declared that he must die at the Guillotine. So many people are affected by this, as Darnay was a dear husband, son-in law, father, and friend to many. This leads Sydney Carton to sacrifice himself to the Guillotine in place of Charles Darnay. Carton believes everything he has done in his life was a waste, and that this sacrifice will
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When professing his love for Lucie, he insists that he does not want her to “pity love” him. He says, “I shall never be better than I am. I shall sink lower, and be worse.” Similarly, in Season 4 of The Vampire Diaries, when Damon, one of the Salvatore brothers, professes his love for Elena, he says, “I’d rather die right now than spend my last final years remembering how good I had it and how happy I was, because that’s who I am, Elena, and I’m not gonna change. And there’s no apology in the world that encompasses all the reasons that I’m wrong for you.” Both Damon and Carton believe they cannot change, even for love. Additionally, both Carton and Damon have good hearts and intentions, but use confrontational methods, such as manipulation, in order to save the people they love. For example, Carton knows there is no clean method to get Darnay out of jail, so he uses John Barsad’s “cards” against him in order to get into the jail. Similarly, vampires possess the ability to “compel someone.” Damon uses this to his advantage and often compels and manipulates people into getting what he wants. They fit the archetype of an …show more content…
The parallels between the two works are broad, yet strong, rich, and ample. The similarities between these two works also show a very major difference between the time periods. In A Tale of 2 Cities, Lucie’s suitors are Darnay, Stryver, and Carton, but she knows once she chooses one, there is no turning back. This is because in the Victorian Era, divorce was looked down upon in society and women had little to no rights in terms of marriage. To contrast, in The Vampire Diaries, Elena loves Stefan for the first few series. They believe they will get married one day. However, later in the series, she starts to develop feelings for Damon, Stefan’s brother, and breaks up with Stefan, and starts dating Damon. In the Victorian Era, this wouldn’t be possible, especially since Stefan and Damon are brothers. Therefore, despite the gap in time, the two creative works are captivatingly
Sydney’s execution seems to allow him to forgive and redeem himself for his past wrongdoings. In his final actions (such as the reassurance of the weaver girl and the Bible quotation), Carton appears to better himself as a person in his last moments of personhood. In addition, Sydney potentially improves the life of future generations by giving up his own. He is motivated by the thought his love, Lucie, and Darnay having a child of his namesake, and pledges that his loyalty and death will mean betterment for thousands of good people. This is supported by the following quote: “I see him [Darnay’s child] winning it so well, that my name is made illustrious there by the light of his. I see the blots I threw upon it, faded away.” (pg. ) Carton’s choice could either be seen as a noble rebirth, Christ-like in its execution, or a final self-indulgent act of fatalism. However, Dickens certainly seems to think that he is nothing less than a
A Tale of Two Cities Essay Throughout history, the powers of love and hate have constantly been engaged in a battle for superiority. Time and time again, love has proven to be stronger than hate, and has been able to overcome all of the obstacles that have stood in the way of it reaching its goal. On certain occasions, though, hate has been a viable foe and defeated love when they clash. In the novel A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens presents several different power struggles between love and hate.
The Book of Common Prayer offers an intercession for “our families, friends and neighbors, and for those who are alone.” We tend to put the alone in this separate category, but for Olivia Laing, “the essential unknowability of others” means that to be human is to be lonesome, at least sometimes. So why don’t we talk about it more openly? “What’s so shameful,” she asks, about “having failed to achieve satisfaction, about experiencing unhappiness?” This daring and seductive book — ostensibly about four artists, but actually about the universal struggle to be known — raises sophisticated questions about the experience of loneliness, a state that in a crowded city provides an “uneasy combination of separation and exposure.”
The French Revolution began in 1789 as a respectable insurrection; however, it soon became a bloody massacre. The peasants had been oppressed by poverty and the aristocracy. Eventually, they grew weary and tired of the subjugation; therefore, they revolted against the aristocracy, who had not anticipated the revolution. However, they became frenzied and blood thirsty, becoming carried away with the bloodshed. The novel A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens tells the story of these two classes along with that of two families and two cities, London and Paris, during the French Revolution. The novel is written in such a way that allows the reader to experience the trials and tribulations of the French Revolution, while still enjoying the characters and convoluted plot. Dickens seems to believe that imagery is the key to showing the contrast between two characters, cities or classes, and he often uses it to please the reader esthetically and successfully sway the reader’s sentimentality and sympathies throughout the novel. Furthermore, to develop the theme of man’s inhumanity towards his fellow man, Dickens uses imagery to set a specific tone towards two characters, C.J. Stryver and Sydney Carton, the peasants at the beginning of the novel, and the aristocracy at the end of the novel.
Love and hate are both emotions that are used in our attempt to express ourselves to certain people. Like it or not, although hate is more sinister of the two, without hate, the scales would be upset. We cannot always get the best of everything. However, in the novel " A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens, hate only adds to the story's appeal.
Foreshadowing is used in many of Charles Dickens' novels. It can bring about a sense of wonder and imagination of what might occur later in the novel. The conceopt of foreshadowing means to present a warning sign, or hint beforehand. Dickens is able to use this concept in three examples. The threatening footsteps in the Manette home, Gaspard's illustration of "blood," and Mr. Lorry's dream of brinnging a man back to life, are all examples of warning or foreshadowing. that Dickens' uses in his novel A Tale of Two Cities.
