Charles Dickens lived a life of poverty and struggle as a young boy, and his British upbringing and personal experiences as a child directly influenced his tone and underlying language in writing his novel, A Tale of Two Cities. However, later in life, Dickens became wealthier as he developed his writings and became successful. Often authors use their personal life experiences to show their viewpoints about a period of time through their novel writings. Despite his poor childhood and then wealthier adulthood, Dickens chooses to empathize and support the peasants in his novel. Although Dickens condemns the way the French Revolution was conducted, nevertheless he supports the peasants and their inhumane treatment in order to blame the nobility, because of his personal life experiences.
Dickens begins his support of the peasants with a dismal tone early in the novel. For example, in Chapter 5, The Wine Shop, Dickens presents a powerful portrayal of the peasants’ hunger. The oppressed peasants are cupping wine chaotically because they are physically starving. “The hands of a man who sawed the wood, left red marks…and the forehead of the woman who nursed her baby, was stained with the stain of the old rag she wound about her head again” (Dickens 32). This passage represents and symbolizes the peasants “starvation” for freedom of this oppressive life they endured for far too long. Opponents of this opinion may say that Dickens wrote this chapter to describe his foreshadowing of the blood spilled during the revolution and his strong disapproval of the peasants violence toward the nobility, in contrast depicting them as savages using a harsh tone. For example, “those who had been greedy with the staves of the cask had acquired a tigerish smear about the mouth” (Dickens 32). Despite this statement, the tone and language used in this chapter supports Dickens plight of the peasants and their severe mistreatment as human beings during the French Revolution.
Dickens continues to show his support of the peasants by using language to describe the nobility as entitled, spoiled, and self-absorbed. For example, in Book 2, Chapter 7, Monseigneur in Town, Dickens uses sarcasm to show the lavishness of the life of a noble. “It took four men, all four ablaze with gorgeous decoration, and the Chief of them unable to exist with fewer than two gold watches in his pocket, emulative of the noble and chaste fashion set by Monseigneur, to conduct the happy chocolate to Monseigneur’s lips” (Dickens 105). Here, Dickens shows despite the incredible suffering of the peasants, the nobility continues to live like kings instead of sharing their wealth to help and normalize society. In contrast, some believe the wealthy nobility believed they had the right to live this way, and that they earned that right and are justified to enjoy the luxury afforded to them. “Monseigneur had the truly noble idea, that the world was made for them” (Dickens 106). Even though this was written by Dickens, it is clear that he supported the peasants by writing language unsupportive of the glamorous life of the nobles despite such a violent time in history.
Next, Dickens uses the powerful scene when the Marquis abruptly runs over Gaspard’s young son and shows no remorse for killing him by simply throwing out a coin and driving on. His tone here is dark and grim in empathy of the peasant class. Based off of the quote, “I would ride over any of you willingly, and exterminate you from the earth” (Dickens 112). This language showing lack of concern represents Dickens empathy for the blatant disregard of all peasants. In comparison, opponents may say the nobility felt the peasants had little control over their children because they were too chaotic and violent in times of revolution to care properly for their children. Dickens contrasts his tone here by emphasizing blame on the peasants for being neglectful of their children. For example, “It is extraordinary to me”, said he, “that you people cannot care of yourselves and your children” (Dickens 111). Nevertheless, this cold-hearted and malicious treatment shows Dickens empathy toward the peasants in order to blame the nobility.
In summary, although Dickens condemns the way the French Revolution was conducted, nevertheless he supports the peasants and their inhumane treatment in order to blame the nobility, because of his personal life experiences. His poor and difficult upbringing in England allowed him to share his personal story in A Tale of Two Cities. His purposeful writings through strong language and tone of the lavishness and heartlessness of the nobility support this conclusion. In contrast, the novel’s repeated empathetic tone and language of the harsh mistreatment, starvation, and lack of respect for the peasants show Dickens support for them throughout the novel. In conclusion, Dickens’ purpose in A Tale of Two Cities is to fully support the peasants in order to blame the nobility for French Revolution.