Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman science and technology University,

Gopalgonj-8100

ASSIGNMENT ON
A tale of two cities (Book summary)
Course Code: IR102
Course Title: International Relations in History

SUBMITTED BY
Shadiya Meherin Neela
STUDENT ID: 22IR053

Department of International Relations,

SUBMITTED TO
Jannatul Ferdous
Assistant Professor,
Department of International Relations
BSMRSTU,Gopalgonj-8100
 A tale of two cities

A Tale of Two Cities, one of Charles Dickens' most famous novels, is set in London and Paris
before and during the French Revolution. The novel explores themes of resurrection, sacrifice,
and the social injustices that lead to violent upheaval. Through a series of intertwined
characters and storylines, Dickens weaves a tale of personal and political transformation,
portraying the horrors of the French Revolution alongside moments of profound human
compassion. The story opens with one of the most famous lines in literature: "It was the best
of times, it was the worst of times." This sets the tone for the novel, which contrasts the social
and political conditions in England and France during the late 18th century. The plot begins in
1775 with the release of Dr. Alexandre Manette, a French physician, from the Bastille, where
he has been imprisoned for 18 years without trial. Dr. Manette had been jailed by the corrupt
aristocrats, the Evremonde brothers, for attempting to report their crimes. In prison, he lost
his sanity and became obsessed with making shoes, a skill he learned to distract himself from
the horrors of his confinement. He is found and brought to London by Mr. Jarvis Lorry, a loyal
employee of Tellson's Bank, which serves both English and French clients. Dr. Manette is
reunited with his daughter, Lucie Manette, who had believed her father was dead. Lucie’s love
and care slowly restore Dr. Manette to health, though the trauma of his imprisonment still
lingers. Five years later, in 1780, Charles Darnay, a French aristocrat living in England, is on trial
for treason against the British Crown. He is accused of providing information to the French
about British troops in America. The trial takes place in London, and it appears Darnay will be
convicted, but he is saved by the intervention of Sydney Carton, a dissolute but brilliant English
lawyer. Carton’s resemblance to Darnay creates doubt in the minds of the jury, leading to
Darnay’s acquittal. Carton, despite his unkempt appearance and alcoholic habits, is pivotal in
saving Darnay’s life. This introduction to the character of Sydney Carton reveals a man who
has wasted his talents and lives in a state of deep self-loathing. After the trial, Darnay, who
has renounced his title and wealth to escape the cruelty of his aristocratic family, falls in love
with Lucie Manette. He frequently visits the Manette household, which has become a refuge
of peace and love. Darnay is honorable and kind, in contrast to his family’s brutal legacy. Lucie,
who represents compassion and goodness throughout the novel, is also loved by Sydney
Carton. Despite his deep affection for her, Carton believes he is unworthy of her love due to
his wasted life. He confides in her that she has inspired him to think he might still be capable
of something good, but he makes no attempt to court her, accepting that Lucie will marry
Darnay. Carton resigns himself to being her friend, but his love for her remains a significant
driving force in his actions throughout the novel. In the meantime, tensions in France are
escalating. The French people are suffering under the heavy burden of taxation, poverty, and
starvation, while the aristocracy lives in luxury, indifferent to their plight. Among the
revolutionaries in Paris are Monsieur and Madame Defarge, who own a wine shop in the
impoverished Saint Antoine district. Monsieur Defarge had once been Dr. Manette's servant
and is now a fervent revolutionary. Madame Defarge, with her relentless knitting in which she
records the names of aristocrats condemned to die, embodies the deep-seated hatred and
thirst for vengeance among the oppressed classes. Her personal vendetta against the
Evremonde family, due to past wrongs done to her family by Darnay’s ancestors, becomes a
driving force behind her revolutionary zeal. The French Revolution breaks out in 1789, and the
streets of Paris are soon drenched in blood as the people rise up against the aristocracy. The
Bastille is stormed, and aristocrats are being executed by the guillotine in large numbers. In
the midst of this chaos, Darnay receives a letter from an old family servant, Gabelle, who has
been imprisoned by the revolutionaries for his association with the Evremonde family. Despite
the dangers, Darnay feels morally obligated to return to France and help Gabelle, as well as
try to make amends for his family’s past misdeeds. However, upon arriving in France, Darnay
is arrested as an enemy of the people due to his noble lineage. He is thrown into prison and
eventually sentenced to death by guillotine. When Lucie and Dr. Manette learn of Darnay’s
imprisonment, they travel to Paris to try to save him. Dr. Manette uses his influence as a
former Bastille prisoner to plead for his son-in-law’s life, but the revolutionaries are unmoved.
Madame Defarge, driven by her desire for revenge, ensures that Darnay will face the
guillotine, viewing his death as part of her larger mission to eradicate the aristocracy. The
situation seems hopeless, and Lucie is devastated by the prospect of losing her husband. At
this critical moment, Sydney Carton arrives in Paris. He has been keeping a close eye on the
Manettes and has decided to take action. Despite his outward cynicism, Carton’s love for Lucie
motivates him to make the ultimate sacrifice. He devises a daring plan to save Darnay. Using
his physical resemblance to Darnay, Carton sneaks into the prison, drugs Darnay, and switches
places with him. Carton willingly takes Darnay’s place at the guillotine, knowing that his
sacrifice will allow Lucie and her family to live in peace. In the novel’s famous final scene, as
Carton approaches the guillotine, he finds peace in his decision. His final thoughts are among
the most memorable in literature: "It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done;
it is a far, far better rest that I go to, than I have ever known." Carton dies with the hope that
his sacrifice will bring new life to Lucie, Darnay, and their future generations. In the end, A Tale
of Two Cities presents a complex portrait of a society on the brink of collapse and the
individuals caught in the tumult of history. Through the contrasting fates of its characters,
Dickens explores themes of sacrifice, resurrection, and the consequences of social injustice.
The novel concludes with a sense of hope, but also a recognition of the personal and societal
costs of revolution. Carton’s sacrifice symbolizes the possibility of redemption, even for those
who have strayed far from the path of virtue, and serves as a reminder that love and
selflessness can endure even in the darkest of times.