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A Tale of Two Cities

by Charles Dickens

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Book the First, Chapters 1, 2, and 3 Summary and Analysis

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Summary:

The novel opens on England in 1775. Western Europe is in the throes of social unrest, and France is headed toward revolution (the French Revolution began in 1789). England is not faring much better; corruption and criminality are major problems, with crimes ranging from muggings to murders happening daily.

Late on a densely foggy night, Jarvis Lorry accompanies a mail coach to Dover. Highway robberies are common, and everyone in the coach is petrified when they hear a horse approaching. However, it is only Jerry Cruncher, who has a message for Lorry from Tellson’s Bank: “Wait at Dover for Mam’selle.” Lorry gives Cruncher a message in return: “RECALLED TO LIFE.” Cruncher appears startled and gallops away on his horse.

The three passengers are left alone. The narrator muses that although they are crowded together within the small mail coach, they are strangers. Cruncher makes his way back to Tellson’s Bank, but he continues to agonize over Lorry’s message. Lorry, meanwhile, falls asleep in the mail coach and dreams about digging a man out of a grave. The man tells him he has been buried alive for eighteen years and had “abandoned all hope of being dug out.” Lorry wakes up with a start.

Analysis:

In the novel’s opening lines (“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”), Charles Dickens establishes a parallel between London and Paris—the “Two Cities”—in order to explore the profound and unsettling sociopolitical changes of mid-eighteenth-century Western Europe. Corruption is as rampant in England as it is in pre-revolutionary France; harsh laws, as well as aristocratic and political nefariousness, incite unrest and radicalism. Though Dickens acknowledges that England is no better than France, he suggests the possibility of redemption and, as we will see later, resurrection through Jarvis Lorry’s words: “RECALLED TO LIFE.” Presumably, redemption will be possible if England avoids making the same mistakes that are being made in France.

Expert Q&A

What are some examples of ethos and pathos in Book 2 of A Tale of Two Cities?

In Book 2 of A Tale of Two Cities, ethos is demonstrated through Dr. Manette, who, despite his past imprisonment, is portrayed as a moral and upstanding father figure, earning the trust and respect of those around him. Pathos is evident in the character of Sydney Carton, whose troubled life and unrequited love for Lucie Manette evoke deep sympathy from the audience, highlighting his emotional struggles and inner goodness.

In Book the Second, Chapter I of A Tale of Two Cities, what does Jerry refer to himself as?

In Book the Second, Chapter I of A Tale of Two Cities, Jerry Cruncher refers to himself as "an honest tradesman." By day, he works as an odd-jobs man for Tellson's Bank, but his nighttime activities, which leave his shoes muddy, suggest otherwise. His wife's prayers cause him concern, hinting at his dubious activities. This self-reference serves as comic relief and foreshadows Cruncher's involvement in darker deeds.

What are the three mottos of the French Revolution in A Tale of Two Cities, Book the Third, Chapter One?

The three mottos of the French Revolution mentioned in Book the Third, Chapter One are "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity or Death." These slogans are historically significant, reflecting the harsh realities of life in Revolutionary France and setting a serious tone as Charles Darnay travels through the Republic in 1792. The mottos symbolize the core values that shaped modern France, arising from the end of serfdom and the quest for freedom, equality, and brotherhood.

Why does Mr. Lorry warn Dr. Manette against opening the blind in Book the Third, Chapter 2 of A Tale of Two Cities?

"Don't look!" cried Mr. Lorry, "Don't look out! Manette, for your life, don't touch the blind."
Mr. Lorry cautions Dr. Manette not to open the blinds and look out, because there are sights and sounds of the Revolution being made outside his window.

Imagery in Book I, chapter 2 of A Tale of Two Cities that suggests impending danger

Imagery in Book I, chapter 2 of A Tale of Two Cities that suggests impending danger includes descriptions of the dark, misty, and eerie setting. The mail coach journey through a dense fog and the nervous, armed guards create a sense of foreboding. The atmosphere is tense, hinting at the turmoil and danger that will unfold in the story.

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Book the First, Chapter 4 Summary and Analysis

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