A Tale of Two Cities In every great novel, there is a theme that is constant throughout the story. One of the better known themes portrays the fight of good verses evil. Different authors portray this in different ways. Some use colors, while others use seasons to show the contrast. Still, others go for the obvious and use characters.
		Sydney Carton has been presented as the worthless human being. He was always drunk. He did not acquire any high social position. He was always alone and lonely. Nobody loved him and nobody respected him. "I care for no man on earth, and no man on earth cares for me" said Carton (page 99). However, Sydney Carton did never cause any harm to anybody, but actually helped the people around him. Sydney Carton was physically identical to Charles Darnay. When Darnay was being prosecuted for treason against the English government, Carton allowed Mr. Stryver (the lawyer Carton worked for) to reveal him "Look well upon that gentleman, my learned friend there, and then look well upon the prisoner. How say you? Are they very like each other?" said Stryver (page 86). "My lord inquired of Mr. Stryver, whether they were next to try Mr. Carton for treason? But Mr. Stryver replied no" (Page 86). The court then released Darnay. This was one of the ways Sydney Carton presented assistance to others, and that shows that he is a good person who does not mind helping other people. After the trial Carton and Darnay met with each other, and they had a talk. Mr. Carton had told Darnay that he hated him because Lucy loved him. Couple of months after this incident, Mr. Carton asked to meet with Mr. Darnay. Carton asked Darnay to forgive him for the previous incident and also asked him to be his friend. "Mr. Darnay, I wish we might be friends" said Carton (page 251) "On the drunken occasion in...
A Tale of Two Cities, Romeo and Juliet. Names such as these bring to mind both plays and pieces of literature that are considered by many to be timeless classics. Perhaps the reason these stories are so popular is not just because they are well written. People are also able to relate to the characters who are often entangled in one of the many complexities within a given society. Authors such as Shakespeare or Charles Dickens are able to discuss some of the issues and problems that face people within society. The answers to the these issues are often left unclear. Providing the audience a chance to ponder these questions and decide for themselves if a certain view is right, wrong, or somewhere in between.
Have you ever read two books that are similar in many ways? Wasn’t it super easy to compare all the similarities between the two especially if it is about love. Many stories have the same outline of occurrences in the story and that's why they can be compared so easily. Know if the topic is love it makes it even easier because a lot of people like to see the same things in love stories, a happy ending. That’s why these two stories have so much in common. Some of the similarities between the first three acts of The Tragedy Romeo and Juliet and Midsummer Nights Dream are: in the first act that they both have a discussion of marriage, in the second act that they both main couples declare their love for each other, and finally in the third act both girls end up crying because there love has left them.
In A Tale of Two Cities author Charles Dickens uses literary techniques throughout the novel such as doubling and repetition. One way Dickens utilizes doubling is through the characters such as Lucie Manette and Madame Defarge who are complete opposites. Dickens choice to create doubling among characters not only creates opposites throughout the novel, it also reveals many hidden patterns the eventually unravel to readers as the novel progresses. An example of these hidden connections is revealed with Madame Defarge’s vengeance towards Darnay and his family.
Throughout A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens repeats a number of symbols and motifs. By employing these two literary devices throughout the duration of the story, Dickens is working to emphasize the importance of these specific components of the story. Motifs and symbols represent repeating ideas that help the reader to understand, as well as highlight the author’s central idea. Dickens employs the usage of symbols and motifs, such that by using both he adds a layer of significance and deeper meaning to actions, people, as well as objects. Additionally, by using symbols and motifs, Dickens is able to create a story in which both the characters, and the plot are interwoven.
My favorite scene in A Tale of Two Cities is one of the last scenes, when Sydney Carton is about to go to the guillotine. It takes place in Paris, near a prison, and many people have gathered to watch french aristocrats be beheaded. The atmosphere is tense and chaotic; Sydney, however, remains calm, even though he is about to be killed. Sydney is holding the hand of a young girl who is given no name other than a "poor little seamstress". Sydney and the seamstress, who are both being wrongfully killed, comfort each other just before they reach the guillotine, and they seem to have an instant romantic connection with each other. I loved this scene because it showed that Sydney Carton had finally found someone who could love him, as he could love them, but it saddened me that he had found her just before their deaths.
In his “A Tale Two Cities”, Charles Dickens uses the characters of Lucie Manette and Madame Defarge as two strong women that contrast against the rather manly group of characters. These women are both driven to do what they believe is right. Although Lucie and Madame are strong willed and independent, they both use these strengths differently. Lucie is a woman who is driven by love and affection. Whereas Madame Defarge is driven by hate and rebellion. Both these women, although similar, have such significant differences.
A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens, is a story set in the year 1775 and through the turbulent time of the French Revolution. It is of people living in love and betrayal, murder and joy, peril and safety, hate and fondness, misery and happiness, gentle actions and ferocious crowds. The novel surrounds a drunken man, Sydney Carton, who performs a heroic deed for his beloved, Lucie Manette, while Monsieur and Madame Defarge, ruthless revolutionaries, seek revenge against the nobles of France. Research suggests that through Dickens’ portrayal of the revolutionaries and nobles of the war, he gives accurate insight to the era of the Revolution.