Re: Heroes in Tale of Two Cities
Charles Dickens (cdickens@RMPLC.CO.UK)
Thu, 7 May 1998 11:30:47 -0100
My dear Mr Hill,
Miss Pross kills Madame Defarge, to show that love is stronger than
hatred. The cruelty of the revolutionaries is explicable but unjustifiable.
Cruelty can never be justified. I wished to show the tragedy of the
situation - people corrupted by injustice and suffering.
I do not feel I should write for you an assignment that is clearly yours,
so let me just say this in response to your other questions. Light and dark
are ancient symbols. I chose plot episodes and actions which enabled me to
feature darkness in connection with cruelty, suffering and hatred, light in
connection with kindness, happiness and love. If you are looking for pairs
of characters to compare, I suggest you consider Carton and Darnay, Carton
and Stryver, Miss Pross and Madame Defarge, Dr Manette and Mr Lorry.
Faithfully yours,
Charles Dickens
____________________________________________________________________________
____
>
>I have a few questions:
>
>I. Explain why Dickens would have Miss Pross kill Madame DeFarge.
>
>II. Revenge is a strong theme in this novel. The revolutionaries show the
same cruelty to the upper class aristocrats as had been shown to the lower
class. Do you think the revolutionaries were justified? Why or why not?
>
>III. Images of light and dark are promenent in this novel. Could you
discuss light and dark imagery and focus on ways Dickens uses these images
to creat ideas. Consider characters, setting and theme.
>
>IV. Explain the effect one of the conflicts has on atleast two of the main
characters. Exlain how each reacts.
>
>Sincerely,
>Andrew Hill
>
>
======================
Charles Dickens
charles_dickens@rmplc.co.uk
Author