Lit Anal #5 Tale of Two Cities

General

1). The plot of the satire is that there are two cities along the French countryside suffering from different yet similar controversies. Both England and France are suffereing with social turmoil causing a revolution. In London, Dr. Manette has been locked up without any explanation and set free without an explanation after eighteen years. Mr. Lorry, the business man who worked with Lucie, wants to help bring him back to the life he used to know and reunite him with his daughter in England. Dr. Manette is a very unhappy man due to his time spent in jail and quite frankly, insane. Once reunited with his daughter, Lucie, he is brought back to life. He begins practicing as a doctor again and is part of everyday society. After four years together, Lucie and her father get called to testify in the case of Charles Darnay who has been accused of treason. Lucie sells Darnay out but feels bad because of how nice he was to her. A member of Darnay's team stands up to reveal that he is a Darnay look-a-like. Darnay is set free and becomes close to the Manette family just as Mr. Lorry did. Sydney Carton also visits frequently and confesses his love to Lucie. Lucie puts that aside and marries Darnay. Darnay tells her father that he must tell him a secret but Dr. Manette tells him to wait until the wedding. Darnay and Lucie go on to have two kids right around the time that Darnay gets himself back into trouble. Darnay receives a letter marked to Marquis St. Evrémonde and says he will deliver it when really it is for him because he is the Marquis St. Evrémonde; a descendant of the corrupt rulers of France that had originally imprisoned Dr. Manette; that is the secret Darnay was withholding. 

2.) The theme would have to be the emphasis on sacrifice. Like most things in life the good comes with the bad and sacrifices need to be made. Sacrifices are made along the way while achieving happiness.

3.) The authors tone would be very serious. Dickens writes to inform his audience about the French Revolution and the life during that time period.

4.) Imagery: Dickens uses imagery in order for his audience to better relate to the events occuring at that time.
 Setting: The setting plays a major role in understanding how serious the issues of the time were like the treason that Darnay was accused of committing. The time period is what makes the events of the satire appropriate. 
Tone: Dickens serious tone emphasizes that this was no laughing matter. That the events that occurred throughout the French Revolution were not to be laughed about and were to be taken seriously. 
 Diction: The diction Dickens uses to convey the theme is vivid. He writes with long almost exaggerated sentences using "run-on" sentences for lack of a better word.
Syntax: Although Dickens writes for the satire to be set in a past time period, his syntax is very up-to-date making it much easier to read while understand his work. There is no comparing of him to Shakespeare.
Foreshadowing: In my reading and research, I found that Dickens uses a technique known as doubling. He uses this most often in characterization yet also uses it when comparing the
 two cities of the time."It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. . . .”
 Symbolism: The symbol of the time period would be the Marquis. The Marquis represents the evils of that time and the aristocratic rule.
Genre: The historical genre is a HUGE part of the tale. Without such a historical, serious feel, the satire would be nothing of sorts.
 Point of View: Dickens point of view is noted throughout the satire. It is apparent that Dickens is very wise and takes an almost know-it-all point of view about the circumstances of the time.
Style: Style often has much to do with diction, syntax, tone etc. Dickens has an exquisite style. It is his own. He uses such language in order to create such vivid images for the reader to see.

Characterization

1). An example of direct characterization would be the descriptions provided about characters such as Dr. Manette. Dickens makes note of the wear and tear due to his imprisonment. We get a pretty clear vision of what Dr. Manette would look like in real life. Dickens also describes Mr. Lorry as old and somewhat stocky in his physical appearance. Mr. Lorry could also be characterized indirectly. He is a very respectable man due to his job at the bank. Charles Darnay is another example of a character who is characterized indirectly. There is much to be learned from his thoughts especially during his journey back to France.

2). I would definitely say that Dickens syntax as well as diction changes when describing specific characters. Often Dickens will almost ramble on about one character or about ones thoughts and then vaguely touch on anothers.

3.) Dr. Manette, the protagonist, is a dynamic character. From the time he is introduced and we learn of his past to the end of the satire, Dr. Manette develops in so many areas. By the end he has been very well described and identified by Dickens and has become a major contributor to the world he lives in where as before there was almost no hope for him.

4.)  I definitely feel like I came away meeting about half of the characters in the satire. I really understood Dr. Manette and could see myself having met him as well as Darnay and Carton. But who I REALLY felt I had met was Mr. Lorry. Although he wasn't the major character but one of, I still felt I had met him in person after getting to know him through Dickens text. "If you knew what a conflict goes on in the business mind, when the business mind is divided between good-natured impulse and business appearances, you would be amused, Mr. Darnay." -- Mr. Lorry