A Tale of Two Cities Group

Question:

khilton
khilton
Student
High School - 11th Grade

What is the effect of Dickens's doubling technique? Does he use doubles to draw contrasts comparisons, or both?

explain the motif, doubles, in the book A TAle of Two Cities

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Posted by khilton on Monday September 28, 2009 at 9:34 AM and tagged with dickens, doubling, style.

Answers:

  1. writergal06
    writergal06 Teacher

    eNotes Editor

    The doubling technique definitely serves the purpose of both comparing and contrasting. Throughout the novel, he is trying to show the dual nature of man -- man can be a villain and a hero simultaneously. Basically, one person's revolution is another person's massacre. Clearly he is contrasting the major characters by developing so many foils - Carton and Darnay, and Lucie and Mdm Defarge are the two most obvious ones. By showing their extreme actions, reactions, and resolutions Dickens is able to pinpoint what causes a person of dual natures to choose one over the other. It boils down to the differences between love and hate.

    Dickens uses the cities to be more of a comparing points. Similar people and similar circumstances are found in both. Again, though, love and hate separate the progressing of one country from the destruction of another.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/tale-of-two-cities/style

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    Posted by writergal06 on Monday September 28, 2009 at 9:54 AM