Review
of A Tale of Two Cities
“It was the best
of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age
of foolishness…” So begins Charles Dickens in one of his more famous novels, A Tale of Two Cities. Focusing on the
effects of the French Revolution on an Anglo-French family, Dickens’ novel is
filled with adventure, suspense, and danger.
At seventeen
years of age, Lucie Manette is reunited with the father she never knew. He had
mysteriously disappeared before her birth and was found to have been unjustly
imprisoned. Finally together again, they set out for England and make the
acquaintance of Charles Darnay. Darnay and Lucie eventually fall in love and
get married. Lucie’s father is happy for them; however, he realizes there is
something oddly familiar about Darnay – something familiar and sinister…
Madame Defarge
runs a wine shop with her husband – but there’s more to her than that. She also
runs a spy network where all members are referred to as “Jacques.” Madame
Defarge, cruelly wronged by a French noble, decides to take revenge on all of
the French aristocracy by supporting and engineering movements of the French
Revolution. Her desire for revenge, however, remains unchecked by compassion
and humanity; when she discovers Darnay’s secret, she decides he must die, and his
family must perish with him…
While Dickens
creates an engaging plot, some of his characters are not well-developed. For
instance, both Lucie Manette and Charles Darnay are portrayed as good, noble
characters; however, they seem to lack insecurities, major flaws, and other
traits that make characters more believable. Despite its flaws, Dickens’ novel
includes a complicated and refreshing plot. Additionally, the author’s tone
serves to provide wry commentary on the historical period which the novel
portrays, giving the book a few light moments amidst the overall darker tone of
the French Revolution. To reiterate, although some characters are
one-dimensional, the complex plot and author’s tone make A Tale of Two Cities a satisfying read.
~Ananya Swaminathan
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