"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times" (Dickens1).
Marxism theory states that those who control production in a society control society. Because of this, there is a considerably large gap between the economic/political power of those in control (the bourgeoisie) and the laborers in a community (the proletariat). Karl Marx, the philosopher of Marxism in relation to literature, believed the means of production would eventually belong to those who could actually operate them.
In A Tale of Two Cities, the conflict between the wealthy and the poor is developed and supposedly solved with the occurrence of the French Revolution. It explores the clash between the lives of the hardworking, struggling proletariat and the rich, entitled bourgeoisie. One must look no farther than the first sentence in order to find the first evidence of marxism. The phrase, "it was the best of times, it was the worst of times" (Dickens 1), provides immediate insight into the social realities of the time, representing not only the hardships of the proletariat and the luxury of the nobility but also the horrors of the Revolution and the satisfaction of revenge through the bloody events to come. Throughout Book the First and Book the Second, the gap between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie is defined. When the wine is spilled in the street, "all people within reach suspended their business" in order to "run to the spot and drink [it]" (Dickens 31). Here, the peasants act like animals, controlled by their needs. They are so desperate that they would drink wine from the street, an action expected of a dog or a cat but not necessarily of a human. After witnessing this, Defarge, the wine shop owner, simply shrugs it off as if it were a normal occurrence which further proves the idea that the upper class was not concerned with the deterioration of the common people. This scene serves to represent the dehumanization of the lower class by the wealthy. On the other hand, the affluent lived an opulent and extravagant lifestyle. Monseigneur, a "great [lord] in power at the Court," enjoyed his chocolate every morning with the help of no less than "four strong men besides the cook" (Dickens 105). It seemed as though the wealthy were practically "swallowing France" as a result of their luxurious excesses. Monseigneur represents the corruption and selfishness of the aristocratic class that led up to the French Revolution. Dickens highlights the power and influence of the aristocracy who lived like gods and were worshipped like them too. He mentions the need for four servants to help Monseigneur drink his chocolate to show how absurdly lavishly the aristocrats lived. Representing the general opinion of the upper class, Monseigneur had the "truly noble idea that the world was made for them," (Dickens 106) them being the wealthy. In running over the boy with his carriage, Marquis Evermonde exhibits the lack of compassion for the lower class people. Marquis tried to pay of the father of the dead child only to protect his own image. He acts as though he hit an animal instead of a boy and expresses his opinion that it is "better for the poor little plathing to die so, than to live" (Dickens112). He considers the life of the proletariat child less valuable than someone of his own class. The bourgeoisie's self-satisfied attitude and materialistic values furthered the chasm between the social classes.
Dr. Manette is also an example of the struggle of the lower class. Even though he started off as a doctor, his imprisonment separated him and put him in the lower class. His transition from doctor to shoemakers represents how conditions for the lower class only continue to get worse. Dr. Manette is dehumanized by the system similarly to the towns people drinking the wine from the street. Just like how Dr. Manette was imprisoned, the lower class is also imprisoned in the sense that they are trapped, unable to make a change.
The only character to break the social barriers is Sydney Carton. By saving Darnay from execution and sacrificing himself, he manifests that he is not controlled by his social class. His execution is representative of him breaking free from the marxist system of the bourgeoisie/proletariat division. Because of his refusal to conform and let his class dictate his life, one can conclude that he is the only one with the goal to make a change.
Because of the basic human need for liberation from social strains, the proletariat rise up in rebellion to take back the power which they feel is unjustly stacked against them. Karl Marx's theory is fulfilled with the storming of the Bastille led by Defarge and Madam Defarge. The attack on the Bastille and the murder of the guard symbolize uprising because the prison represented royal authority which supported the wealthy class.
In A Tale of Two Cities, the conflict between the wealthy and the poor is developed and supposedly solved with the occurrence of the French Revolution. It explores the clash between the lives of the hardworking, struggling proletariat and the rich, entitled bourgeoisie. One must look no farther than the first sentence in order to find the first evidence of marxism. The phrase, "it was the best of times, it was the worst of times" (Dickens 1), provides immediate insight into the social realities of the time, representing not only the hardships of the proletariat and the luxury of the nobility but also the horrors of the Revolution and the satisfaction of revenge through the bloody events to come. Throughout Book the First and Book the Second, the gap between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie is defined. When the wine is spilled in the street, "all people within reach suspended their business" in order to "run to the spot and drink [it]" (Dickens 31). Here, the peasants act like animals, controlled by their needs. They are so desperate that they would drink wine from the street, an action expected of a dog or a cat but not necessarily of a human. After witnessing this, Defarge, the wine shop owner, simply shrugs it off as if it were a normal occurrence which further proves the idea that the upper class was not concerned with the deterioration of the common people. This scene serves to represent the dehumanization of the lower class by the wealthy. On the other hand, the affluent lived an opulent and extravagant lifestyle. Monseigneur, a "great [lord] in power at the Court," enjoyed his chocolate every morning with the help of no less than "four strong men besides the cook" (Dickens 105). It seemed as though the wealthy were practically "swallowing France" as a result of their luxurious excesses. Monseigneur represents the corruption and selfishness of the aristocratic class that led up to the French Revolution. Dickens highlights the power and influence of the aristocracy who lived like gods and were worshipped like them too. He mentions the need for four servants to help Monseigneur drink his chocolate to show how absurdly lavishly the aristocrats lived. Representing the general opinion of the upper class, Monseigneur had the "truly noble idea that the world was made for them," (Dickens 106) them being the wealthy. In running over the boy with his carriage, Marquis Evermonde exhibits the lack of compassion for the lower class people. Marquis tried to pay of the father of the dead child only to protect his own image. He acts as though he hit an animal instead of a boy and expresses his opinion that it is "better for the poor little plathing to die so, than to live" (Dickens112). He considers the life of the proletariat child less valuable than someone of his own class. The bourgeoisie's self-satisfied attitude and materialistic values furthered the chasm between the social classes.
Dr. Manette is also an example of the struggle of the lower class. Even though he started off as a doctor, his imprisonment separated him and put him in the lower class. His transition from doctor to shoemakers represents how conditions for the lower class only continue to get worse. Dr. Manette is dehumanized by the system similarly to the towns people drinking the wine from the street. Just like how Dr. Manette was imprisoned, the lower class is also imprisoned in the sense that they are trapped, unable to make a change.
The only character to break the social barriers is Sydney Carton. By saving Darnay from execution and sacrificing himself, he manifests that he is not controlled by his social class. His execution is representative of him breaking free from the marxist system of the bourgeoisie/proletariat division. Because of his refusal to conform and let his class dictate his life, one can conclude that he is the only one with the goal to make a change.
Because of the basic human need for liberation from social strains, the proletariat rise up in rebellion to take back the power which they feel is unjustly stacked against them. Karl Marx's theory is fulfilled with the storming of the Bastille led by Defarge and Madam Defarge. The attack on the Bastille and the murder of the guard symbolize uprising because the prison represented royal authority which supported the wealthy class.