A Critical Discourse Analysis on Chapter One of A Tale of Two Cities

This article uses Critical Discourse Analysis to elucidate the economic disparities featured in Chapter One of A Tale of Two Cities. The analysis focuses on the abstract, orientation, and the paradigmatic and syntagmatic links within the chapter and reveals the ways in which Chapter One sets the stage for the framework, mood and tone for the reader. It prepares the reader for the despondent and drastic occurrences to be unfolded within the novel.