Tale Of Two Cities Resurrection

A Tale of Two Cities: Burial the Resurrection

In Charles Dicken’s Book, “A Tale of Two Cities” the theme of “burial and resurrection” is used. The theme is woven inside the story by certain events, from mental burial and mental resurrection, to literal burial and literal “resurrection.” The purpose behind this theme in the story is partially to help the reader more fully understand the magnitude of events, as certain things are more noticed when they are compared to a topic as incense as burial and resurrection. The other purpose behind using this theme is to help set the mood of the book. “A Tale of Two Cities” is part tragedy, part inspirational, and thus a serious tone would need to be set in order to tell the story. The very theme reflects

Sydney Carton was a drunk, he felt like he was worthless and hollow. When discussing this with Lucie he says, “Be comforted! I am not worth such feeling, Miss Manette. An hour or two hence, and the low companions and low habits that I scorn but yield to, will render me less worth such tears as those, than any wretch who creeps along the streets” (Dickens 174). He is spiritually buried. He knows that all the drinking or other things he does are bad- he completely admits it. He just feels that he can’t stop. He is miserable and sick of being miserable, but he doesn’t do anything but be miserable. He is buried deep spiritually. Eventually, he begins to find joy in being with the Darney family. He becomes friends with Charles, he is close to Lucie, and is very close to their daughter. He begins to find some purpose in life, yet he does not stop his wicked ways. This all changes though, when he performs the most selfless act one can perform: giving one’s life for one’s friend. He switches places with the to-be-executed Charles Darney, and ultimately sacrifices his life. He finally sees past all the evil that had been clogging him up, and selflessly gives everything for another. He is completely resurrected spiritually. His last words quote resurrection as he says, “I am the Resurrection and the Life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he were

He foreshadows future events, sets the scene, and draws attention to the episodes in the book. He even uses three different types of burial and resurrection: physical, mental, and spiritual. His use of this theme woven throughout the book creates a masterpiece. He purposefully makes his work influential and memorable using this specific theme. So, overall the purpose of including this specific theme in the book is to make the book good, to make the book powerful. The theme of burial and resurrection is by itself a very incense theme, and Dickens makes it even more powerful (specifically at the end) with the resurrection of Sydney Carton spiritually, and the heroic inspirational sacrifice he gives