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Dickens' characterization in A TALE OF TWO CITIES
Dickens is one of the greatest creators of characters in English fiction. A mere glance of at the listof persons who figure in any of his novels is enough to remind us of the author’s
amazing fertilityin invention. He has portrayed a whole variety of characters such as David Copperfield, Pip,Trotwood and Sam Weller. There is no dearth of real and unique characters
in his works.
Dialogue vs. Incident:
A TALE OF TWO CITIES affords ample evidence of Dickens’ capacity for character –portrayal. The range of characters in A TALE OF TWO CITIES is wide and has deepand penetrating
studies. Some of the figures like Monsieur Defarge and Madame Defarge arememorable. Dickens purpose in the case of this novel was to allow the characters to revealthemselves through
incidents and through their deeds and actions rather than through dialogues,but it is wrong to assume that he ignores dialogues. They are as important as the actions. JohnForster, his
friend and biographer says, “
To rely less upon character than upon incident and toresolve that his actors should be expressed by the story more than they should expressthemselves by dialogue, was for him a
hazardous and can hardly be called an entirely successful experiment
.”
The characters are sharply individualized:
The characters of A TALE OF TWO CITIES havebeen sharply been individualized. Each character is a distinct person in his or her own right.(Describe their individual qualities to
distinguish them.)
The Character of Dr. Manette:
discuss his role in the novel/ his habit of shoe-making andcondition of inaction/ his performance at the end of the novel/ his salient qualities/ his insanity/father-daughter relationship
etc./ his responsibility at the attendance of a sick girl and boywronged by the Evremonde family/ His prison.
Charles Darnay:
Charles Darnay too reveals the essential traits of his character throughdialogue. Of course, one of his basic traits appears through action also. His help to Gabelle/ hisrenunciation/ his
love with Lucie/ his sincerity: He says to Dr. Manette:“
Dear Dr. Manette, I love your daughter fondly, dearly, disinterestedly devotedly. If ever therewere love in the world, I love her
.”So we can say that dialogue and incident play an important part in the novel.
Sydney Carton
: We then come to Sydney whose action is giving up his life for the sake of thehusband of the woman whom he loves is great importance. Carton’s character appears before usonly
through dialogues. He has a conversation with Darnay immediately after his acquittal at theOld Bailey. Carton says that he cares for no body in the world and no body cares about him.
Helooks into the mirror and says that he hates Darnay even though there is a physical resemblancebetween the two. A dialogue between Carton and Stryver reveals that the former is a “
see-saw
”kind of man.
Up one minute and down the next
. He expresses his love for Lucie in a dialogueand says that he is a profligate. Describe his aspects of personality from the above answers.
Mr
.
Lorry
: The character of Mr. Lorry is also revealed to us through dialogue. In the beginning, hehas a long conversation with Lucie where he appears to be “
a man of business
” and describeshimself as such. He has a dialogue with Miss Pross about his concern for Dr. Manette. Towardsto end, he rebukes Jerry for his impious activities.
Dickens is one of the greatest creators of characters in English fiction. A mere glance of at the listof persons who figure in any of his novels is enough to remind us of the author’s
amazing fertilityin invention. He has portrayed a whole variety of characters such as David Copperfield, Pip,Trotwood and Sam Weller. There is no dearth of real and unique characters
in his works.
Dialogue vs. Incident:
A TALE OF TWO CITIES affords ample evidence of Dickens’ capacity for character –portrayal. The range of characters in A TALE OF TWO CITIES is wide and has deepand penetrating
studies. Some of the figures like Monsieur Defarge and Madame Defarge arememorable. Dickens purpose in the case of this novel was to allow the characters to revealthemselves through
incidents and through their deeds and actions rather than through dialogues,but it is wrong to assume that he ignores dialogues. They are as important as the actions. JohnForster, his
friend and biographer says, “
To rely less upon character than upon incident and toresolve that his actors should be expressed by the story more than they should expressthemselves by dialogue, was for him a
hazardous and can hardly be called an entirely successful experiment
.”
The characters are sharply individualized:
The characters of A TALE OF TWO CITIES havebeen sharply been individualized. Each character is a distinct person in his or her own right.(Describe their individual qualities to
distinguish them.)
The Character of Dr. Manette:
discuss his role in the novel/ his habit of shoe-making andcondition of inaction/ his performance at the end of the novel/ his salient qualities/ his insanity/father-daughter relationship
etc./ his responsibility at the attendance of a sick girl and boywronged by the Evremonde family/ His prison.
Charles Darnay:
Charles Darnay too reveals the essential traits of his character throughdialogue. Of course, one of his basic traits appears through action also. His help to Gabelle/ hisrenunciation/ his
love with Lucie/ his sincerity: He says to Dr. Manette:“
Dear Dr. Manette, I love your daughter fondly, dearly, disinterestedly devotedly. If ever therewere love in the world, I love her
.”So we can say that dialogue and incident play an important part in the novel.
Sydney Carton
: We then come to Sydney whose action is giving up his life for the sake of thehusband of the woman whom he loves is great importance. Carton’s character appears before usonly
through dialogues. He has a conversation with Darnay immediately after his acquittal at theOld Bailey. Carton says that he cares for no body in the world and no body cares about him.
Helooks into the mirror and says that he hates Darnay even though there is a physical resemblancebetween the two. A dialogue between Carton and Stryver reveals that the former is a “
see-saw
”kind of man.
Up one minute and down the next
. He expresses his love for Lucie in a dialogueand says that he is a profligate. Describe his aspects of personality from the above answers.
Mr
.
Lorry
: The character of Mr. Lorry is also revealed to us through dialogue. In the beginning, hehas a long conversation with Lucie where he appears to be “
a man of business
” and describeshimself as such. He has a dialogue with Miss Pross about his concern for Dr. Manette. Towardsto end, he rebukes Jerry for his impious activities.
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