Essay about A Tale of Two Cities - 871 Words

During my active duty military service I had the opportunity to live in and visit many different cities. Of all the cities I lived in, I spent most of my military time in Charleston, S.C. and Jacksonville, FL. Charleston and Jacksonville were similar in size, geography and population types, but differed greatly in history, weather, and the overall attitudes of its residents. If I had to choose between the two cities as the place to call my home, it would be without a doubt, Charleston, S.C. Charleston and Jacksonville were both considered large port cities, each with a portion of their populations consisting of military families. Although Jacksonville was larger in area than Charleston, folks who lived in the Charleston area considered†¦show more content†¦A few of the many historical sites of Charleston were Rainbow Row, The Market, Fort Sumter and The Battery lined with colonial houses and civil war cannons. Jacksonville had its’ historical sites, although there wer e just a few and it took some research and effort to find them. Jacksonville was known more as a modern city that began to grow and blossom after the Civil War. It was considered a â€Å"victim of war† due to the dilapidation it suffered during the Civil War. The climates of Charleston and Jacksonville were generally considered to be similar, hot and very muggy. My experience was that there was still a large difference and I had come to feel as though each city’s climate resembled the attitudes of its residents, or maybe it was just the opposite. Residents of Charleston were laid back and unrushed while the residents of Jacksonville were impatient and hurried. I remember the deep blue skies over Charleston harbor were often filled with white puffs of clouds that resembled perfectly shaped cotton balls. I could always count on the light and pleasant ocean breeze that made it difficult to focus on my work, and if rain came, it drifted in as slowly and silently as the sai lboats returning to the marina after a long day out on the harbor. In Jacksonville, I remember the ocean breeze was more of a confused gust that chopped at your skin andShow MoreRelatedA Tale of Two Cities800 Words   |  4 Pages Charles Dickens characterizes the settings in his novel, â€Å"A Tale of Two Cities,† through indirect comparison and contrast between Paris and London during the French Revolution, a political and social upheaval from 1789–1799; â€Å"There was a king with a large jaw and a queen with a plain face on the throne of England; there was a king with a large jaw and a queen with a fair face on the throne of France. In both countries it was clearer than crystal to the lords of the State preserves of loaves andRead MoreA Tale of Two Cities900 Words   |  4 PagesChange can be a good thing. Charles Dickens, a fine author of A Tale of Two Cities uses many themes throughout his work, but the main theme he focuses on is redemption. The idea of redemption has to do with someone changing their outlook on life and making a difference from what they used to be. An alcoholic becoming a hero, a thief becoming a honest man, a crazed man becoming a leader, and a bystander becoming honorable. The transformation of an ordinary person to someone who benefits many peopleRead MoreA Tale Of Two Cities Or A Tale Of Two Worlds?2163 Words   |  9 PagesKaren Vanderford Ms. Faris Honors English IV 29 May 2015 A Tale of Two Cities or A Tale of Two Worlds? A person’s class status in today’s world is based on what one owns and how society views an individual; nothing else really matters. Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities exemplifies the importance of social status through the way society views and treats its characters. Lucie Manette, from England, is the â€Å"golden thread† who everyone adores, especially a man named Sydney Carton, who is knownRead MoreTale of Two Cities4458 Words   |  18 Pagess Tale of Two Cities – Study Guide Questions 2008 Use these over the course of your reading. They are very helpful if you use them!! Book I: Recalled to Life Book I, Chapter 1: The Period 1. What is the chronological setting of this opening chapter? What clues enable us to determine The Period? 2. How does Dickens indicate the severity of social conditions in both France and England? 3. Who is the king with a large jaw and a queen with a plain face? 4. How does DickensRead More A Tale Of Two Cities Essay553 Words   |  3 Pages Capitol Punishment: Toy of Evil Men nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;One might believe that because capital punishment plays such a large role in Charles Dickens’ A Tale Of Two Cities, that Dickens himself is a supporter of it. This just simply is not true. Dickens uses capitol punishment as a tool to define the evil embodied in both the French ruling class, and the opposing lower class during the French Revolution; as well as comment on the sheep-like nature of humankind. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;InRead MoreTale Of Two Cities Analysis704 Words   |  3 PagesCharles Dickens, a brilliant author back in the 1850’s, wrote â€Å"A Tale of Two Cities† in order to describe the similarities between the forces that led to the revolution and the oppression and unrest occurring in England. The French revolution impacts history because the time period in which it takes place is before and during the French revolution. The French revolution signifies the essence of a rapid change, nevertheless, this change tore France right at the heart, where all the government wasRead MoreA Tale of Two Cities Speech1511 Words   |  7 PagesA Tale of Two Cities Speech The storming of the Bastille#8230;the death carts with their doomed human cargo#8230;the swift drop of the guillotine blade-this is the French revolution that Charles Dickens vividly captures in his famous work A Tale of two cities. With dramatic eloquence, he brings to life a time of terror and treason, a starving people rising in frenzy and the to overthrow a corrupt and decadent regime. With insight and compassion, he casts his novel of unforgettableRead MoreA Tale Of Two Cities Essay1471 Words   |  6 PagesCharles Dickens wrote A Tale of Two Cities in order to enlighten the average Briton about the events of the French Revolution. The novel compares and contrasts cities of London and Paris, which represent French and British society, through the eyes of Dickens’ human characters. The two cities play such a large part in the novel that they become characters themselves, and the contrasting societies of the two cities become a conflict. In Charles Dickens’ class ic, A Tale of Two Cities, the individualisticRead MoreTale of Two Cities Essay1098 Words   |  5 PagesViolence and Cruelty Leading to Harsh Rebellion Throughout the novel A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens constantly uses examples of violence and cruelty to show why the French peasants revolted against the aristocracy and to describe the revolt. During the extant of the peasant’s lives before the rebellion they were treated so brutally by the aristocrats. The wealthy people took great advantage of their power and the poor people. When the peasants rebelled they responded with violence and brutalityRead MoreA Tale of Two Cities-Sacrifice728 Words   |  3 PagesIn the melodramatic novel, A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens, the author uses the theme sacrifice. He shows that sacrifice is important in his story because some of his characters must give up their lives for another. Miss Pross dedicates herself to Lucie because she wants Lucie to have a brighter future than she did. Then, out of his love and devotion for Lucie Manette, Sydney Carton sacrifices his life to save a life she loves. The sacrifices Miss Pr oss and Sydney Carton make express