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Essay on a tale of two cities about sacrifice
Essay on a tale of two cities about sacrifice
Essay on a tale of two cities about sacrifice
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The French Revolution was a time of chaos and uprising in France during the mid-19th century that divided the French people. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens is a novel that is set during this tumultuous time in history. During this period of time, the people of France made many sacrifices. Sacrifice is a common theme that is developed throughout this novel. One reason many people make sacrifices is for love, and throughout the novel this theme is developed through the characters Miss Pross, Doctor Alexandre Manette, and Sydney Carton. Miss Pross constantly makes sacrifices in the name of her love for Lucie through her day-to-day work and the situation with Madame Defarge. She first makes sacrifices to support Lucie and help her live her best life. Miss Pross is described as, “one of those unselfish creatures…who will, for pure love and admiration, bind themselves willing slaves to youth when they have lost it” (Dickens 72). Miss Pross can no longer reach goals she might have had for herself, so she has given up these things to support Lucie. She cares so deeply for Lucie, that she cares very little for herself, and she gives everything she has to Lucie. These words have a tone that demonstrates appreciation and admiration for her. Later on in the story, Miss Pross makes another …show more content…
sacrifice for Lucie when Madame Defarge arrives at the house looking for Lucie after she has already fled. When Madame Defarge first arrives, Miss Pross has the instinct to protect Lucie, “Her first act was to shut them. There were four in the room, and she shut them all. She then placed herself before the door of the chamber which Lucie had occupied” (284). She sacrifices her safety in this situation by putting herself in a vulnerable position. The suspense builds here, and the tension between Madame Defarge and Miss Pross escalates. As they exchange, Miss Pross says, “I am desperate. I don’t care an English Twopence for myself. I know that the longer I keep you here, the greater hope there is for my Ladybird” (286). She explains that she is only protecting Lucie, and will do anything to protect her. This adds further suspense because we do not know how far Miss Pross will go to defend Lucie. The situation further escalates and Miss Pross and Madame Defarge get into a physical struggle, and as Madame Defarge tries to pull out her gun, Miss Pross hits it, shooting and killing Madame Defarge. After she does this, she is shocked by the situation, but she goes on to find Mr. Cruncher. As she arrives, he asks her if she hears the loud noise of the cart rolling through the city. She does not, and Mr. Cruncher says, “If she don’t hear the roll of those dreadful carts, now very nigh their journey’s end… it’s my opinion that indeed she never will hear anything else in this world” (288). Miss Pross is deaf now because of the noise from the gunshot. She sacrifices her hearing to protect Lucie and kill Madame Defarge. This is something that will affect her for the rest of her life, but she loves Lucie so much that she is okay with it. Miss Pross sacrifices her hopes, dreams, and hearing in order to protect Lucie and give her the best life possible. Because of his love for Lucie, Doctor Alexandré Manette also sacrifices many things, including his sanity, so Lucie may be happy. First, Doctor Manette allows Lucie to marry Charles Darnay. Darnay and Doctor Manette agree that on Lucie and Darnay’s wedding day, Darnay will tell Doctor Manette his real name. They both go into the Doctor’s room and discuss right before the wedding. When Doctor Manette comes out he is described as, “so deadly pale…that no vestige of colour was to be seen in his face. But, in the composure of his manner he was unaltered, except that to the shrewd glance of Mr. Lorry it disclosed some shadowy indication that the old air of avoidance and dread had lately passed over him like a cold wind” (149). He is obviously concerned because of his coloring and the air about him that Mr. Lorry noticed, but he hides his worries and his manner is unchanged because he knows that Lucie would be very upset if he called off the marriage. We find out later on in the story why Doctor Manette is upset when he finds out who Darnay is, and it is definitely a sacrifice for him to let Darnay marry his daughter after the experience he had with Darnay’s family. His reaction to this conversation also foreshadows the relapse, which occurs after Lucie leaves for her honeymoon, in which he once again loses his sanity and begins making shoes again. Another time when he makes a sacrifice for Lucie is when he gives up his shoemaking tools, which he has kept as a sort of security blanket ever since he was released from prison. Mr. Lorry suggests that Doctor Manette get rid of them to help him recover after his relapse, but initially he is very resistant. Then, Mr. Lorry tells Dr. Manette to do it for his daughter, Lucie, whom he loves very much. He replies saying, “In her name, then, let it be done; I sanction it” (158). He is willing to give up something that has been very important to him for a long time because of how much he loves Lucie, and he wants to heal so he can be there for her. Doctor Manette sacrifices very significant things, like his sanity and important possessions, so that Lucie can be happy and live her best life. Sydney Carton makes the ultimate sacrifice in the name of love, for Lucie and her family, when he gives up his life to save Charles Darnay. Sydney Carton makes various sacrifices throughout the novel, but giving up his life for Lucie and her family is definitely paramount. The idea of him sacrificing his life is first introduced when he is giving Mr. Lorry the instructions for carriage that will take them back to England. He says, “change the course or delay in it—for any reason—and no life can possibly be saved, and many lives must inevitably be sacrificed” (268). Although he does not plainly state his plan here, this foreshadows that he will sacrifice his life for Darnay. He is saying that if they do not follow the plan exactly, Carton will not be able to save Darnay and others might die as well. Carton’s words also add suspense because of how critical he says it is that the plan is followed exactly. As he continues with his plan, with the assistance of John Barsad, Carton gets into the prison and tells Darnay that he has come from Lucie. He then continue to order him to things, like change clothes and write a letter, telling