What is symbolism , Meaning , example ,the major symbolism in the novel a tale of two cities notes

SYMBOLISM IN THE NOVEL A TALE OF TWO CITIES

“A tale of two cities is a series of symbols”. What is symbolism? What are the major symbols in the novel “a tale of two cities”

CONTENT

What is symbolism
Meaning
Example
Symbolism in the novel A TALE OF TWO CITIES

WHAT IS SYMBOLISM

The word ‘Symboli’ is derived from the Greek verb Symbollein , which means to “put together”. The Greek noun “Symbolism” which means a ‘sign’. The term in literary usage refers most specifically to a manner of representation in which what is shown means by virtue of association , something more, or something else reffering to something immaterial.

SYMBOLISM MEANING AND EXAMPLE

MEANING AND EXAMPLE OF SYMBOLISM

Anything that signifies something is a symbol. Even a word maybe symbol . Symbol are of two types- Public or conventional , and private or personal symbols .

The Word ‘Rose’ for example means a lovely flower. In poetry Rose becomes a symbol , meaning a lovely lady or the beloved . William Blake uses ‘Rose’ as a private Symbol , Meaning ‘Joy’ , ‘Love’ and ‘bed’.

Symbolism has become a literary cult these days this French poet like Baudelaire, Mallarme , Paul Valery, Rimbaud , and English poet like William Blake ,W.B. Yeats , and T.S. Eliot have employed private or personal symbols that have made their verse relatively abstract.

MAJOR SYMBOLISM IN "A TALE OF TWO CITIES"

SYMBOLISM IN CHARACTER OF TALE OF TWO CITIES

Sydney Corton is the symbol of Self Sacrifice and service.

Charles Darnay symbolises composure .

Lucie stands for sweetness and grace.

Jarvis lorry stands for disinterested service.

Stryver symbolises pomposity and selfishness

Madam Defarge stands for cruelty , revenge and hatred . ‘Monseigneur’ represents decayed aristocracy .

Marquis Evermonde is the symbol of inhumanity and barbarism.

MAJOR SYMBOLISM

1)Blood is a major symbolism

Gaspard of Saint Antonic street dips his fingers in the red-blood wine that has spilt on the street and scrawls the word ‘Blood’ on the wall. Blood becomes the symbol of French Revolution , the leaders of which forget the ideas of liberty, Equality and Fraternity and plung Paris into a Blood-Bath. Marquised Evremonde watches the blood red glow of the settling sound . He drive rashly on Saint Antoine street and Gaspard’s son is run over, lying in a pool of blood. When the magnificent chateau of the Evermonde is set ablaze ,the entire atmosphere looks as red as blood . The indiscriminate slaughter and the non-stop use of the guillotine have shed so much human blood .

2)Water is Dickens Favourite Symbols

The water of the river of the sea , of the fountain , of the reservoir is the elixir of life . At times the water is contained and ends the life. Water flows as time flows . In chapter seven of Book 2 Dickens comment “The water of the fountain run , the swift river run , the day run into evening . So much life in the city only run into death according to rule”. Running its own course in the law of nature . The water run not in the city alone its flows in the village as well.

3) FOOTSTEPS

Footsteps is also a recurrent image that becomes a symbol even in tranquil atmosphere in sono square , London Lucie hears the sound of footsteps , the stampede of the frenzied and furious revolutionaries that would not give a moments rests to the poor Manette , who is destined to suffer.

4)PERSONAL SYMBOLISM

Dickens uses the personal symbols while reffering to the Woodcutter and the farmer. They are not babblers ,they work continiously. They are represented here as not the bringer of fuels and the producers of daily food that sustain us. The woodcutter is the symbols of inexorable destiny , at whose wish a man may live or die. He represents the inevilability of the revolutioin that would overcome mankind . One former is the sower of the seed of deaths – death that could come in the wake of the Revolution.

5) GRINDSTONE

The Grind stone is apparently inocous . In reality it is not Dickens looks upon the grindstone not as a machine for grinding wheat into flour that keeps us alive. Most of the inhabitants of Saint Antoine street area had to work rouna the clock at the mill for their bare subsistence. As the wheat was being crushed by the grindstone had a dual role to crush the wheat and also the poor labourers . Grindstone had a dual role to crush the wheat and also the poor labourers.

The grindstone during the frenzied days of the revolution had another to play. Men , Women and children had to use the grindstone for sharpening not only sword and daggers , but all metallic instruments to be used an improvised weapons to kill the enemies of the people.

6) La Guillotine

La Guillotine becomes the symbols of quick extermination after summary trial . In the common parlance, the guillotine was the national razor to behead the aristocrate with. The ling and the aristocrate had their conventional,but lethal weapons for the liquidations of the poor and the oppressed. The revolutionaries devised a new weapons namely the Guillotine.

There is another symbol, not public or conventional ,but a personal one . It is the symbol of pomposity and conciet. A barrister at law he has an extensive practise . He therefore calls himself a lion and patronisigncy calls sydney carton a “jackal” . Stryver therefore prides himself upon describing himself as the king of the beasts .Above Discussed points are the Major Symbolism of the Novel "A TALE OF TWO CITIES".

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