A Tale of Two Cities

Novel | Charles Dickens
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Short note on the attack of the Bastille.

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Describe the attack on the Bastille. [NU: 2017] ★★★   

The Bastille was a prison in Paris, France. It became a symbol of tyranny. Many people were locked up there without trial. On July 14, 1789, angry Parisians attacked the Bastille. They seized weapons, freed prisoners, and destroyed the prison as the revolution began. Charles Dickens (1812–1870) presents this event with a literary touch in his famous novel “A Tale of Two Cities” (1859).

The Setting: The People of Paris are angry with the king’s rule. They see the Bastille as a place of cruelty. Dr. Manette was kept there for 18 years. The people want freedom and justice.

Mob Gathering: A huge crowd gathers outside the Bastille. They demand that it be handed over. The Governor, De Launay, refuses to surrender, which makes the people more furious.

Storming the Bastille: The angry mob attacks. The fight is fierce. Many are killed on both sides. Defarge leads the crowd, and Madame Defarge joins with great rage. She sear

ches Dr. Manette’s old cell to find proof against the Evrémonde family. 

The Fall: Finally, the mob breaks through the gates. The defenders cannot stop them. The Governor is captured. The people shout, “Kill him! Kill the man!” and take revenge. The storming of the Bastille represents rebellion and the people’s fight to reclaim justice and dignity.  Narrator says:

“The Bastille is taken, and the prisoners are free.” Book Two, Chapter XXI

Symbolic Meaning: Dickens writes, “The time was to come, when that wine too would be spilled on the street-stones.” This reminds us of the earlier spilled wine scene, now turned into real bloodshed. The fall of the Bastille is a victory for the people, but it also shows the violence of freedom.

In short, the storming of the Bastille is a turning point. It shows the power of united people against injustice. But it also warns that the fight for freedom can bring both justice and cruelty at the same time. 

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Charles Dickens
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