Tale of Two Cities Term Paper

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Tale of Two Cities

The opening sentences of Charles Dickens's novel A Tale of Two Cities is famous because its writing draws the reader into the world depicted in the novel with gripping imagery and remarkable writing. The novel was written during a time of great change, and rather than just telling us "this story takes time during a period of great change," Dickens shows us all the conflicts going on. While the first image, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...," is the most well-known the first paragraph contains seven such opposites. While the writing is beautiful and well-crafted, the words say less than they seem: what does it mean to be the "best" or "worst" of times? Without the beautiful writing, the paragraph would open with a string of cliches.

Dickens then goes on to note other parallels, such as superficial similarities between rulers of countries.

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The parallels, however, make important points about the two countries in which the story is set, England and France. They also serve to remind the reader of the great philosophical turmoil going on at the time. This was the Age of Enlightenment, a time that set not only philosophies but views about how people should be governed in opposition to each other. In such a time, the newer ways of thinking were diametrically opposed to what had come before it. The opposites in the opening of the book set the reader up to read about a period of turmoil and change.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times" is true on several levels. For those who were moving into the growing middle class, it may have been the best of times, but for those who remained impoverished,….....

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