Charles Dickens main purpose for writing "A Tale of Two Cities" was to reflect his concerns on the social problems in England in the Victorian age. It is a dramatic combination of individual concerns and social concerns. The novel displays a contrast between a peaceful England and the city of Paris, tearing itself apart in revolution in the late 1770's to the early 1790's. It is under these circumstances that Dickens created two heroes whose noble qualities fulfil the Victorian definition of a "Hero." Though, the term hero is also reflected in the novel by historical, societal and cultural backgrounds, as well as the objectives of the composer.

"A Tale of Two Cities" is set primarily in Paris and London during one of the most turbulent periods of European history, the French Revolution. The novels opening lines, "It was...