Symbolic Significance of A Tale of Two Cities

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Introductory

Symbolism is the use of figurative language which has a hidden meaning in its outward appearance. It is the implication of an idea, a person or a thing to denote another idea in a wider and deeper level. Like many other literary stars, Charles Dickens implies symbols in his flagship novel, A Tale of Two Cities, in somewhat large amount which is not that hard to direct.

Broken Wine Cask

In the early chapters of the novel, in front of Madame Defarge's wine shop, a wine cask breaks and red coloured wine begins to leak down like blood. People gather and attack the broken cask to relish their thirst. They swing under the intoxication of the wine. Throughout the novel, wine is used as a vivid symbol of the power-hungry Defargians and revolutionaries who dance over their victory of making themselves free from the visible obstacle in the form of aristocracy. The "ruffians'" (as Dickens call them in Book 1 Chapter 3) pouncing upon the bleeding wine also symbolizes the hunger and plight of Parisians before the revolution. Defarge's wine shop has a slight connection with the actual wine business, but it is a place where revolution is cooked and served to its victims.

Footsteps

Footsteps always signify something approaching near, something dangerous and irksome. In the beginning, when Jerry Cruncher approaches the mailbox on his horse, people in the nearby coach feel terrified and sneak in. The streets in London are barren but ghost footsteps are heard. Lucie Manette thinks that these footsteps are of her parents' family. Even the sound of raindrops are perceived as footsteps. The symbolism receives its climax when revolutionaries strike their foot over the successful operation of La Guillotine, which indicates the horrible destruction caused by a noisy storm.

England and France

"It was the best of times and it was the worst of times" designates two cities, London and Paris and every city is the representative of its country. London has its own injustice and violence but it is still symbolized for peacefulness and calm (for the Darnay family). But on the other hand, Paris, the heart of revolution, stands for utter chaos and callousness from both the aristocracy as well as the revolutionaries.

Thread and Knitting

Lucie is symbolized as "The Golden Thread" who unites and connects families, including her 'lost' father. She is a golden thread because she is gentle hearted who cannot see a person in trouble.

On the other hand, in France, it is Madam Defarge who also holds a physical thread for knitting. But she is knitting the shrouds through her thread which symbolizes death along with other women in a group known as The Vengeance (quite a horrible name haan??). In simple words, she knits the names of condemned people, mainly associated with aristocracy who will be sent to the guillotine.

The Guillotine

After the knitting of "vengeance", comes the court of "justice" and then the guillotine. It is an execution machine in which a heavy blade is mounted within two poles. It is used not only to behead the condemned aristocrats of France in the French Revolution but also to execute the ones who stand against "La Republic". It is the ultimate symbol of (instant) death, revenge and injustice. The mighty tool abruptly reduced the power to a breathless corpse, making the bloodthirsty crowd happy. (See the photograph below for a glimpse of the fearful guillotine)

The Fearful Guillotine

Conclusion

According to a critic, William H. Marshall, all symbols combine present the superiority of death to birth in this novel, which shapes itself from food (the wine) to destruction (the guillotine).