"A Tale of Two Cities" is one of the most outstanding works written by Charles Dickens which describes a very difficult and contradictive epoch. The author successfully depicts and compares not just two cities but two countries, two peoples, probably, two different ways of thinking and different historical experience of England and France. The best characteristic of the epoch may serve the words which open the book: "it was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of believe, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct of Heaven, we were all going direct the other way – in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only. (Dickens, 1993, 1). Such contradiction of this period of time certainly found its expression in the contradictive and dubious description of two cities London and Paris.

Actually, as I have already mentioned, Ch. Dickens compares not only these two cities but England and France and English and French peoples as well. But I would like to start my analysis with the difference and even contrast in perception of England and France by the author. Firstly, it is necessary to say that "England became a place where people could live in relative calmness in comparison with the life on the continent in France where revolutionary spirit overwhelms everything" (Fielding, 1988, 97). We also see that relations between countries are quite tense and there is a state which, in terms of the 20th century, could be called 'a cold war' because a permanent conflicts between countries are a norm because England becomes a shelter for those who are considered to be traitors or inner enemies in France. Very often they "go to England to be at peace and at rest" (Dickens, 1993, 46). As a result we have Charles Darnay who is accused to be a traitor and a spy and, on reading the novel, we realize that it wasn't an extraordinary case, on the contrary, it was a normal thing. Personally, I think it is natural because certain circles of people in England and France closely collaborated and there activity was not always fair and amicable in relation to one or another country.

As for London and Paris, I would say that as any capital these cities reflected the general situation and relation existing between two countries. London seems to be relatively quiet place where people live an ordinary life. Moreover, in this city they can resume the life they led before. It is quite symbolical that Dr. Mannette resumes his normal life and even his medical practice on coming to London after eighteen years of imprisonment in France. In the meantime, "Paris is a turbulent place, it is the heart of French revolution" (Glancy, 1991, 34). This city brings chaos in the life of the main characters of the novel and for some of them it becomes the place of death as it happened to Sydney Carton. So, I think that is exactly this, 'Light' and 'Darkness', regular life and revolution, what makes London and Paris so different.

Finally, I want to dwell upon the difference between English and French aristocrats that may seem quite striking. Firstly, it is necessary to underline the cruelty of French noble men brought the country to the revolutionary state. I think that Marquis St. Evremonde is a symbol of French aristocracy. His life and actions were based on the principle that "repression is the only lasting philosophy. The dark deference of fear and slavery, my friend, will keep the dogs obedient to the whip, as long as this roof shuts out the sky" (Dickens, 1993, 119). It is not a big deal for such people to take a life of an innocent peasant because it doesn't worth a penny for them. On the contrary, English aristocracy being not ideal it may be like Sydney Carton crude and melancholy but it is still able to act as nobility has to do. English aristocrats can do things which make their earlier life less or unimportant at all and, probably, the best example is the self-sacrifice of Sydney Carton who is ready to die and safe the life of another person for his beloved sake. Even the descendant of the Evremondes, Charles Darnay, escapes France and seeks for better life in England.
Thus, in his work, Charles Dickens, writing about the fate of different people in the countries which were historical opponents, wants to warn people about the danger of havoc and cruelty that reigned in France and he suggests to remember old principles of nobility, be ready to self-sacrifice, and live in peace and harmony.
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