Warning: Use of undefined constant referer - assumed 'referer' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 102

Warning: Use of undefined constant host - assumed 'host' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 105

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays:102) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 106

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays:102) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 109
A Tale Of Two Cities 3 - Term Papers

A Tale Of Two Cities 3

Capitol Punishment: Toy of Evil Men
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.
In the beginning of the novel, capital punishment serves as the "cure-all" for France’s social problems. After all, "death is nature’s remedy for all things, and why not legislation’s?" (62). It is this attitude that strikes ...

Want to read the rest of this paper?
Join Essayworld today to view this entire essay
and over 50,000 other term papers

use of capital punishment casts upon the rulers of France is exactly what Dickens had intended.
When the revolution actually takes place, the Jacques become drunk with bloodlust. Their methods of restoring order and peace are exactly the same as those they opposed: send anyone to the guillotine who disagrees with them. "They are murdering the prisoners," says Mr. Lorry to Darnay after arriving in France (260). Again Dickens uses capitol punishment as a way to show the reader the atrocities that humanity can create when consumed with hatred and evil. Dickens can be seen approaching the subject of the guillotine with cynical sarcasm when he writes, "it was the popular theme for jests; it was the best cure for headache, it infallibly prevented the hair from turning gray…who kissed La Guillotine looked through the little window and sneezed into the sack" (271). Just as with the Aristocrats, Dickens does not condone the Jacques use of capital punishment. His disdain is ...

Get instant access to over 50,000 essays.
Write better papers. Get better grades.

Already a member? Login

CITE THIS PAGE:

APA
MLA
Chicago
Turabian

A Tale Of Two Cities 3. (2005, December 10). Retrieved April 26, 2024, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/A-Tale-Of-Two-Cities-3/37800

"A Tale Of Two Cities 3." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 10 Dec. 2005. Web. 26 Apr. 2024. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/A-Tale-Of-Two-Cities-3/37800>

"A Tale Of Two Cities 3." Essayworld.com. December 10, 2005. Accessed April 26, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/A-Tale-Of-Two-Cities-3/37800.

JOIN NOW

Join today and get instant access to this and 50,000+ other essays

PAPER DETAILS

Added: 12/10/2005 05:38:04 PM
Category: English
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 545
Pages: 2

Save |

Report

SHARE THIS PAPER

SAVED ESSAYS

Save and find your favorite essays easier