him that it is a request from his wife. Finally, he drugs him and Darnay is put into the carriage with Lucie and Mr. Lorry. On the day of the execution, Carton is talking to a young seamstress who recognizes that he is not Darnay and she asks, “Are you dying for him?” and Carton replies, “And his wife and child. Hush! Yes” (276). Here Carton plainly states that he is sacrificing his life for Lucie and her family because of his love for them. They continue on, and head for their execution. After the seamstress is executed and Carton is approaching his death, a quote is reintroduced: “I am the Resurrection and the Life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die” (292). These were words that were said at Carton’s father’s funeral, and they apply very well to what Carton is doing. He is giving up his life which he thought meaningless, to be resurrected in Heaven. Even though technically he going to die, he will live on in a new life better than the one on earth that he has already lived. He is giving up his life so that two people who are in love and are surrounded by people they love can live on. Carton has no family, both of his parents have died, and he has very few friends. He is then killed and Dickens goes on to explain how everything else played out in the end. Carton lives on in Lucie and Charles’ family. They have another child who is named after him, and they remember the anniversary of his death every year. Sydney Carton sacrifices his life, so that he may live on in the hearts of the few that cared for him. Giving up his life gave him a purpose he would not have had otherwise, and he knew it would be for the best. Sydney Carton makes the ultimate sacrifice by giving up life for Lucie, Darnay, and their children, whom he loves and cares for deeply. The characters Miss Pross, Doctor Manette, and Sydney Carton all make sacrifices, some as large as their own life, in the name of love.
Sacrifices made for loved ones are not only made in this story, for they are also made in the day-to-day lives of everyday people. Everyday people are making sacrifices for people they love, such as parents with little education working hard to support a family so that their children may be better of than they were or people sacrificing their safety to serve in the army because of their love for this country. Making sacrifices is often done for love because people are willing to give thing up for people and things that they feel very deeply
for.
Charles Dickens writes this book explaining the French Revolution, in which the social and economic systems in France had huge changes and the French monarchy collapsed. This causes high taxes, unfair laws, and the poor being mistreated. Charles Dickens shows that cruelty of other people will lead to a revolution and in addition to the revolution more cruelty will occur. He explores the idea of justice and violence through the use of ambiguous characters with positive and negative qualities, meaning that they have to different sides to them; for example, Charles Darnay, Sydney Carton, and Dr. Manette. Throughout the story of A Tale of Two Cities, Charles dickens uses ambiguous characters to shows how violence and cruelty can be stopped through the power of true sacrifice.
The French Revolution was a period of social and political uprisings in France from 1789 to 1799, which is when the novel A Tale of Two Cities written by Charles Dickens takes place. The French Revolution marked the decline of powerful monarchies and the rise of democracy and nationalism. As it is said in the first sentence of the novel, it was the best of times, it was the worst of times. During the extensive period of time during the conflicts of the revolution, every man is fighting for themselves. Due to this state of helplessness and solitude of the men in the revolution, many symbols in the novel were concocted and displayed to demonstrate a specific and powerful theme.
Lastly and most importantly would be Lucie’s elaborate expression of sentimentality in her constant fainting at the least sign of distress. However unbearable it might have seemed, the reader could not fully appreciate the significance of her character and why she was loved by so many equally sentimental; characters in the novel. When Lucie early on testifies at Darnay’s trial in the English court, she says, “He was kind, and good, and useful to my father. I hope,” and here she bursts into tears, “ I may not repay him by doing him harm here today.” Her deep sensitivity and generous nature shines through. And remember, when Lucie stands forlornly and devotedly at a place near the Paris prison in order for her husband, Darnay, to glimpse her and their child, it is clear that Dickens wanted to portray her as a loving, faithful, and sympathetic person.
The French Revolution was a time when many people sacrificed their lives for their beliefs. As the French Revolution moved on, more people joined the movement and risked their lives. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens is set during this time. Many people who sacrificed their lives for the Revolution felt like it was their fate to do this. This idea of fate is described many times in Dickens’ novel to magnify the story. The theme of fate is prevalent in the novel through the lives of many characters. This theme is used to show how a person is unable to escape their fate because it is already decided. The metaphors and symbols in the novel are greatly used to contribute to the theme of fate through the symbols of knitting, the fountain and water, and the wine.
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens is a story of great sacrifices being made for the sake of principle. There are many examples of this throughout the book made by many of the characters but some or more evident than others. In Book The First, entitled “Recalled to Life,” the most obvious sacrifice for the sake of principle was made by Dr. Manette. He is imprisoned for eighteen years in the Bastille, for no apparent reason. Another noticeable sacrifice made for the sake of principle was made in Book The Second, entitled “The Golden Thread,” also by Dr. Manette. Charles Darnay reveals the truth about himself and about his family history. He tells Dr. Manette his real identity and that he is heir to the Marquis St. Evremonde. In Book The Third, entitled “The Track of a Storm,” Sydney Carton makes an astounding sacrifice for the sake of principle when he fulfills his promise to Lucie Manette, his true love, that he will one day sacrifice himself for the person whom Lucie loves. In “Recalled to Life,” Dr. Manette makes a very great sacrifice for the sake of principle. “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).
