Tale Of Two Cities Passage Analysis Essay

A Tale of Two Cities: Passage Analysis

In A Tale of Two Cities, Dickens explores the concept of rebirth (physically, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally) through the exploits of Doctor Manette, Charles Darnay, and Sydney Carton. Some major keys in his ideas of being resurrected are physical and mental recovery, escaping an unworthy past for a worthy cause, and the nobility of sacrifice.

First, Doctor Manette, seen as a decrepit, unstable, worn-down man, immediately comes off as a man deserving of a second chance. His release from the Bastille marks the beginning of his being “recalled to life,” and his vast physical and mental recovery over the next five years concretes his new, happier second life. Manette’s regained sense of self can be largely credited to his daughter Lucie, whose maternal care for him helped speed up improvement. She acted as a strong anchor for

him to rely on.
Charles Darnay experiences the phenomenon of revival through escape: the handsome Frenchman is resurrected through his attempts to redeem himself and discard his family name, as well as continually dodging punishment and death as he is put on trial multiple times throughout the book. Darnay is portrayed as an honest, good man by Dickens who tries to rid himself of the Evremondes and their selfish actions. Through his search for self-assurance and improvement with his newlywed Lucie, we can see Darnay’s rebirth from his past.
Finally, Dickens portrays Sydney Carton’s sacrifice as a final say in the security of a new, peaceful life for Darnay, Manette, Lucie, and even Carton himself.

Sydney’s execution seems to allow him to forgive and redeem himself for his past wrongdoings. In his final actions (such as the reassurance of the weaver girl and the Bible quotation), Carton appears to better himself as a person in his last moments of personhood. In addition, Sydney potentially improves the life of future generations by giving up his own. He is motivated by the thought his love, Lucie, and Darnay having a child of his namesake, and pledges that his loyalty and death will mean betterment for thousands of good people. This is supported by the following quote: “I see him [Darnay’s child] winning it so well, that my name is made illustrious there by the light of his. I see the blots I threw upon it, faded away.” (pg. ) Carton’s choice could either be seen as a noble rebirth, Christ-like in its execution, or a final self-indulgent act of fatalism. However, Dickens certainly seems to think that he is nothing less than a

hero.
Manette, Darnay, and Carton all experience being “recalled to life” in some shape or form, and so help the reader understand Dickens’ conception of renewal. Through their own unique trials, we see that in rebirth, Dickens values physical and mental recovery, discarding old faults, and heroism in sacrifice.