In the Tale of Two Cities question. Besides the foreshadowing of the blood bath to come, what does the people's response to the spilled wine show us?
Here are two excellent websites that will help you with this book.
http://www.sparknotes.com/nofear/lit/a-tale-of-two-cities/
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/twocities/
In order to understand the people's response to the spilled wine in the Tale of Two Cities, we should examine the context and symbolism of the scene.
The scene you are referring to is the wine spillage in Chapter 5 of Charles Dickens' novel, set during the French Revolution. As the wine cask is accidentally dropped and broken in the street, the people rush to scoop up the spilled wine, drinking it off the ground.
This particular scene serves as a powerful symbol in the novel. The wine represents the blood of the aristocracy, symbolizing their wealth and privilege. The people's response to the spilled wine reflects their growing resentment and hunger for equality.
Here's how you can analyze their response to gain a deeper understanding:
1. Pay attention to the characters' reactions: Notice the eagerness and desperation with which the people scramble to drink the spilled wine. Dickens portrays their actions vividly, emphasizing their hunger and need. This demonstrates their dire living conditions, poverty, and inequality.
2. Consider the symbolism: The spilled wine represents the wealth and excess enjoyed by the aristocracy. By drinking the wine off the ground, the people are reclaiming what they perceive as rightfully theirs. It signifies their desire for equality and hints at the impending violence and bloodshed that will come with the revolution.
3. Connect it to the theme: The people's response to the spilled wine highlights the larger theme of social injustice and class struggle in the novel. It underscores the stark contrast between the lavish lifestyle of the aristocrats and the miserable living conditions of the common people. Ultimately, it foreshadows the uprising and tumultuous events of the French Revolution.
By analyzing the characters' reactions, interpreting the symbolism, and connecting it to the broader themes of the novel, you can gain a deeper understanding of what the people's response to the spilled wine in the Tale of Two Cities reveals about the social and political climate of the time.