Personification is giving human qualities to inanimate objects or abstract ideas. While Dickens uses vivid language and descriptions, he mainly focuses on personifying characters and their actions.
Here are some examples of how Dickens personifies characters in Book 2:
* Madame Defarge: She is described as a "figure of implacable resolution" and her knitting needles are associated with the deadly threads of the French Revolution. She becomes a personification of revenge and relentless pursuit of justice.
* The Marquis: He is portrayed as a callous and indifferent man, who embodies the oppressive nature of the French aristocracy. His carriage, driven over the body of a peasant child, becomes a symbol of his disregard for human life.
* The Vengeance: A woman of the people, she is a symbol of the revolutionary fervor and anger towards the aristocracy. Her actions and words reflect the collective will of the revolutionaries seeking retribution.
While these examples highlight Dickens' masterful portrayal of characters, they are not strictly examples of personification in the traditional sense.
Instead, Dickens employs figurative language and symbolism to create powerful characterizations that embody broader themes and ideas present in the novel.
Let me know if you'd like to explore other literary devices used in Book 2 of "A Tale of Two Cities"!