Tale Of Two Cities Literary Devices

A Tale of Two Cities Set in England and France during the start of the French Revolution, A Tale of Two Cities provides a glimpse into the lives of both the aristocrats and the revolutionaries of the time. In this classic novel, Dickens makes use of many sophisticated literary devices. These devices help tell the real story and convey the author’s true intentions for the novel’s outcome, as well as adding depth and richness to an already interesting story.
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair,
The author undoubtedly used allegory to highlight these symbolic and contrasting characters. Lucie Manette is goodhearted, light, selfless, and angelic in nature. It was even said about Lucie that, “[s]he was the golden thread that united him to a past beyond his misery, and to a present beyond his misery: and the sound of her voice, the light of her face, the touch of her hand, had a strong beneficial influence with him always” (Dickens, 79). Charles Dickens chose a name for this character that also means “of light,” to reinforce her symbolic nature. The other important female character in A Tale of Two Cities is Madame DeFarge. In contrast, she is symbolic of darkness, evil, misfortune, and shadow. There is even a chapter in A Tale of Two Cities entitled “The Shadow,” undoubtedly in reference to Madame DeFarge. In this chapter, Lucie is approached by Madame DeFarge, and it is said that, “[t]he shadow attendant on Madame DeFarge and her party seemed to fall so threatening and dark on the child, that her mother instinctively kneeled on the ground beside her, and held her to her breast. The shadow attendant on Madame DeFarge and her party seemed then to fall, threatening and dark, on both the mother and the