FREE ESSAY ON TALE OF 2 CITIES

TALE OF 2 CITIES

Tale of Two Cities takes place in France and England during the French Revolution. The
story takes place in both countries, but most of the action takes place in Paris, France.
The wine-shop in Paris is the hot spot for the French revolutionists, mostly because the
wine-shop owner, Ernest Defarge, and his wife, Madame Defarge, are key leaders and
officials of the revolution. The story line in the book is scattered out in many places;
such as the Bastille, Tellson's Bank, the home of the Manettes, and the streets of Paris.
These places help to introduce many characters into the plot.
One of the main characters is Madame Therese Defarge. She is very stubborn and
unforgiving in her plot of revenge on the Evermonde family. Throughout the story, she
knits shrouds for the intended victims of the revolution. Charles Darnay, one of whom
Mrs. Defarge is seeking revenge, is constantly being arrested and must be bailed out
several times during the story. Dr. Alexander Manette, a veteran prisoner of the
Bastille, cannot escape the memory of being held and sometimes relapses to cobbling
shoes. Dr. Manette plays a very significant part in the plot. Dr. Manette's daughter,
Lucie Manette, is loved by many and marries Charles Darnay. She is a quiet and emotional
person. One who loved and still loves Lucie, Sydney Carton, is a look-alike of Charles
Darnay. He was introduced as a frustrated, immature alcoholic, but in the end of the
story, made the ultimate sacrifice for a good friend. These and other characters help to
make an interesting and dramatic plot.
Dr. Manette has just been released from the Bastille, and Lucie, eager to meet her father
whom she thought was dead, goes with Mr. Jarvis Lorry to bring him back to England. Dr.
Manette is in an insane state from his long prison stay and does nothing but cobble
shoes, although he is finally persuaded to go to England. Several years later, Lucie, Dr.
Manette, and Mr. Lorry are witnesses at the trial of Charles Darnay. Darnay, earning his
living as a tutor, frequently travels between England and France and is accused of reason
in his home country of France. He is saved from being prosecuted by Sydney Carton, who a
witness confuses for Darnay, thus not making the case positive. Darnay ended up being
acquitted for his presumed crime. Darnay and Carton both fall in love with Lucie and want
to marry her. Carton, an alcoholic at the time, realizes that a relationship with Lucie
is impossible, but he still tells her that he loves her and would do anything for her.
Darnay and Lucie marry each other on the premises of the two promises between Dr. Manette
and Darnay. Right after the marriage, while the newlyweds are on their honeymoon, Dr.
Manette has a relapse and cobbles shoes for nine days straight.
France's citizens arm themselves for a revolution and, led by the Defarges, start the
revolution by raiding the Bastille. Shortly before the start of the revolution, the
Marquis runs over a child in the streets of Paris. He is assassinated soon after by
Gaspard, the child's father, who is also a part of the revolution. Three years later,
right in the middle of the revolution, Darnay is called to France to help Gabelle, an old
friend. As soon as he goes down what seems to be a one-way street to France, he is
arrested in France for being an enemy of the state. Dr. Manette, Lucie, and the Darnay's
daughter go shortly after to Paris to see if they can be of any help to Charles. When the
delayed trial finally takes place, Dr. Manette, who is in the people's favor, uses his
influence to free Charles. The same day, Charles is re-arrested on charges set forth by
the Defarges and one other mystery person. The next day, at a trial that had absolutely
no delay, Charles is convicted and sentenced to death. Because of the despondent
situation, Dr. Manette has a relapse and cobbles shoes. Sydney Carton overhears a plot to
kill Lucie, her daughter, and Dr. Manette and has them immediately prepare to leave the
country. Carton, having spy contacts, gets into the prison in which Darnay is being held,
drugs him and switches places with him. Lucie, Charles, and their daughter successfully
leave the country. Sydney Carton, making the ultimate sacrifice, partly for Lucie, goes
to the guillotine in place of Charles. Just before he dies, Carton has a vision in which
society is greatly improved and the Darnays have a son named after him. This dramatic
plot revolves around several central themes.
One theme involves revenge. One's bad side is brought out by the evil effects of revenge.
Madame Defarge is the main subject of this theme. She turns into a killing machine
because she must get revenge. An example of this is when she finds out Charles Darnay is
an Evermonde and is going to marry Lucie Manette. She knits Darnay's name into the death
register. Another theme in the novel has to do with courage and sacrifice. There were
many sacrifices in this novel by many different characters. The ultimate sacrifice was
made by Sydney Carton. Because of his love for Lucie and his friendship with Darnay,
Carton is the example of one of the most important themes implied in this book. Carton
helps others, and does not think so much of himself. Right before going to the
guillotine, Carton sees a better world, a world where he gave to others, not thinking of
himself.