Why did Charles Dickens write A Tale of Two Cities?

Answer 1

Dickens used lots of contradictory statements when he was describing the time of the French Revolution. This was mainly to explain the uncertainty of the time, and also the differences between the aristocracy and the lower class during this time.

Answer 2

The two cities are London and Paris. It is the time of the Reign of Terror in France, and aristocrats are being beheaded in Paris. For some, there is the possibility of safety in England. It is the same setting as in The Scarlet Pimpernel, but a different kind of story.

The novel is a melodramatic tale of old secrets, justices and injustices, revenge, mistaken identities, love, jealousy, and sacrifice played out on both sides of the English Channel as the fates of three French families intertwine, drawing others into their drama.

It's pretty hard to give a short account of the plot, involving Lucie Manette and her father Dr. Manette, Charles Darnay, Sidney Carton, and Madame Defarge as key players, together with Madame la Guillotine. For summaries, consult Spark Notes, Wikipedia, or many other resources on the web. Two links are below. Better yet, just read it.

Answer 3

He describes their appearances in great detail, making each attribute pertain to a personal characteristic, a method of characterization similar to Chaucer's in The Canterbury Tales. Additionally, Perkins taught us well enough to capitalize A Tale of Two Cities. Dickens often takes the insight out of his characters' descriptions, forcing the readers to create their own assumptions based on all other methods of characterization. His mastery of this technique makes him a literary genius.
He describes their appearances in great detail, making each attribute pertain to a personal characteristic, a method of characterization similar to Chaucer's in The Canterbury Tales. Additionally, Perkins taught us well enough to capitalize A Tale of Two Cities. Dickens often takes the insight out of his characters' descriptions, forcing the readers to create their own assumptions based on all other methods of characterization. His mastery of this technique makes him a literary genius.

Answer 4

Charles Dickens wrote this book to help portay how horrible the feudal system was and the laws by which the king let his people live.Dickens wanted to change the laws. Another reason is because Charles Dickens was haunted by the memories of being forced to work in the debtors prison for so long and losing his sister whom he idolized and not being able to marry the women he loved. +++++++++++++++++ (Tiny corrections: Actually, CD's father was arrested for debt and taken to live in a debtor's prison alone. After his father was released, his parents compelled Charles to leave school (which he loved) to work at Warren's Shoeblacking factory, where he applied labels to bottles, and lived in tiny lodgings nearby. He only worked there for about eight months, but it made a deep and painful impression on his psyche. And it was his sister-in-law Mary whom he idolized, even, or maybe especially after her sudden death at 17. Almost all of his later works contained a characterization of Mary. ) An additional compelling reason behind ATTC is the fear many English people harbored that a similar revolution would erupt in London.

Answer 5

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There are also many good sites on Charles Dickens and his works, one of them being the Wikipedia articles.

Answer 6

Charles Dickens wrote A Tale of Two Cities to explore themes of resurrection, sacrifice, and the nature of justice during the French Revolution. The novel also served as a commentary on the contrasts between London and Paris during that time period.

Answer 7

Although the plot itself is fictional, the story is set in the time of the French Revolution and includes ACTUAL historical figures as persons in the novel.