“[Little Lucie] chattered in the tongues of the Two Cities that were blended in her life,” (219).
This description of Lucie Manette’s daughter playing, is literally saying that she speaks in both French and English, the two languages that are part of her life (living in England and having her parents of French descendants). There is another interesting aspect of this quote; it is the first time a fragment of the title has been referenced. By using the capitalized form of ‘Two Cities’, Dickens immediately draws the reader’s attention to the relevance it holds in the title of the novel. It also reveals that he is speaking not of just two cities in France and England, but the two cities that have become the theme of contrast in the novel. By showing that Lucie’s daughter is involved with both cities, it sets up a parallel for the next few chapters when the Revolution breaks out. The mayhem in France is repeatedly juxtaposed with the life of the Manettes and Darnays in England like on page 222 when the footsteps are ‘forcing their way into anyone’s life…footsteps as far off as the little circle in London’. Or when Mr. Lorry talks of the effect the crisis in France is having of French customers of Tellsons Bank (221). This double figure serves as a connection between all the events in the book so far as the characters lives and stories seem to come full circle, thus explaining why it is an appropriate title.
2 comments:
This is a really good double! Probably the most important one of the book, since it's the title. Little Lucie is an important connection between the two, based off of her heritage and current life. I thought your analysis was strong; the connection to Tellson's bank was really good. I also think that besides Tellson's and Little Lucie, Charles Darnay is another important link between the Two Cities. He has to leave England behind, possibly for the last time, which is where his family lives. But he makes the decision to go back to a unstable France, whereas England seems relatively calm at the time. He has strong ties to both cities, but now he has chosen one over the other.
I was going to write about this!! Darn you Alex Miner =P
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