Eagles:
One more thing about foreshadowing, as well as allusions.
On pages 115 and 117, Dickens makes an allusion to Greek mythology by writing about The Greek Furies (they are depicted in the above painting).
The Greek Furies were the Goddesses of vengeance. They punished criminals, especially murderers. They represented conscience.
On page 115 Dickens uses the Furies to describe how whip of the the Marquis de Evermonde was cracking as rode on his carriage.
On page 117 Dickens refers to gnats as the Furies. Again he is referring to the marquis' carriage.
Reference to the Furies serves as effective foreshadowing for what is come when the Revolution finally gets going--especially the Reign of Terror. When Dickens gets to that part notice how he frequently uses words like fever, cauldron, fire and even fury to describe what is going on.
Also notice how the Greek Furies are women. The Greek Furies allusion works so well in this story because they represent Madame Dafarge and The Vengeance.
By the way, has anybody spotted any other interesting allusions (references to history, mythology, religion, culture, etc)?
In the first chapter page four Dickens states "France, less favoured on the whole as to matters spiritual than her sister of the shield and trident..." I believe this refers to Britannia who was personified as a goddess by the Romans and has become a national representation of Britain. I am not sure, but I remember learning about her a while back and I remembered she carries a shield and trident, so it made sense.
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