What is the content of A Tale of Two Cities?

A Tale of Two Cities is the representative work of British writer Dickens.

A Tale of Two Cities, with the French Revolution as the background and Dr. Manette's experience of persecution as the main clue, shows the social life reality of France and Britain at the end of 18th century, profoundly reveals the class nature of the feudal nobles' excesses, decadence, brutality and crazy oppression of the people on the eve of the French Revolution, vividly points out the social basic reasons for the French Revolution, and describes the rationality and justice of the revolution.

The author warns the British rulers through his works that they should take the French Revolution as a warning, see the serious realistic crisis at their feet and seek a way out for the morbid society.

The characters in A Tale of Two Cities can be roughly divided into three categories, namely, the criticized, distorted and idealized characters. This is determined by the writer's view of good and evil. The writer thinks that all violence is evil, whether it is revolutionary violence or counter-revolutionary violence, he is against it. Therefore, while criticizing the cruel oppressor, he also distorted the revolutionaries who persisted in the struggle, and greatly beautified the "good example".

The Marquis de Evremonde is a typical feudal aristocrat who cruelly exploited and oppressed peasants. Relying on aristocratic privileges and financial resources, he did all kinds of evil and was fierce and cruel. He raped Mrs. Defarge's sister and killed Mrs. Defarge's brother. He framed Dr. Manette, who bravely sued the authorities, and he let the horse run wildly and trampled the baby of Daodi farmers.

Through this image, the author criticizes the inhuman crimes of feudal nobles. He, a representative of the reactionary aristocrats whose hands were stained with the blood of the people, was finally killed by the insurgents with blood feuds.

Madame Defarge was a heroine who emerged in the French Revolution. She was born as a tenant farmer, and her father, brother and sister were all killed by the Marquis, so she had a bitter hatred for the noble class. She stood firm and gave everything for the revolution. He has a clear sense of love and hate and never pities class enemies. When the nobles were tried in public, she testified in court and rewarded the enemy. However, the writer described her as a terrible "Nemesis". Because she hated the Marquis, she also hated her nephew Charles, even Lucie and Dr. Manette, and took revenge on her, which led to her own death. This is the writer's distortion of revolutionaries.

Dr. Manette is portrayed as both a victim of feudal tyranny and an innocent victim of violent revolution. He has a good medical skill, integrity, generosity and compassion. He witnessed the atrocities committed by the brothers of the Marquis of Evremonde, spoke out bravely and was persecuted. After he was released from prison, he generously agreed that his daughter Lucie would marry Charles, the nephew of the feud Evermont. In order to rescue Charles, he was severely punished by Mrs. Defarge for treason. This character is the embodiment of goodness and virtue in the author's mind.

The plot of A Tale of Two Cities is tortuous, vivid, tense and full of drama, and its structure is ingenious and tight. The use of various descriptive techniques and lyrical pen insertion enhances the artistic appeal of the works. The style is solemn, melancholy and sentimental.