Opposing Forces in Tale of Two Cities, By Charles Dickens

Dickens' places a heavy load on opposite forces in A Tale of Two Cities. Such antitheses occur between polar characters and contrary settings, and they enhance the meaning of certain aspects of the novel to a great extent.
A great example of Dickens' use of antithesis can be found in the novel's two main female characters: Lucie Manette and Lady Defarge. Lucie embodies a loving and nurturing, good-natured person who is genuinely concerned with the interests of others as well as herself. The love that fuels her also initiates her father's spiritual transformation and renewal. At the oth…