Dualities in A Tale of Two Cities?

Answer 1

A Tale of Two Cities explores dualities such as good versus evil, love versus hate, sacrifice versus selfishness, and resurrection versus death. The novel juxtaposes the contrasting worlds of London and Paris, highlighting the disparities in social and political systems during the French Revolution. Characters like Sydney Carton and Charles Darnay also embody dual natures as they undergo personal transformations throughout the story.

Answer 2

Dickens's doubling technique functions not only to draw oppositions, but to reveal hidden parallels. Carton, for example, initially seems a foil to Darnay; Darnay as a figure reminds him of what he could have been but has failed to become. By the end of the novel, however, Carton transforms himself from a good-for-nothing to a hero whose goodness equals or even surpasses that of the honorable Darnay. While the two men's physical resemblance initially serves only to underscore Carton's moral inferiority to Darnay, it ultimately enables Carton's supremely self-elevating deed, allowing him to disguise himself as the condemned Darnay and die in his place. As Carton goes to the guillotine in his double's stead, he raises himself up to, or above, Darnay's virtuous status.

Answer 3

The opening sentence of the book, ""It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...," is parallelism, which is a series of words, phrases, etc that are contrasted or put together in a grammatically similar structure.

Answer 4

From the very title of A Tale of Two Cities, Dickens signals that this is a novel about duality. Everything from the settings (London, Paris) to the people come in pairs. The pairs are occasionally related together. A crucial incidence of related doubling involves the resemblance between Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton, a similarity that drives the plot. The pairs are more often oppositional, just as in the dichotomous opening: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." For example, Lucie's physical and moral brightness is played off against the dark Madame Defarge.

Answer 5

Swallowing talk instead of drink