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Themes of a tale of two cities
Themes a tale of two cities
Themes a tale of two cities
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Change can be a good thing. Charles Dickens, a fine author of A Tale of Two Cities uses many themes throughout his work, but the main theme he focuses on is redemption. The idea of redemption has to do with someone changing their outlook on life and making a difference from what they used to be. An alcoholic becoming a hero, a thief becoming a honest man, a crazed man becoming a leader, and a bystander becoming honorable. The transformation of an ordinary person to someone who benefits many people is an example of true redemption. Dickens includes a few specific characters that relate directly to this theme. Dr. Manette, Charles Darnay, Jerry Cruncher, and Sydney Carton are identified in a couple of instances where it appears that their life has been misspent, but in the end redeemed. At the start of the novel, Dr. Manette was imprisoned for 18 years and he was not able to see his family during that whole period of his life. Anticipating death everyday at the prison made him go insane. All those years of Dr. Manette’s life was wasted at the Bastille prison. Lucie, his daughter, helped him recover from the horrific experience and Dr. Manette was able to see his daughter marry a young gentleman named Charles Darnay. Redemption, however, came to Dr. Manette when he was given the opportunity to try to save Darnay from having the same terrible fate as him. Darnay was imprisoned wrongly, which parallels Dr. Manette’s imprisonment because Dr. Manette was accused without any justification. Darnay had not done anything wrong and the French people kept him in jail for one entire year. During this time Dr. Manette’s attitude changed in a positive way. An insane old man who couldn’t even remember his own name, had this sudden transformation ... ... middle of paper ... ...87). Sydney Carton redeemed his wasted life by making sure he was loved and remembered to everyone he was close to. His sacrifice was what redeemed Carton to be a hero. New realization in oneself is redemption and benefitting others through this is an act of true heroism. Dr. Manette, Darnay, Cruncher, and Carton all related to redemption because each one of them sacrificed themselves for the people they care about. Dr. Manette sacrificed his past prison experiences to help Darnay, while Darnay sacrificed his noble title to be with Lucie. Cruncher sacrificed grave stealing to be a real honest tradesman and Carton sacrificed his life for Lucie to be happy. Each one of these characters transformed into something greater, enabling them to reach redemption. Their misspent life was not wasted toward the end of the novel and these characters did impact those around them.
Doctor Manette has a victim of sacrifice, for the better. When Darany reveals his past as an aristocrat, Dr. Manette’s mental stability waves because he is reminded of his past in the Bastille. Being revealed to this information has affected him so much that after he finished talking with Darnay, Dr. Manette “was so deadly pale”(page 149). Although being shared with this new information, Dr. Manette still allows the marriage between Darnay and Lucie. He sacrifices his mentality for his daughter’s happiness. Even though the Evremonde family is the reason for his imprisonment, Dr. Manette is still accepts Darnay’s past because it doesn’t define who he really is. He is accepting those bad memories and that they are a part of him. Dr. Manette is essentially taking those negative memories and turning them into something positive. When Darnay was arrested for the second time, Dr. Manette realized that he is going through the same thing that he went himself and focused
Later in the plot, Lucie Manette marries Charles Darnay. When they get married, it is a big event for both of their families. After they are married, the doctor begins to have a relapse of his old times.
Doctor Manette, is a heroic character in the plot of the story who displays strength. Doctor manette is a character that undergoes much pain through conflicts, but he finds ways to overcome them. One of these conflicts that affected his life, is when he was separated from his daughter for eighteen years due to unfair imprisonment, causing him to suffer with mental trauma. Once he is released, Doctor Manette becomes a healthier and more outgoing person in England with the help of Lucie’s
“All through the cold and restless interval, until dawn, they once more whispered in the ears of Mr. Jarvis Lorry-sitting opposite the buried man who had been dug out, and wondering what subtle powers were for ever lost to him, and what were capable of restoration-the old inquiry: ‘I hope you care to be recalled to life?’ And the old answer: ‘I can’t say. ’"(45). Dr. Manette was imprisoned in the French Bastille for eighteen years by the cruel French government and unknown to him those many years of pain and suffering served as a great sacrifice in the eyes of the Revolutionists. He is recalled to life from the time he served when he meets Lucie for the first time....
