Tale of Two Cities
Tale of Two Cities In the opening quote of “A Tale of Two Cities”, by Charles Dickens, a very complex sentence is stated that consists of anaphoric contradictions. Many of these contradictions contain phrases where one side of the contradiction has a negative connotation and the other has a positive connotation. In contemporary times, many events contain match the contradictions stated in the quote. There are many examples of events that go along with the quote, but prime examples include the feud between Iraq and the USA, third world countries, and many economic and health problems. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”. This opening quote of “A tale of Two Cities” can relate to many things in contemporary times. One example that represents this quote clearly is the constant feuds between the US and Iraq. One minute, America is calm and clear of disputes, just continuing on everyday lives, when suddenly, out of the blue, one of the biggest terrorist attacks occurred, and the US is declaring war with another country.
Also, while daily life in America is usually normal and ordinary, overseas, a war is taking place, and soldiers could lose their lives any minute. While people in the USA could be having the best of times, the worst of times could be happening to many people elsewhere. Next, another part of the opening quote that relates to modern times is “We had everything before us, we had nothing before us. ” Not only does this relate ti the poverty- stricken people in the world, but more promptly the people in third world countries.
In the United States, most people always are able to provide themselves with necessities and have everything before them. On the contrary, many unfortunate people in third world countries barely have anything before them. Lastly, another quote from the opening statement of the book is “It was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair”. This quote can relate to many different things. An example could be a hopeful country receding into a recession or depression. Many economies lead populations from hope to despair.
Another match to the quote could be the victims of cancer hoping to be cured; but feeling despair when informed about the lack of a cure. Many things and events in this world leave people hoping, and then lead them straight to despair. In the end, the quote by Charles Dickens stating contradictions in the beginning of “A Tale of Two Cities” can relate to contemporary times, even though written in a much earlier time period. Many of the contradictions stated coincide with many events happening currently or in the past.
