For the past few weeks, I have been reading A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. I didn’t know much about the book besides the fact that it was set before the French Revolution, and that the famous quote “it was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” was in it. So far, I’ve enjoyed the story and the humour, and I especially love Dickens’ use of descriptions to make jokes. For example, in the beginning of the book Mr. Lorry, an English banker, comforts Miss Manette after telling her some startling information. Miss Manette ends up gripping Mr. Lorry’s arm so hard that he needs to call for help to detach himself. The woman who comes running over is described as:
A wild-looking woman, whom even in his agitation Mr. Lorry observed to be all of a red colour, and to have red hair, and to be dressed in some extraordinary tight-fitting fashion, and to have on her head a most wonderful bonnet like a grenadier wooden measure, and a good measure too, or a great Stilton cheese, came running into the room in advance of inn servants, and soon settled the question of his detachment from the poor young lady, by laying a brawny hand upon his chest, and sending him flying back against the nearest wall. (p. 37)
Dickens use of physical comedy is enhanced by the reader’s imagination. By describing the woman’s bonnet as a great Stiltion cheese, Dickens gives the reader an extreme image that their mind can play with. This also helps with characterization, as the reader can assume a number of things about the woman’s personality and demeanour based on her clothing and the way she acts.