When Carton is being taken to the guillotine, he meets a young seamstress who was imprisoned with Darnay. She soon discovers that Carton is not actually Darnay, ““Are you dying for him?” she whispered. “And his wife and child. Hush! Yes.”” (Dickens 365). Caron is asked by the seamstress if he is sacrificing himself for Darnay. Carton replies that he is, but also for Darnay’s wife and child, Lucie and little Lucie. This shows why Carton is sacrificing himself. Carton, though he is saving Darnay’s life, is ultimately giving his life to save Lucie and her child, as well as the future children she and Darnay will have. His love for Lucie is the true reason he commits such an act of self-violence. Sydney Carton’s sacrifice is heroic because he willingly gives his life to save Darnay’s and to preserve the happiness of his family (Keck). Carton is ultimately driven by his love for the Manette family, and his desire to protect them and the love they have for one another. Though Sydney Carton is seemingly a failure, “his redeeming grace is his love for Lucie, which persuades him to sacrifice himself so that she and her family can escape” (Plot Summary). Again, this shows that Carton’s sacrifice is driven by the love he holds for Lucie. Everything Carton told Lucie he would do for her and her family has ultimately
Often in life, influences by people’s social and cultural environments reveals many characteristics of their personalities. Similar to life, authors will write novels based on their surroundings. Author Charles Dickens wrote many novels and stories that relate to his life during the Victorian Era. One of Dickens works that can reflect his life and true historical events of this era is the novel, A Tale of Two Cities. The novel sets in the two cities, England and France, and follows the issues of characters that lead up to the French Revolution. Influences from Charles Dickens childhood and life allow him to write the novel A Tale of Two Cities and make it relate to his own experiences creating a deeper understanding to readers of how people
The first impression we get of Sydney Carton is not a pleasant one. “[Sydney Carton] sat leaning back, with his torn gown half off him, his untidy wig put on just as it happened to light on his head after removal, his hands in his pockets, and his eyes on the ceiling as they had been all day. Something especially reckless in his demeanor…gave him a disreputable look.” (p. 57) From this description we get the impression that Carton is a slacker and that he doesn’t care about appearances. We also learn that he is a drunk. “ ‘You have had your bottle, I perceive, Sydney.’ ‘Two tonight, I think.’ ” (p.66) Sydney is trying to find the answers for his problems in the wrong places and he has begun to give up hope. “ He resorted to his pint of wine for consolation, drank it all in a few minutes and fell asleep on his arms, with his hair straggling over the table, and a long winding-sheet in the candle dripping down upon him.” (p. 64) Sydney Carton is in bad shape. He is an alcoholic, he is depressed and he has nothing going for him.
Dickens creates immortality for Sydney's character with the intention of showing the reader that those who live by a Christian moral code will be rewarded with immortality. Sydney begins as a sordid character so the reader will realize that anyone can follow the path of righteousness, regardless of how sinful one is to begin with. Dickens intends the evolution of Sydney's character to function as inspiration for the reader to incorporate both selfless kindness and self-sacrifice into his or her ethical code. By giving immortality in exchange for Sydney's selfless kindness and martyrdom, Dickens radiates his moral agenda of Christian values as a moving story to inspire Victorian society towards Christian morals.
Carton makes the ultimate sacrifice in giving his life in place of Darnay’s; he not only gives his life, but furthermore finds what he was seeking throughout the entire novel. After Darnay is arrested for the second time while in France he is condemned to death. Carton sees this as his only opportunity to display to Lucie how he truly feels about her. He drugs Darnay while he is in prison and due to them looking almost identical, he is able to switch clothing and places with him in his cell. Knowing he will not return from this; Carton displays that lucie's happiness and well being is more important to him than his own life.
Carton was a very shy and introverted person his whole life, and never told Lucie about his feelings for her, until he one day after finally working up the courage, admitting, “If you will hear me through a very little more, all you can ever do for me is done. I wish you to know that you have been the last dream of my soul.” (Dickens 115) He loves her, but does not want her to love him back, saying he isn’t deserving of her affection. He has even tried to get closer to her husband, Darnay, stating, “Mr. Darnay, I wish we might be friends,” (Dickens 159) but to no avail. However, after Darnay’s third trial where he is declared guilty and will be put to death, Carton sacrifices himself to let Lucie and Darnay live a happy life together with their daughter. Carton is an excellent example of sacrificing for love, because he pays the biggest price by ultimately giving his life.
