" (Dickens 59). This really shows how bad some of the French were living. In France before the industrial revolution there were two social classes. You were either rich, or you were poor. The poor hated the rich and let it be known. This is shown when a man in a crowd yells to Monsieur, who was the owner of a wine shop, "I devote you, to the Devil!" (Dickens 140). The poor class of people had no rights and was not allowed to participate in the government. The only two historical characters A Tale of Two Cities are King George III and Charlotte Sophia. The author describes King George III like this " There was a King with a large jaw and a Queen with a plain face on the throne of England" (Dickens 35). Later Miss Pross says, " The short and the long is that I am subject of his Most Gracious Majesty King George the third" (Dickens 318). These are the only two people in the story who are representing their real life counterparts. The Bastille, a prison, appears in A Tale of Two Cities; this was actually a real prison. The Bastille was used as a state prison earlier in time. It was also used for the city of Paris. A historical fact that is included in the book is the storming of the Bastille. " "Come, then!" cried Defarge, "Patriots and friends, we are ready! The Bastille!" " (Dickens 245). The Bastille was taken by a large mob that rushed it, and tore it down it down. This started the government rampage in which anyone who was thought to oppose the revolution was thrown in jail and eventually killed. " "He is a traitor since the decree. His life is forfeit to the people. His cursed life is not his own." " (Dickens 278). Anybody who publicly spoke against the government was sent to jail. Dickens also talks about the way society policed in France. If one was found guilty of something they were punished severely. If that particular offense was treason or murder the accused was beheaded by Guillotine.
