Notes On: Tale of Two Cities

Notes on how the idea of resurrection relates to each of the characters and the whole of France during the time in Tale of Two Cities

By Katy Z.

Motif: Resurrection

Theme: “The possibility of creating a new life from seemingly hopeless circumstances”

-National level: the revolution of France, from a poor, ill-spirited, oppressed country ruled by monarchs who  spend lavish money and don’t give a care to the poor masses  to a blood-thirsty force who kills all in the way of freedom, liberty, fraternity, and the republic. People came together with a new purpose, everyone was not to be trusted.

-Character levels:

Darnay: convicted with treason and trialed by the condemning population, saved by the struck of thought and fancy luck. The nephew of the Monseigneur, arrested and put in jail for a year and a half, trialed and released. Arrested for the third time in the blood-hungry grasps of the French revolutionaries, and the one man who despised him, but loved his wife so, sacrificed his life so that he may live on.

Manette: locked in the bastille for 18 years without hope of ever returning to the real world. Suffered Insomnia and brain trauma. Finds his daughter years later after being released and with her love and dedication, manages to revive back but not without fallbacks. Ultimately, regains the strong vigor and confidence he used to possess while on a mission to help Darnay.

Carton: A man who buried himself deeply into regret, misery, self-pity and self-loathe, Carton was pulled out of the depths by his passionate, true love for Miss Manette, or Mrs. Darnay.  In certain parts of the novel he expresses the other side of him that is caring and determined. His confidence and self-assurance surfaced as he planned the rescuing of Darnay and sacrifice for Miss Manette.