Charles Dickens is the most famous English novelist of the 19th century in our country. One of the most interesting historical works of the writer was the novel "The Tale of Two Cities." This artistic creation will be the subject of an article. We will review the summary of the novel, as well as present a small analysis.
About the book
The first edition of the novel took place in 1859. It describes the events of the French Revolution. Very soon, the novel became the best seller of its time and the most popular work of the writer.
The idea of the novel was suggested to Dickens by a letter from W. Collins, where he told the story of a young man who sacrificed himself for his beloved and her chosen man. Gradually, thoughts about the French Revolution, which the writer gleaned while reading historical books, were superimposed on this plot.
Summary
The work of "The Tale of Two Cities" develops in the XVIII century. A senior bank clerk is traveling on an assignment to France. He will inform Lucy Monette, the daughter of a bank client, that her father, who is considered dead, is alive.
Dr. Mannet spent eighteen years in the Bastille. And all these years his family did not hear anything about him. Lucy was absolutely sure that her father had long been dead. The news brought by the employee hit her. The girl decides to go after her father.
Dr. Manette was in a state of severe emotional distress and did not realize that he had received freedom. After the release of the former prisoner, his old servant sheltered. Lucy takes Manette, and they go to England. Gradually, the girl manages to return her father's mind. Dr. Manette remembers very well that he survived terrible torment, but now all his trials are over.
Five years later
The events of the novel “A Tale of Two Cities” continue five years after the doctor returns. The Manette family has to participate in litigation. Accused of high treason, Charles Darnay is a friend of Manette. The heroes have to resort to the help of Cardboard's lawyer, thanks to the efforts of which Derney was completely acquitted and released from prison. While the process was going on, Lucy and Charles became close and realized that they were in love. Soon the wedding followed.
Charles lives in England. He is hiding under a false name, as he has an aristocratic French origin. Now Charles is trying in every way to hide it. For this, he even abandons the inheritance. The fact is that the French genus from which it comes from, has long been famous for its cruel attitude to ordinary people. His uncle, the Marquis, had already suffered from the patriots, future revolutionaries who had killed him. They sentenced the whole Charles family to destruction.
Dr. Manette accidentally learns that the Marquis is accounted for by Uncle Charles. This leads to the fact that he has a new blow. It turns out that it was the Marquis who was to blame for the fact that Dr. Manette was in the Bastille.
The beginning of the revolution
The Tale of Two Cities is primarily a historical novel, which is why Dickens describes in detail the beginning of the French Revolution. Power seizes the people. Real chaos begins in the country, the king is captured by revolutionaries, aristocrats flee, old laws are canceled and new ones are proclaimed. A new life is built on violence and the destruction of those who oppressed the common people for centuries.
Charles knows the situation in his country and the danger his relatives are in. Having considered everything, he decides to go to Paris to save his manager from imminent death.
Charles Dickens' historical novel describes the return of a French aristocrat to his homeland when a revolution is raging there. Darney is immediately arrested and imprisoned as a representative of the bourgeoisie. Charles’s family arrives in Paris immediately, hoping to save him from reprisal.
Dr. Manette was unexpectedly held in high esteem by the revolutionaries because of his prison past. This helped him to launch a stormy activity and set many in favor of Darney.
Two years of litigation. Finally, Charles is found not guilty and released. However, on the same day he is again arrested. Three persons were brought to him: the old servant Manette, who sheltered his master after returning from prison, his vengeful wife and some unknown person.
New court
The book The Tale of Two Cities continues to describe events. Charles is back in the dock. It turns out that the third unknown, who reported on Darney, is Lucy's father. It turned out that after the assault on the Bastille ended, the old servant entered the prison, found his master’s former cell and searched it. As a result, the diary of Dr. Manette fell into his hands. Among other things, it described the abuse of Uncle and Father Charles over a peasant family - a pregnant woman was raped, her husband was tortured to death, the brother of a poor woman was seriously injured, and her sister went missing.
Manette, as a doctor, was once invited to the marquise to monitor the health of a raped woman and her brother. During the inspection, the peasants spoke about the atrocities that the lords had done over them. Then Manette decided to report everything to the minister, but his report did not reach. And soon the doctor himself was in the Bastille. In his diary, Manette cursed the entire marquise. When these terms were read out in the courtroom, it became clear that Charles would not be saved - he was unanimously convicted and sentenced to death.
The rescue
The climax of the novel The Tale of Two Cities comes. Charles is getting ready for death. Manette can do nothing to help him, which causes a new episode of unconsciousness for the old doctor. But then Cardboard attorney appears on the scene. He has long been in love with Lucy and is ready to do anything for her and her family, without demanding anything in return.
Cardboard manages to save Charles. Taking advantage of the fact that he looks similar to Darnay, the lawyer changes places with him in prison, which allows Charles to escape. Thanks to this selfless act, Darnay with the Manette family safely leaves France. And Cardboard is executed instead of Charles.
Denouement
Comes to the end of "The Tale of Two Cities", a summary of which we set out. It becomes clear why the wife of the old servant decided to report to Charles - she was the sister of the same peasant woman who suffered at the hands of her father and uncle Darney. Now she is obsessed with only one desire - to exterminate the entire family of offenders sister. However, all her plans were destroyed: when the teacher Lucy found out about everything, she killed the mistress of the mistress.
The historical novel ends with a description of the denouement of the French Revolution. Now the revolutionaries themselves appear on the guillotine, who not so long ago executed objectionable on it. As for Charles and Lucy, they had a child, whom they named after Cardboard. And the story of the lawyer's heroic act was decided to be passed on to the descendants.
Analysis
In English-speaking countries, the novel "The Tale of Two Cities" has long been a textbook. Charles Dickens in his usual manner was able not only to tell a fascinating love story against the background of the unfolding revolution, but also to depict the most diverse social classes. The work covers the entire era, there are descriptions of both peasants and aristocrats.
The heroes of the writer face a difficult moral choice. They are guided by both religious motives and their own benefit. However, the writer himself is sure that a worthy person will readily sacrifice himself for the sake of his dear people.
Perhaps that is why the Tale of Two Cities remains popular today. Reader reviews regarding the work are mostly positive. Many admire Dickens' ability to portray historical events, although the beginning seems a little drawn out. Others note the art with which the characters are depicted. In addition, the historical atmosphere created by the writer also delights.