Tale Of Two Cities Resurrection Essay

Isabelle Johnson
Mrs. Morgret
EH9-4
24 February 2017
A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens, has several underlying themes conveyed in the novel. One of the more clear and pronounced is resurrection. To be recalled to life means to be restored. The phrase is first seen in Chapter Two of book the first. In England, the Dover mail coach advances up a hill late one night. As the coach reaches high ground, a nearing gallop is heard. Jerry Cruncher, a messenger from Tellson's Bank, is the horseman. He bears a message for Mr. Lorry. Mr. Lorry tells Jerry to return the answer, "Recalled to Life," as the coach continues on its way. The audience soon interprets its meaning as an allusion to Doctor Manette's liberation from his imprisonment. Recalled
Manette. Dickens affirms his belief of the possibility of transformation and resurrection. It is through these themes that characters grow and advance throughout the story. Dr. Manette is the first person to experience resurrection. Dr. Manette was imprisoned in the Bastille for eighteen years, driving him to insanity. During the years, Dr. Manette’s state worsened until he could no longer recall his name and thoughtlessly relapsed into the role of a shoemaker. In Book the First, Dr. Manette is liberated and brought by the Defarges to their wine shop, where Dr. Manette is taken by Lucie and Mr. Lorry. Dr. Manette has been recalled to life. At the time that Lucie and Mr. Lorry brought Dr. Manette back to his home, he is paranoid. He knows nothing other than his life in prison and mindlessly returns to making shoes. He is unable to function in the world outside of his prison cell. Lucie expresses unconditional love for him and helps him to recover his
Carton realizes that he may be able to blackmail Barsad to agree to get Carton in to see Darnay so that he switch places with him. Carton is content in knowing that his action will allow Lucie to live happily. While Carton awaits his death he thinks that it’s “a far, far better thing that he does than he had ever done; it’s a far, far better rest that he goes to than he has ever known,” (343). Through these words he finds peace in sacrificing his life for Darnay. After Carton is executed, Darnay and his family flee to England. The audience gets a brief glance of their life after they escape and how Carton finds literal resurrection. The theme of resurrection can be seen through Carton’s prophecy. He imagines a son named after himself to be born to Lucie and Darnay. Hence, he will symbolically be reborn through Lucie and Darnay’s child. Carton is finally satisfied with himself. He is no longer a drunken fool, but a hero.
In A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens uses a variation of themes, including attack on social tyranny and the power of love. Altough these are very important themes, resurrection is the main theme. Through this theme the reader to see the characters’ transformations being and to understand how much a character would do for another. Ultimately, in A Tale of Two Cities, several characters had been given a new chance at life, and Dr. Manette and Carton are saved at either life or