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In A Tale of Two Cities Charles Dickens writes of a cask of wine that has fallen from its cart. Like the majority of the book, Dickens establishes a distant, emotionless tone in this passage. One might question whether this is simply Dickens’ style or if he purposely wrote the passage and book to this tone. Dickens establishes detail in his repetitive diction. He constantly repeats the words red, stained, and wine. Towards the end …

…theme of dualism is still, for the most part, valid. While this passage is important it most not be heeded too carefully. Some would seem to regard this passage as the center of the novel. Not only does this detract from the over all effect of Dickens’ work, it also clouds a reader’s judgment of theme. To look at this passage alone, in regards to theme, actually cheapens what many consider a grandiose classic.