- A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens, deals with the major themes of duality, revolution, and resurrection. - The theme of this novel is 'The French Revolution' - It was the best of times, it was the worst of times in London and Paris, as economic and political unrest lead to the American and French Revolutions. - 'Sydney Carton' is the important character in Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities. Source: Encyclopedia of Britannica.