A Tale of Two Cities is set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution。 It has given a real account of the reason and the main outline of the Revolution and it has depicted the sufferings of the French peasantry demoralized by aristocrats in the years before the Revolution, the brutality demonstrated by revolutionaries towards the former aristocrats, and many sad social parallels with life in London during the same period。 Dickens has created many characters which served as living embodiment or opposition of his humanitarianism。 His sympathizing with the oppressed people, refuting and railing at violent revolution, epitomize his humanitarianism in action。 The involvement of Christianity is his humanitarianism in spiritual aspect。

2。 Literature Review

In English literary history, Charles Dickens is the one and only that rivals William Shakespeare and his humanitarianism reflected in his works deserves everlasting discussion。 By now, scholars have been mainly focusing on three important perspectives。

First, scholars mostly analyze the characterization in this novel。 A Tale of Two Cities is a realistic novel。 It carries Dickens’ lifetime pursuit of spiritual realization and meaning of life。 The analysis has pided the characters into three kinds: the aristocrats represented by Evrémonde brothers, the revolutionaries exemplified by the Defarges, and the ideal ones illustrated with the Manettes and Charles Darnay。 After the piding process, lessons are drawn “Dickens teaches the lesson that relentless implacability, unrelieved by any sense of proportion, let alone mercy, will meet the end expressed in the old saying about those who live by the sword。” (Newlin 3)

Second, the reason why the violent means was exerted is given great attention。 Previously, people considered it was originated from many aspects。 One significant aspect is due to the long-lasting feudal regime, bringing pains and sufferings to its people。 Another one is the uncontrolled social order and the undying desire of war, breaking up the peace forged between the King and the Bourgeois class。 Thus, researchers arrive at a conclusion the violent means is advisable。 “Good things are the same as bad ones。 They are all achieved by subversion and violence。 And there is no way more efficient。” (Migne 56) On the basis of former efforts, recent studies show much interest in the spirit of revolution and denying the negative effects the French Revolution has created。文献综述

Third, the humanitarianism in this novel has had considerable attraction。 The Defarges are the center of this heated discussion。 Used as the starting point, the Defarges’ cruelty and violence serve as a foil to Dr。 Manette’s charity and fraternity。 The rest of the scholars research on humanitarianism from Dickens himself and has found out his humanitarianism is not a universal one and has its own limit, which is bourgeois comfort and satisfaction and results in “Dickens tried hard to fly but got encumbered by this lumpish time。” (Zhao 27) 

This paper, on the basis of former researches, concentrates on Dickens’ humanitarianism by analyzing Dickens’ political attitude and his characterization。 It further explores the deeper implication from a Christian point of view。

3。 Humanitarianism Embodied in Dickens’ Political Attitude 

England experienced far less bloodshed than France did and Dickens took pride in this。 His political attitude stemmed from the relatively smooth path England had once come through。 Mildness, getting rid of unnecessary killing, and echoing with people, represent the English version。 Dickens’ humanitarianism lies in his preference for a mild revolution without blood。 Unfortunately, the French Revolution went an opposite way and Dickens’ expectation for the similar outcome turned out into meaningless massacre and devastation of humanity。 Therefore, Dickens was ambivalent about the Revolution and the revolutionaries, from definite support to serious blame and consistently had faith in a humanitarian way of social reformation leading to a new social order。