The Influence of the French Revolution and the Depiction of Herd Mentality in Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities

Abstract

Throughout history, literary figures have played a role similar to historians because they have reflected, both explicitly and implicitly, the political, psychological, and social struggles of their time. Charles Dickens created a masterpiece that has remained influential for generations, A Tale of Two Cities. The novel provides a vivid depiction of one of the most violent and chaotic periods in human history: the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror. Dickens presents powerful scenes in which crowds lose all sense of humanity and mercilessly destroy the lives of those they consider enemies. This research examines the phenomenon of mob mentality depicted in the novel through the theoretical framework of crowd psychology, particularly the concept of contagion theory introduced by Gustave Le Bon. The study employs a qualitative mode of inquiry through textual analysis of selected passages from the novel. By examining these scenes closely, the study highlights how individuals, when absorbed into a collective crowd, lose their sense of identity and personal accountability. The research concludes that the dissolution of individual responsibility within a crowd allows individuals to commit acts of brutality that they would otherwise find morally unacceptable. Dickens’ representation of mob violence therefore not only illustrates the historical realities of the French Revolution but also provides profound insight into the darker aspects of human psychology.

Keywords: Mob Mentality; Gustave Le Bon; Crowd Psychology; French Revolution; A Tale of Two Cities; Collective Violence; Emotional Contagion; Herd Behavior; Social Identity