A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens Critical Essay

The book is called A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens published by Penguin books in New York first published in 1839. The book’s 449 pages talks mostly about the years leading up to the French Revolution and climaxes in the Reign of Terror perpetrated by the Jacobins.

The story is about Charles Darnay, a French Aristocrat, and Sydney Carton, an English barrister. Both fall in love with the same woman, Lucie Manette. Eventually, Sydney is executed. The chapters are almost evenly divided between events in France and Events in England.

II. Analysis
The novel as per Dickens’ conception dealt heavily with themes of ressurection, guilt, hope, shame, redemption, social injustice and patriotism.
The novel was a rare example of a Dickens’ novel having a historic theme because it talked about real world events that happened France and England during the years of revolution. His book teaches us about the futility of mob violence and the violence that occurs in relation to the French revolution most especially the excesses of the Jacobins. Finally, the book teaches us about the extreme social inequality that eventually led to the revolution.
III. Appraisal.
I liked the book because it applied Dickens’ impressive writing skills to the field of history. The normally bland topic is given amusing form and becomes something the youth can enjoy reading about. I would recommend it to other young people as an introduction to history and the social inequalities of Europe that led to the revolutions that swept the continent.