What Is The Difference Between On The Waterfront And A Tale Of Two Cities

Tale of Two Cities and On the Waterfront Synthesis

A Tale of Two Cities and the movie On the Waterfront embodies a distinct message when looked at carefully, from certain individuals who act on their conflicts to bring about a more extensive change to their company. Dickens and Kazan illustrate a clear significance in their works emphasizing the difference an individual can make when situated in a conflict but sacrifice what they have to others benefits. We see this in A Tale of Two Cities with Sydney Carton and what he does that is very bold at the ending of the novel, and as well with Terry Malloy and how he has to act against a larger threat and dark society for his community. Even with very different environments and time periods, these
two works portray a similar thematic idea brought out by the actions of brave individuals.
The book of A Tale of Two Cities is set in London and in Paris and the French countryside at the time of the French Revolution.
The book focuses on the hatred towards French aristocracy through one of the main characters Charles Darnay waiting patiently to his soon death under the Guillotine; commonly seen in the highly critical time of the reign of terror. Flashback to before this, we are introduced to Dr. Manette who had been imprisoned in the Bastille for almost two decades, and his daughter Lucie Manette who had been left by him 18 year prior, had grown up and was destined to retrieve her long lost father. After many implications we have a base of the novel where we discover Lucie Manette is the perfect woman or also classified as the “golden thread”. She manages to retrieve her father and start her life cleanly but always caring for her father. As her father reestablishes, Lucie manette is brought into the real world where she is praised by many people and especially many sutors. Here is where we get to the chase, we find Charles Darnay winning his love over a depressed Sydney Carton, and an ignorant C. J. Stryver, which later plays a significant part in the life of Charles Darnay. Rather than Sydney Carton getting over his rejection of love, he continues his devotion into helping her and wishing her family a great life, and it was shown that for once Sydney wasn’t just depressed and actually had a different feeling which was love in his life. “I am a disappointed
drudge, sir. I care for no man on earth, and no man on earth cares for me.
(2.4.70)” Dickens sets the basis of the story through implementing a family in jeopardy but Sydney Cartoon suggest that he is willing to sacrifice for the good of others. Similarly in the movie On the Waterfront we are presented with an ex boxer named Terry Malloy who had witnessed a murder executed by his corrupt union. Similarly to A Tale of Two Cities We discover a obedient/perfect young woman who comes into the picture that just so happens to be the murdered man's sister. This makes Terry feel obligated to stand up to his bosses as a result of his recent relations with her. Comparing Edie to Lucie, both woman influence these men into sacrificing either a part of their life or their life to help them and others. As the movie progresses we learn the dangers of acting against the mafia, “You know how the Union works? You go to a meeting, you make a motion, the lights go out, then you go out.” This famous line said by Terry is proven to be true through the deaths of Charlie(Terry’s brother), Kayo, and the main murder of Joey Doyle. These three men go up against the Union and speak against them trying to let the public know about the secrets being played out behind everyone. In a sense, these Mob leaders are operating as “moneybags”. In other words they have one goal;
total control, allowing them to succeed in cheating the system in the and operations in the docks of Hoboken, New Jersey. That is, that last thing they want to happen is a revolt because, not only are they outnumbered, but if they were to be exposed, they would surely lose their power and would be diminished from the community. The union leaders bring in the element of fear to maintain their control without any issues, going to the extent of murder. The internal struggles that the dockworkers and civilians in the area face are very detrimental, with living conditions and salaries at an all time low with most men scavenging to find work. Dickens and Kazan illustrate a common conflict that is revolved around an individual that is attached and influenced by another person causing them to give up what they have in order to help the other.
Focusing on the endings of both A Tale of Two Cities and On the Waterfront, we see what was foreshadowed from the authors that Sydney Carton and Terry Malloy were suggested to sacrifice themselves for the good of the people. Cartons feelings, which is based of the power of Lucie Manette having the ability swayde his mind of feelings and love, to eventually sacrifice himself for the good of the young family of Manettes. This is very defining moment in the book, demonstrating Sydney Carton's bravery and love for Lucie to pull off an ironic revolutionary act against the most powerful and bloodthirsty group in Paris. Sydney Cartoon acted upon his feelings of sadness and depression, he decided to make a change that would be best for others rather than himself. Aswell in On the Waterfront, Terry Malloy puts his life at an incredible risk, and speaks up in court against the corrupt union establishing a message to bring a change in their society. With the heavy influence of Edie, her love and the support of the other longshore men allow Terry to take on the Union by himself. In both works we come to the point that these two individuals from both situations take time to realize on what they can offer for the good of the people, and act upon bringing themselves pride but most important safety and happiness in this case to others.
Both a Tale of Two Cities and On the Waterfront have a clear situation at hand and through the span of both works we can understand how these situations uncover through the character development and change. Not focusing on their end achievements of Terry Maloy and Sydney Carton we see their development and true reasons for their future actions. Both individuals come across a similar “golden thread” that influences them both to gradually stand up and tend to their needs. This new awareness is seen by Sydney Carton and is love for Lucie, turning his life to a dedication to Lucie and eventually a sacrifice only from the simple love and joy that Lucie had brought to his life but only from a distance. Similarly, Edie Doyle persuades Terry to speak up against the Mafia mainly because of her determination to end the acts of the Mafia after being right in the moment of witnessing her brother Joey Doyle splat on the ground from being pushed off of a building. She pulls Terry into the conflict of the Mafia and eventually gets Terry to go against his own brother to rat out the Mafia. Both plots of these two works are very different but there is a clear similar theme from certain individuals who act on their conflicts to bring out a positive standing towards the community/family that they target when suffering and sacrificing internally.