Abstract: A Tale of Two Cities depicts the intense class conflicts and ethical dilemmas between the aristocracy and the common people in French society. The analysis of multiple ethical threads in A Tale of Two Cities delves into the ethical dilemmas faced by key characters such as Dr. Manette, Madame Defarge, and Charles Darnay. By dissecting the interplay between human nature and beastly instincts in the social context, this article reveals the ethical value choices, and their consequences, made by these characters in moral dilemmas. A Tale of Two Cities is imbued with Dickens’ humanitarian ideals, as key characters in the novel strive to use rational willpower to control the beastly instincts inherent in human nature when facing ethical value choices. This enables them to make correct ethical choices amidst the moral dilemmas of war. Such choices are crucial humanistic factors in resolving class conflicts and quelling wars, while showcasing the moral instructive function of literary works.

Key words: A Tale of Two Cities, literary ethics, Sphinx factor, ethical choice, globalization