Examine A Tale of Two Cities, a blend of history and fiction.

Two what extent A Tale Of Two Cities, a blend of history and fiction.

                                                           OR

Examine ATale of Two Cities, a blend of history and fiction.

Answer:-History is fact and novel is fictitious. The historical novel is an attempt to recreate life and times of particular and build up fictitious stories on the backdrop of a particular period. A Tale of Two Cities is aptly called a tale than a novel. It is also because there is more fiction than facts.
                                                Dickens A tale of two cities is a historical novel without much history. Dickens also does not portray the entire drama of French revolution, in fact, he has focused on a few causes and effects of the revolution; the reign of terror, a group of private individuals who are influenced by the turn of events against their will, the Bastille and the guillotine are the only historical facts . He has highlighted scattered accounts of the revolution; the rising dissatisfaction of the people, the public wrath, the atrocities and mass murders by the revolutionaries. The French revolution had many aspects but Dickens is silent about them .He does not talk about Bourgeois, serf, peasants,philosophis of voltire, Rousseu, etc. At the risj of ignoring history, Dickens incorporated the revolution with personal incidents.
                                                Hisblent of history and fiction is his creative imagination. Though he writes about the French revolution, he has colored the novel with fantasy. Though he focuses on the revolution his main emphasis is on the meaningless horrors of the revolution as in the context of the lives of a few private individuals. The element of fiction exists in the character of Dr.Manette.Dr. Manatte looks insane after his release and his ghost like appearance tends an element of fiction in the novel. He makes shoes and to escape from his past. He gradually  overcomes his fits of madness due to the love bestowed on him by Lucie. However, when he comes to know that Charles is an Evermonde, the past hunts him once again and he resorts to shoe making. The ghost like man once again borders on insanity. The state of fantasy becomes an important part of his character.
                                                The basic detail of the revolution is interwoven with the effects of the revolution on individuals. The graphic details of its horrific and nightmarish side, the fall of the Bastille and Grindstone, etc all make the novel a blend of history and fiction. Against this view of the revolution, Dickens uses fantasy with almost every character in his novel. Mr.Manette is a symbol of suffering whose past haunts him throughout. Lucie is sweet loving and compassionate towards all. Charles disowns his legacy to expiate for the sins of his ancestors. Sydney Carton, the profligate who cares for no one becomes a symbole of self-sacrifice, love , humanity, and resurrection.
                                                To conclude, A Tale of Two Cities is an excellent example of history and fiction being artistically interwoven. As an artist, Dickens successfully blends history and fiction.