A Study of British Political Identity in “A Tale of Two Cities”

Abstract

Dickens's “A Tale of Two Cities” was written in Britain, where the labor movement was fierce in the 1850s. The novel depicts the violence and inhumanity in Paris during the French Revolution, while London is portrayed as a savior. Through the comparison of killing and redemption, the novel actually constructs a community imagination of British democratic politics. British parliamentary politics has played a key role in alleviating social contradictions. In the turbulent society of British workers fighting for political freedom, the novel portrays the “two cities” literature. The image, while warning against violent revolution, also highly strengthened the British national identity.