illustration of a guillotine

A Tale of Two Cities

by Charles Dickens

Start Free Trial

Student Question

What does whispering symbolize in A Tale of Two Cities?

Quick answer:

In A Tale of Two Cities, whispering symbolizes foreshadowing and the impending danger of the revolution. It hints at trouble, starting quietly but building into a significant force, like a whisper turning into a roar. Whispering also reflects the secretive nature of revolutionary activities, with characters often speaking in hushed tones. Additionally, whispering symbolizes unspoken desires and emotions, such as Sydney Carton's unrequited love for Lucie, foreshadowing his ultimate sacrifice.

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

The metaphor of whispering is commonly used as foreshadowing throughout the story.  Whispering is used to hint at dangers or trouble yet to come.  The revolution is always in the background, and will eventually engulf all of the characters in much more than a whisper.  Much like a wave, its influence starts out small and then gathers momentum—when a whisper becomes  a roar.

When the Manette family settles down outside, the trees whisper.  This is a message of trouble to come.

Mysterious backs and ends of houses peeped at them as they talked, and the plane-tree whispered to them in its own way above their heads. (book 2, ch 6, p. 65)

Another example is more literal.  Throughout the revolution, everyone talks in whispers.

“All the village,” pursued the mender of roads, on tiptoe and in a low voice, “withdraws; all the village whispers by the fountain; all the village sleeps; all the village dreams of that unhappy one, within the locks and bars of the prison on the crag, and never to come out of it except to perish. (ch 15, p. 109)

The revolution occurs in whispers.  The revolutionaries are often whispering, and the revolution itself is a metaphorical whisper—until it turns into a roar.  The whispers at the fountain are spoken of repeatedly, as both a metaphor for and foreshadowing of the revolution.  Madame Defarge also sits listening to “the whispering trees” (ch 16, p. 113).

The whispers are also related to the second prominent metaphor: footsteps.  Sydney Carton pines for Lucie.

And one other thing regarding him was whispered in the echoes, which has been whispered by all true echoes for ages and ages. (ch 21, p. 136)

Lucie can never be his.  Carton knows that he cannot have her, but that she is in love with Darnay.  This poetic thought foreshadows his later sacrifice for Lucie.

Get Ahead with eNotes

Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Approved by eNotes Editorial