Doubles

Laina Gray
AP English
11/19/13
Doubles
Tale of Two Cities describes contrasting situations dealing with London and Paris using a technique known as “doubling”. Dickens not only contrasts two ideas but also compares them to one another. This technique gives visual aid on whether something in the story is good or not so good. Contrasting London and Paris, the resemblance between Carton and Darnay, and the way that two opposite things can also be similar are all ways that Dickens uses doubling to convey his story. Describing the upheaval between London and Paris during the time of the French Revolution, Dickens uses doubles to describe the good and bad of things in the story. Using words like “ worst of times, best of times” infers how things might have been tough but they could also be okay. Drawing contrasts, Dickens describes horrific things happening in London but peaceful things in Paris or vice versa. For example, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair. Contrasting seasons with the cities, Dickens portrays how spring is uplifting and inspiring where as winter is dreadful and depressing. Aware of the doubling effect, the reader identifies that Dickens set Darnay and Carton up to not only have similar appearances but to also the same choice of affection for one woman, Lucie Manette. Without this effect, Dickens could not have swapped Sydney and Darnay in the ending of the story. Darnay is more put together and on track where as Carton drinks habitually and has thrown his life away. Another set up by Dickens includes Miss Pross and Madame Defarge. Rather different in many ways as Pross is considerate and sweet and Defarge is the very opposite. Both devoted to one thing in life, Madame Defarge to the revolution and Miss Pross to Lucie and her safety. Using two opposites, Dickens processes them to be similar. For example, “Spring of hope, Winter of despair” although these are opposites, they are still to one another because they are both seasons. Another example is “it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness”, this quote establishes two different concepts although they are both referring to the same time period. Dickens uses this effect to not only draw attention to two opposites but also to link them together so the reader can understand the connection between the two. Using opposites has its downfalls because if the reader doesn’t understand the authors’ motives or reason for using them, then the objection can not be completed. Overall, Dickens use of doubling creates a contrast and or comparison between London and Paris, Charles and Sydney, and two alike and or different things that seem to be similar. Without this effect, Dickens would not be able to (to be continued)