Justify the title of the novel A Tale of Two Cities.

Answer

 Justify the title of the novel A Tale of Two Cities.

Charles Dickens’s (1812-1870) A Tale of Two Cities (1859) was published in 1859 and set during the French Revolution. The title itself is very important. It refers to the two great cities—London and Paris—where the story takes place. But the title has deeper meaning. It shows not only two places but also two ways of life: peace and violence, love and hatred, sacrifice and revenge. By following the story across both cities, the title becomes fully justified.

London: The City of Safety and Family Life: London is shown as a city of stability and hope. After Dr. Manette is released from the Bastille, he finds peace and recovery in England with his daughter Lucie. Their small home becomes a place of comfort, love, and care. Charles Darnay, who is a French aristocrat, is safe in London. London, therefore, symbolizes safety, fairness, and family love. It is one side of the tale where goodness survives.

Paris: The City of Oppression and Violence: Paris is in stark contrast with London. Paris is a city full of suffering and cruelty. In the beginning, Dickens describes the hunger of the people. We see that the poor people rush to drink the spilled wine on the street. This shows their misery under the cruel aristocracy. The Marquis St. Evrémonde’s carriage kills a child, but he only throws a coin in return. He also says:

“It is extraordinary to me that you people cannot take care of yourselves and your children.”

This is utter cruelty. Later, Paris becomes a city of revenge and bloodshed when the Revolution starts. The Bastille is stormed, and the guillotine becomes a daily terror. The aristocrats are captured and murdered one by one. Paris stands for oppression, revenge, and destruction. This is the darker side of the tale.

The Contrast Between the Two Cities: The main reason for the title is the contrast between London and Paris. Dickens wants to show how