A Tale of Two Cities: A Historical Fictional Study of Revolution, Memory, and Human

Struggle
Introduction
Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities (I850) is one of the most widely read works of English
literature, known for its vivid depiction of the French Revolution and the social turbulence
that engulfed both Paris and London. Dickens drew inspiration from Thomas Carlyle’s The
French Revolution for his sweeping portrayal of London and revolutionary Paris.
Though fictional in plot and characterization, the novel is deeply rooted in the historical
realities of eighteenth-century Europe, particularly the clash between oppressive aristocracy
and revolutionary fervor. The narrative merges personal sacrifice with collective struggle,
thereby illustrating the complex interplay between individual destinies and broader historical
forces.
Charles Dickens presents the history of France by showing the poverty and misery of the
peasants under the Ancien Régime, where the common people suffered under heavy taxes
while the nobles lived in wealth and luxury. He describes the cruelty and arrogance of the
French aristocracy, whose oppression and injustice led to public anger and rebellion. Dickens
also writes about the Bastille prison as a powerful symbol of royal tyranny, and its storming
in 1789 as the turning point that began the French Revolution. He further depicts the Reign of
Terror (1793–1794) with scenes of violent mobs and executions by the guillotine, showing
how the revolution’s hope for justice turned into fear and destruction.
This research intends to examine A Tale of Two Cities not only as a literary masterpiece but
also as a work of historical fiction that contributes to our understanding of history, memory,
and revolution. It will highlight how Dickens balances historical accuracy with imaginative
storytelling, and how his narrative reflects Victorian anxieties about violence, justice, and
social transformation.
Research Problem
Although A Tale of Two Cities has been examined from literary, moral, and political
perspectives, its significance as a historical novel warrants more rigorous scholarly attention.
Charles Dickens reconstructs the historical landscape of the French Revolution with
remarkable narrative skill, blending factual events with imaginative fiction to illustrate the
human dimension of historical transformation. His depiction of social inequality, class
conflict, and revolutionary upheaval reflects the broader historical realities of eighteenth-
century France. Through his artistic representation, Dickens not only revives the atmosphere
of the period but also interprets the moral and social forces that shaped it. Thus, the novel
functions as a valuable medium through which history is reimagined and humanized,
bridging the gap between historical fact and literary expression. The central problem is: How
does Dickens employ historical fiction to interpret the French Revolution, and what
does this reveal about the relationship between history, literature, and society?
Objectives
The proposed research aims to achieve several key objectives that will guide the study
throughout its course:
1. To analyze A Tale of Two Cities as a historical novel within the tradition of nineteenth-
century historical fiction.
2. To examine Dickens’ representation of the French Revolution and its impact on both
French and English societies.
3. To assess the balance between historical accuracy and fictional imagination in
Dickens narrative.
4. To understand the role of memory, trauma, and collective violence as reflected in the
novel.
Research Questions
The following key questions will guide the direction and analysis of this research paper:
1. In what ways does A Tale of Two Cities qualify as historical fiction?
2. How does Dickens reconstruct the social, political, and cultural context of the French
Revolution?
3. How does the novel reflect Victorian anxieties about revolution, violence, and justice?
Theoretical Framework
This study is based on historical fiction theory as proposed by Georg Lukács in The
Historical Novel (1937), which highlights the relationship between historical reality and
imaginative reconstruction. Lukács’ concept of the “totality of historical process” will help
analyze how Charles Dickens, in A Tale of Two Cities, reflects the moral and social
conditions of the French Revolution through fiction.
The research also draws on Hayden White’s theory of narrative historiography, emphasizing
that history is shaped through narrative structures and moral interpretation. This will aid in
understanding how Dickens transforms historical fact into a moral and emotional story.
Additionally, insights from Jerome Buckley and John Bowen on Dickens’ moral vision and
engagement with history will provide contextual grounding for the study.
Methodology
 Textual Analysis: A close reading of A Tale of Two Cities will be conducted to
examine its themes, imagery, and narrative techniques in relation to historical
reconstruction. Attention will be given to the novel’s symbolism, character
development, and use of contrast–particularly between London and Paris–to reveal
Dickens’ interpretation of historical events.
 Comparative Historical Approach: This research will employ a Comparative
Historical Approach to examine Charles Dickens’s depiction of the French Revolution
in A Tale of Two Cities in relation to actual historical accounts. By cross-referencing
 Dickens’s narrative with contemporary and later historical writings–particularly
Thomas Carlyle’s The French Revolution: A History (1837), which profoundly
influenced Dickens–the study aims to assess the accuracy and artistic interpretation of
historical events within the novel.
 Contextual Analysis: This research will also utilize a Contextual Analysis to situate
the novel within the broader intellectual, cultural, and moral climate of the Victorian
era. By examining the social, political, and philosophical ideas that shaped nineteenth-
century Britain–such as industrial progress, class consciousness, humanitarian reform,
and moral responsibility–the study will explore how these concerns influenced
Dickens’s portrayal of revolution, justice, and redemption. This analytical lens will
help uncover the novel’s social significance, revealing how Dickens used historical
fiction not merely to reconstruct the past but to comment on the pressing issues of his
own time, thereby reflecting the moral anxieties and aspirations of Victorian society.
 Secondary Sources: Critical essays, historical analyses, and literary studies will be
consulted to provide depth and support to the arguments. These sources will include
scholarly interpretations of Dickens’s work, studies on the French Revolution, and
discussions of historical fiction as a literary genre. They will offer diverse
perspectives on Dickens’s narrative techniques, historical representation, and
ideological stance, contributing to a more nuanced understanding of the novel’s
historical and literary dimensions.
Significance of the Study
This study will contribute to the field of literary history by demonstrating how fiction
functions as a dynamic lens through which historical realities can be interpreted and
understood. By analyzing the novel in relation to historical accounts of the French
Revolution, the research will illuminate the capacity of literature to reconstruct and
reinterpret the past while simultaneously reflecting the ideological and moral concerns of its
own age. It highlights the power of narrative in shaping collective memory, revealing how
Dickens’s portrayal of revolution, sacrifice, and social transformation continues to resonate
with modern discussions on violence, justice, and human resilience. Moreover, the study
emphasizes the relevance of Dickens’s vision beyond its historical setting, offering insight
into universal human experiences of suffering, redemption, and hope. It will also serve as a
valuable academic resource for undergraduate students, helping them recognize the
intersection between literature and history and encouraging a deeper, interdisciplinary
engagement with both historical inquiry and literary interpretation.
Tentative Chapter Outline
1. Introduction: Literature and Historical Memory
2. Historical Fiction: Theory and Practice
3. Dickens and the Victorian Vision of Revolution
4. The French Revolution in A Tale of Two Cities
5. Imagination, Accuracy, and the Moral Purpose of Fiction
6. Conclusion: History Through the Eyes of Fiction
References (Selected)
 Bowen, John. Other Dickens: Pickwick to Chuzzlewit. Oxford University Press, 2000.
 Buckley, Jerome Hamilton. The Victorion Temper. Harvard University Press, 1951.
 Carlyle, Thomas. The French Revolution: A History. Chapman and Hall, 1837.
 Dickens, Charles. A Tale of Two Cities. 1859.
 Lukács, Georg. The Historical Novel, Penguin, 1962 [orig. 1937].
 White, Hayden. Metahistory: The Historical Imagination in Nineteenth-Century
Europe, Johns Hopkins University Press, 1973.