A Tale Of Two Cities- Excess Breeds Exce Essay, Research Paper
One of the topics in the novel A Tale Of Two Cities is the idea that excess breeds
excess. Although this is true in many of times in real life, it is well proved in this novel.
During the French revolution, the setting of this novel, the Aristocrats and the
Revolutionists both go to extremes in their beliefs. The Aristocrats were so overly
wealthy and egotistical that they didn?t care for the commoners or peasants and took
them for granted. The Revolutionists were so firmly determined to bring on a
revolution and justice for all that they failed to realize they were as extreme as the
Aristocrats.
The aristocratic in France was very arrogant and looked down on the peasants
greatly. One of the aristocrats ran over a small peasant boy in the village and scolded
the father because the child?s? blood got the carriage wheels dirty. The aristocracy also
taxed the peasants so greatly that their was no middle class, just extremely wealthy or
extremely poor. The Marquee raped Mrs. Defarge?s family. The Aristocrats had no
sympathy or concern for others, they thought to highly of themselves and their blue
blood.
Excess was also shown in the Revolutionists?. They were so scared to leave any
French nobility alive that they killed anyone even remotely related to the Aristocracy,
including the Evermond family. The peasants also were very fearful of spy?s, they
arrested anyone that was suspected. They were so immersed in the thought of killing
all French nobility that themselves were becoming like them by killing anyone that they
thought were against them by the guillotine.
In conclusion, excess can and most likely will breed excess. The Aristocrats
gorged themselves with money and riches while forgetting about the people beneath
them. While the revolutionists killed and arrested everyone that wasn?t for their beliefs.
One must strive to find a middle ground and not be so conceited and overpowering,
but try to think of others and not go to the extreme.