In Tale of Two Cities, multitude of characters proceed through the hero’s journey and face one challenge or abyss that changes them into the person they become at the finale of the book. In Tale of Two Cities, Sydney Carton meets Lucie Manette to express his feelings thus causing him to realize that he has completely wasted his life, he knows he almost has no chance to amend his life, and he learns he has to find purpose to make himself content with his life. While walking in Lucie’s neighborhood, he finds himself walking up to Lucie’s house for the first time. He talks to Lucie and she frets that he appears unhealthy, and at this point, he knows “[he is] like one who died young [and has lost] all [that his] life might have been”(Dickens 150).
Dr. Manette starts his life as a young successful man but then is traumatized by imprisonment and again becomes successful with the comfort of, his daughter, Lucie. Lorry rescues Dr. Manette from his prison in St. Antoine and essentially brings him back to life. At first Alexandre seems unstable and much older than his years, but as Lucie nurses him back to life he transforms into the vibrant man missing throughout hers. Doctor Manette has no recollection of his successful past: “Doctor Manette, formerly of Beauvais . . . the young physician, originally an expert surgeon, who within the last year or two has made a rising reputation in Paris” (298). After his unnecessary imprisonment he is very weak and frail: “[h]e had put up a hand between his eyes and the light, and the very bones of it seemed transparent” (36). He is found in a dark garret hunched over a cobbler’s bench making shoes to pass time. At first Lucie is apprehensive about approaching her father, but as she observes his actions she is overcome with joy; she has now found her father whom she thought was dead for seventeen years. As he spends more time with Lucie and Miss Pross he gradually gains more and more strength and is beginning to reach his capacities in life. “This new life of the Doctor’s [is] an anxious life, no doubt; still the sagacious Mr. Lorry [sees] that there was a new sustaining pride in it” (253). The changes in Dr. Manette are not all by his own doing. He started life prosperous and fortunate, and after an ill-fated imprisonment it takes him a long while to accomplish the ability to endure life again.
Dr. Manette is resurrected, or recalled to life, multiple times in A Tale of Two Cities. Lucie Manette, Dr. Manette’s daughter, always helps in saving him. Dr. Manette’s story begins with him being imprisoned in the Bastille. He gets out after eighteen years and stays at Monsieur Defarge, an old servant’s house. This is where Lucie meets him for the first time. She instantly tries to help save him. She insists on taking him out of Paris with her to keep him safe. He goes with her to a court hearing for Charles Darnay, where she speaks in court and he is acquitted. Charles and Lucie fall in love and plan to get married. On their wedding day Charles has a private conversation with Dr. Manette. During this conversation he tells Dr. Manette his real name, Charles Evrémonde. The next day, Mr. Lorry discovers that Dr. Manette has a relapse and is making shoes, as he did in prison. This relapse lasts nine days and nine nights. Afterwards, Mr. Lorry tells Dr. Manette that he has to get rid of his shoe making tools. Dr. Manette is hesitant until Mr. Lorry brings up Lucie saying, “‘I would recommend him to sacrifice it. Come! Give me your authority, like a dear good man. For his daughter’s sake, my dear Manette’… ‘In her name, then, let it be done.’”(232). This shows that Lucie is the only thing he cares about. In this way Lucie saved him as well. These are two w...
Manette is at the house of the Evremondes', tending to a psychotic young peasant girl. The two Evremonde brothers convince Dr. Manette to come with them, to see someone who they believe needs help. When he arrives at their spacious house, he immediately hears piercing screams, coming from upstairs. He is taken to the room, to see a girl, about 20 years old, who is tied down to a bed, shrieking loudly, and thrashing around. The doctor gives her medication, seemingly to no avail. Meanwhile, the "elder" brother takes him to another patient, the girl's brother, who has a fatal wound in his chest.
Charles Dickens is a talented author who wrote many notable novels, including A Tale of Two Cities. Barbara Hardy notes that at a young age Dickens’ father was imprisoned for debt, leaving young Charles to support himself and his family alone (47). Dickens strongly disliked prisons, which shows as a motif in A Tale of Two Cities. Many of his interests contributed to the formulation of the novel. In the essay “Introduction” from the book, Charles Dickens, Harold Bloom claims Dickens hoped “to add something to the popular and picturesque means of understanding [the] terrible time” of the Revolution (20). Dickens’ reading and “extraordinary reliance upon Carlyle’s bizarre but effective French Revolution” may have motivated him to write the novel (Bloom 21). Sir James Fitzjames Stephen believed that Dickens was “on the look-out for a subject, determined off-hand to write a novel about [French Revolution]” (Bloom 20). In Brown’s book Dickens in his Time, Dickens guided the writing of the play Frozen Deep where two rivals share the same love, and one ultimately sacrifices himself for...