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Resurrection Theme in Two Cities

The document provides an analysis of the theme of resurrection in Charles Dickens' novel "A Tale of Two Cities". It discusses three key instances of resurrection in the story. The first is when Dr. Manette is freed from 18 years of imprisonment in the Bastille and reunited with his daughter. The second is when Charles Darnay is freed from wrongful charges of treason against him. The third and most significant resurrection is that of Sydney Carton, who sacrifices himself to save Darnay's life, finding new purpose and meaning through his act of love. The theme of resurrection to new life through love is a core aspect of the novel that is drawn from Christianity.

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551 views3 pages

Resurrection Theme in Two Cities

The document provides an analysis of the theme of resurrection in Charles Dickens' novel "A Tale of Two Cities". It discusses three key instances of resurrection in the story. The first is when Dr. Manette is freed from 18 years of imprisonment in the Bastille and reunited with his daughter. The second is when Charles Darnay is freed from wrongful charges of treason against him. The third and most significant resurrection is that of Sydney Carton, who sacrifices himself to save Darnay's life, finding new purpose and meaning through his act of love. The theme of resurrection to new life through love is a core aspect of the novel that is drawn from Christianity.

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meltoncub1
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

ATaleofTwoCities:TheThemeofResurrection

RachelMelton
March31st,2014

ATaleofTwoCitiesfeaturesoneofthemostwidelyrecognizedopeninglinesinEnglish
literature.Throughoutthenovel,eachlineoftheparadoxicalintroductionisfulfilledintheactionsofboth
theprotagonistsandthepeopleofFranceduringtherevolution.Notonlywasittheageofwisdom,it
wastheageoffoolishness.Notonlywasittheseasonoflight,itwastheseasonofdarkness.Notonly
wasitthespringofhope,itwasthewinterofdespair.However,inthemidstofallofthedarknessand
despair,thethemeofresurrectionshinesthroughinDickenswords,buildingupuntiltheclimaxofthe
book,whereitisshownastheexpressionofthegreatestlovetheworldhaseverknown.
The first instance of resurrection can be seen in the second chapter, as the reader is transported
to a coach that is traveling on a dark and foggy night. As the coach travels through the dark and the
passengers spend their time distrusting each other, Jerry, the messenger for one of the passengers,
approaches the coach and delivers a message. The reply given to him is simply the words Recalled to
Life. These mysterious words hold a deeper meaning and although they are a mystery to the
messenger, they tell the story of a man long imprisoned in his cell who is to be set free. One of the
passengers in the coach, Jarvis Lorry by name, is on his way to France, where he is to reunite an man,
longimprisoned,withhisdaughter.Alongtheway,Lorryholdsaninnerconversationwiththeoldman.
"Youknowthatyouarerecalledtolife?"
"Theytellmeso."
"Ihopeyoucaretolive?"
"Ican'tsay."


LorryhasdoubtsastowhetherornotManette,theman,willwishtobefreed,andhisdoubtsare
justified,asthemanismentallyweakenedfromaneighteenyearimprisonment.Nonetheless,Manetteis
setfreeandinbeingreturnedtohisdaughter,isrecalledtolifeandresurrectedfromtheeighteenyear
entombmentoftheBastille.
ThesecondmajorinstanceofresurrectionisfoundwhenCharlesDarnay,asuspectedspyand
traitor,isontrialforhislife.Duringthetrial,withbloodthirstyonlookersonallsides,Darnayhasonly
twooptions.OnonehandDarnayfacesalongandterribledeathfortreason,andontheotherhandhe
hasfreedom.Afteraratherunexpectedturnofevents,doubtisfoundinthemindsofthejuryand
Darnayisfreedandallowedtoreturntohisnormallife.Asstated,"Ifyouhadsentthemessage,
'RecalledtoLife,'again,"mutteredJerry,asheturned,"Ishouldhaveknownwhatyoumeant,thistime."
Bythetimethebookdrawstoaclose,thethemeofresurrectionhasbeenfullydeveloped.As
repeatednumeroustimes,"Iamtheresurrectionandthelife,saiththeLord:hethatbelievethinme,
thoughheweredead,yetshallhelive:andwhosoeverlivethandbelievethinme,shallneverdie."As
SydneyCartonappearsonthestage,headedforcertaindeath,thesewordsseemalmostcontradictory,
untilthereaderrealizesthattheydonotspeakofanaturaldeath.Carton,oncedespairinganddesolate,
hasbeenresurrectedandgivenasecondchanceatabetterlife.
ThethemeofresurrectionisnothardtofindinATaleofTwoCities.Itcanbefoundall
throughoutthework.FirstDr.Manetteisdrawnbackfromtheworldofthelivingdead,thenCharles
Darnayissnatchedfromdeathsclutches.AlthoughCartondidnotlivethroughtherevolution,his
resurrectionwasjustaspowerful,possiblymoreso,asitisoneofadifferentnature.Cartonmayhave
diedphysically,buthelivedhisfinalmomentsasanewman.Cartonlivedvictoriouslyandhedied
victoriousoverthepowersoftheworld.Yes,thesepowerstookhimtohisgrave,butCartonwent


willingly,knowingthathehadnothingtofear.SydneyCartonwasresurrectedtoabetterlifebythe
poweroflove,justasJesusChristwasresurrectedtolifebytheloveofhisFather,andwecanbe
resurrectedtoabetterlifebythelovethatChristhasforus.

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