Friday, January 28, 2011
In the Beginning... (1)
Sound familiar? The legacy Dickens left behind in A Tale of Two Cities reaches far beyond just two cities. The story is one that illuminates some of Dickens’ passions and struggles, and his spirit lays embodied within the text. I have never read any of Dickens’ stories before, yet it would be foolish to say that I have never heard of Dickens or any of his published works prior to now. The popularity of Dickens and his novels was one factor that pushed me to read A Tale of Two Cities.
Based on the cover of the book and information I already know about A Tale of Two Cities, the story follows the lives of two men: one from Paris and one from London (hence the title). Judging by the picture on the cover of the story, I think that the story is set during the aftermath of the French Revolution of 1789. The cover depicts the head of someone who has just been guillotined, and by the royal garb still on the platform, the happy faces of the executioners, and the French military gathered beneath the platform, I can assume that the severed head is that of (Ex) King Louis XVI. In the foreground of the picture, a tricolour is waving and pitchforks are raised in seeming approval of this action. The cover slightly reminds me of the cover of Les Miserables. However, in Les Miserables the people were peasants and the lowest class and they looked absolutely wretched, while this group of people looks to be better off, and happier.
Based on this information, I predict that the French main character will travel to England looking for ideas on what France’s society might turn into in the aftermath and chaos of the Revolution. While in England, this man might meet the other main male character as well as the main female character. A few topics that may be debated in this novel are government, a man’s place in society, the role of women, and love. This idea of love may be demonstrated through both men’s feelings towards one woman.
The summary on the back cover of the book says that this book contains many parallels to Dickens’ own life. Judging by that, I can predict that Dickens put pieces of himself into each of his characters. By doing some background on Dickens now, I might be able to determine those similarities as I get farther into the book. If you would also like to do additional research, click here!
A few main points about Dickens’ life stood out to me:
Based on the fact that Dickens was forced into child labor, I think one of the main characters might have strong, resentful feelings towards children fighting in a bloody, dangerous revolution. There may also be a focus on one of the main characters growing up too quickly because they were exposed to the Revolution as a child, and cannot forget the horrors they witnessed at a young age. Yet another focus of the novel may be on relationships. Dickens seemed to have a rocky relationship with his mother for a period of time, which may reveal itself in one of the characters being unable to keep or form relationships, or being unwilling and timid to form lasting, close relationships. The relationships between people may not be the sole conflicts that are addressed in the story.
The relationships between France and its neighboring countries may be at stake, as the story might be set post-revolution, during the reign of Napoleon I. If the characters are from different countries, this fact may complicate matters. It will be interesting to read about how these characters cope with the revolutions in their countries, and also to try to find parallels between their situation and the current world situation, following the revolts in Tunisia and Egypt.
Based on the cover of the book and information I already know about A Tale of Two Cities, the story follows the lives of two men: one from Paris and one from London (hence the title). Judging by the picture on the cover of the story, I think that the story is set during the aftermath of the French Revolution of 1789. The cover depicts the head of someone who has just been guillotined, and by the royal garb still on the platform, the happy faces of the executioners, and the French military gathered beneath the platform, I can assume that the severed head is that of (Ex) King Louis XVI. In the foreground of the picture, a tricolour is waving and pitchforks are raised in seeming approval of this action. The cover slightly reminds me of the cover of Les Miserables. However, in Les Miserables the people were peasants and the lowest class and they looked absolutely wretched, while this group of people looks to be better off, and happier.
Based on this information, I predict that the French main character will travel to England looking for ideas on what France’s society might turn into in the aftermath and chaos of the Revolution. While in England, this man might meet the other main male character as well as the main female character. A few topics that may be debated in this novel are government, a man’s place in society, the role of women, and love. This idea of love may be demonstrated through both men’s feelings towards one woman.
The summary on the back cover of the book says that this book contains many parallels to Dickens’ own life. Judging by that, I can predict that Dickens put pieces of himself into each of his characters. By doing some background on Dickens now, I might be able to determine those similarities as I get farther into the book. If you would also like to do additional research, click here!
A few main points about Dickens’ life stood out to me:
- ~His family moved often because his Father would get the family into debt, and as a result of this Dickens was forced into work at childhood
- ~At a young age, literature became a crucial part of his life
- ~Resented his Mother for many years
- ~His travels often influenced his writing
- ~Avid playwright and performer
Based on the fact that Dickens was forced into child labor, I think one of the main characters might have strong, resentful feelings towards children fighting in a bloody, dangerous revolution. There may also be a focus on one of the main characters growing up too quickly because they were exposed to the Revolution as a child, and cannot forget the horrors they witnessed at a young age. Yet another focus of the novel may be on relationships. Dickens seemed to have a rocky relationship with his mother for a period of time, which may reveal itself in one of the characters being unable to keep or form relationships, or being unwilling and timid to form lasting, close relationships. The relationships between people may not be the sole conflicts that are addressed in the story.
The relationships between France and its neighboring countries may be at stake, as the story might be set post-revolution, during the reign of Napoleon I. If the characters are from different countries, this fact may complicate matters. It will be interesting to read about how these characters cope with the revolutions in their countries, and also to try to find parallels between their situation and the current world situation, following the revolts in Tunisia and Egypt.
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