The French Revolution was a period of radical social and political upheaval, lead by the lower class of France, which began the decline of powerful monarchies in France and the rise of nationalism and democracy. In A Tale Of Two Cities, written by Charles Dickens, he highlights these aspects of the war between classes and makes them personal to the reader. Throughout the novel, Dickens’ establishes and develops several symbols in order to help the reader better understand the Revolution and the way people acted during this time. He shows that while emotion, desperation, and irrationality run high, humanity, justice, and morality are scarce. The blue flies, Madame Defarge’s knitting, and the sea are three of Dickens’ symbols that develop his theme of man’s inhumanity to his fellow man throughout the novel.
Throughout A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens repeats a number of symbols and motifs. By employing these two literary devices throughout the duration of the story, Dickens is working to emphasize the importance of these specific components of the story. Motifs and symbols represent repeating ideas that help the reader to understand, as well as highlight the author’s central idea. Dickens employs the usage of symbols and motifs, such that by using both he adds a layer of significance and deeper meaning to actions, people, as well as objects. Additionally, by using symbols and motifs, Dickens is able to create a story in which both the characters, and the plot are interwoven.
A Tale of Two Cities Essay Throughout history, the powers of love and hate have constantly been engaged in a battle for superiority. Time and time again, love has proven to be stronger than hate, and has been able to overcome all of the obstacles that have stood in the way of it reaching its goal. On certain occasions, though, hate has been a viable foe and defeated love when they clash. In the novel A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens presents several different power struggles between love and hate.
The French Revolution was a movement from 1789 to 1799 that brought an end to the monarchy, including many lives. Although A Tale of Two Cities was published in 1859, it was set before and during the French Revolution and had over 200 million copies sold. The author, Charles Dickens, is known for being an excellent writer and displays several themes in his writings. Sacrifice is an offering of an animal or human life or material possession to another person. Dickens develops the theme of sacrifice throughout the story by the events that occurred involving Dr. Manette, Mr. Defarge, and Sydney Carton.
Sacrifices are often made to strengthen bonds, and no other bond in the novel is stronger than the one that Lucie Mannette shares with her father , Dr. Manette. Indeed, Lucy has gone to great lengths to ensure that their bond stays strong. In the opening chapters of the novel, Lucie, in hopes that her pleas can cure her father’s insanity, devotes herself to Dr. Manette wholeheartedly, disregarding any personal desires of her own. She promises her father that if, “ ..I hint to you of a home there is before us, I will be true to you with all my duty.” (46) Lucie’s undying devotion to her father is a clear example of how one person’s sacrifice can inspire life in another.
The sacrifices Dr. Manette and Lucie make for each other may go unnoticed, but are of great importance. Lucie goes to great lengths to help her father in his times of struggle. As Dr. Manette is gaining his sanity back after being imprisoned, Lucie devotes herself to him. She disregards personal desires to assist her father whom she thought was once
Sacrifice is a word of loss for one side and joy for another. In Charles Dickens’ book, A Tale of Two Cities, sacrifice is shown through the parallel of the French Revolution and Sydney Carton. The French Revolution took many lives, in the same way that Carton’s life was taken in his sacrifice for Darnay. Carton’s supreme sacrifice gave both a sense of loss and a sense of joy to Charles Darnay, Lucie Manette, and their family. While Darnay was overjoyed that his life was saved and he could support his family for a long time, he was sad at the loss of his friend. Though Darnay thought Carton had made a sacrifice in place of Darnay, Carton had really made the sacrifice out of love, selflessness, and hope for Lucie Manette.
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).
Written in 1859, Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities was produced approximately one hundred years after the event it describes, the French Revolution. Dickens’ book includes a complex plot, introducing many characters that interacted within the chaos of France. The storming of the Bastille, the highlight of the book, is described with people that “...laboured and strove in the thickest of the uproar." (211) The mood of the situation, or even the origin of the situation, would not be known without the revolution. Indeed, the political story of the corrupted monarch was the stem of the ideas that branched out of A Tale of Two Cities, including people’s fashions at the time, the food that they ate, and the unfairness of the justice system that put many people in jail. The 18th century’s events were crucial in contribution for this 19th-century book to be
A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens, is a story set in the year 1775 and through the turbulent time of the French Revolution. It is of people living in love and betrayal, murder and joy, peril and safety, hate and fondness, misery and happiness, gentle actions and ferocious crowds. The novel surrounds a drunken man, Sydney Carton, who performs a heroic deed for his beloved, Lucie Manette, while Monsieur and Madame Defarge, ruthless revolutionaries, seek revenge against the nobles of France. Research suggests that through Dickens’ portrayal of the revolutionaries and nobles of the war, he gives accurate insight to the era of the Revolution.