A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens

Summary

"A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens is a historical novel set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. The story intertwines the lives of several characters, primarily focusing on the struggles of Dr. Alexandre Manette, who was unjustly imprisoned in the Bastille for 18 years, and his daughter Lucie. Upon his release, Dr. Manette is "recalled to life" by Lucie and Jarvis Lorry. Lucie later falls in love with and marries Charles Darnay, a French aristocrat who has renounced his oppressive family, the Evrémondes, and fled to England.

Their peaceful life is shattered by the escalating French Revolution. Darnay, out of a sense of duty and compassion, returns to France to help an old family servant, only to be arrested as an émigré aristocrat. Dr. Manette uses his past as a Bastille prisoner to advocate for his son-in-law. Darnay is eventually acquitted but is rearrested due to the posthumous denunciation by Dr. Manette himself, recorded during his imprisonment, which condemns the entire Evrémonde family.

The true hero emerges in Sydney Carton, an English lawyer who resembles Darnay and is secretly in love with Lucie. Carton, a cynical and dissolute man, finds purpose in an act of ultimate self-sacrifice. He orchestrates a switch with Darnay in prison, allowing Darnay to escape with Lucie and Dr. Manette, while Carton takes Darnay's place at the guillotine, dying heroically for the sake of the family he loves. The novel explores themes of resurrection, sacrifice, revenge, and the power of love against the backdrop of revolutionary fervor and mob justice.

Book Sections

Book the First: Recalled to Life

Section 1: The Dover Road and The Mail

The story opens in November 1775, on the Dover mail coach. The coach passengers are wary and suspicious of each other. Jarvis Lorry, an elderly banker from Tellson's Bank, receives a message that simply says, "Wait at Dover for Mam'selle." He sends back the cryptic reply, "Recalled to Life," via Jerry Cruncher, a messenger and odd-job man for Tellson's. Lorry's journey is punctuated by thoughts of a man buried alive for 18 years and a young woman coming to "recall him to life."

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
Jarvis Lorry	Elderly, meticulous, loyal, practical, deeply empathetic beneath a businesslike exterior.	To fulfill his duty to Tellson's Bank and to Lucie Manette, ensuring her and her father's safety and well-being.
Jerry Cruncher	Messenger and odd-job man for Tellson's, secretly a "resurrection-man" (grave-robber).	To earn a living for his family; his secret occupation provides additional income.

Section 2: The Coach Office and The Wine-shop

In Dover, Lorry meets Lucie Manette, a young Englishwoman whom he informs that her father, Dr. Manette, is not dead as she had believed, but has been found alive in Paris. Lucie, shocked by the news, faints. They travel to Paris and meet Monsieur Ernest Defarge, the owner of a wine-shop in the impoverished Saint Antoine district, who was a former servant of Dr. Manette and is now secretly a leader among the French revolutionaries. He leads them to a garret where Dr. Manette, broken by his long imprisonment, compulsively makes shoes.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
Lucie Manette	Compassionate, beautiful, gentle, nurturing, known for her "golden thread" of hair.	To care for and restore her long-lost father; later, to protect her family and loved ones.
Dr. Alexandre Manette	A brilliant physician, unjustly imprisoned for 18 years, traumatized and prone to relapses of shoemaking.	Initially, to recover his sanity and rebuild his life with Lucie; later, to protect his daughter and son-in-law.
Ernest Defarge	Burly, stern, revolutionary wine-shop owner, a former servant of Dr. Manette.	To lead the revolution against the aristocracy; a quiet but firm advocate for justice for the common people.
Thérèse Defarge	Cold, relentless, vengeful, constantly knitting a "register" of enemies.	To exact revenge on the aristocracy for their past injustices, particularly those against her own family.

Section 3: A Sight

Lucie is introduced to her father, who barely recognizes her, associating her only with the "golden thread" of her hair, which reminds him of his wife. He is fragile and only capable of shoemaking, reflecting his mental state. Lucie, with her loving presence, begins the slow process of drawing him back to life and sanity. She brings him back to England.

Book the Second: The Golden Thread

Section 1: Five Years Later and The Old Bailey

Five years later, in 1780, Lucie and Dr. Manette are living a quiet life in London. Charles Darnay, a young French tutor, is on trial for treason, accused of spying for the French and providing information to the American colonists. Jarvis Lorry, Lucie, and Dr. Manette are called as witnesses. The prosecution's case falters when the striking resemblance between Darnay and one of the defense lawyers, Sydney Carton, makes identification difficult, leading to Darnay's acquittal.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
Charles Darnay	Noble, honorable, principled, wishes to atone for his family's past wrongs.	To live a life of integrity, detached from his aristocratic family's cruel legacy; to protect his loved ones.
Sydney Carton	Brilliant but dissolute lawyer, cynical, self-loathing, yet capable of deep love and sacrifice.	Initially, to drift through life in a haze of alcohol and despair; later, motivated by love for Lucie and a desire for redemption.
C.J. Stryver	Boisterous, ambitious, arrogant lawyer, takes credit for Carton's legal work.	To climb the social and professional ladder, motivated by ambition and a desire for success.
Miss Pross	Fiercely loyal, protective, strong-willed, Lucie's governess.	To protect Lucie and ensure her happiness; to care for her family by choice.

Section 2: A Hand at Cards and The Jackal

After the trial, Stryver takes credit for Darnay's acquittal, while Carton, the true intellectual force, remains his "jackal." Carton confesses his misery and self-contempt to Darnay. Later, Carton tells Lucie that he loves her but acknowledges he is unworthy, promising to do anything for her or "for any one dear to you." This sets the stage for his later sacrifice.

Section 3: Monsieur the Marquis in Town and Monsieur the Marquis in the Country

The cruel aristocratic world in France is depicted through the Marquis St. Evrémonde, Charles Darnay's uncle. The Marquis's carriage runs over and kills a child in a Parisian street, showing his callous disregard for human life. In his country château, Darnay confronts his uncle, expressing his disgust at the family's oppression and renouncing his inheritance and title. The Marquis is later found murdered, foreshadowing the coming revolution.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
Marquis St. Evrémonde	Cruel, arrogant, utterly indifferent to human suffering, symbolizes the worst of the French aristocracy.	To maintain the power and prestige of his family, indulging in his own selfish desires.
Gaspard	A peasant whose child is killed by the Marquis's carriage; he later murders the Marquis.	To avenge the death of his child; driven by grief and a sense of profound injustice.

Section 4: The Honest Tradesman

Jerry Cruncher's secret night occupation as a "resurrection-man" (grave-robber) is further revealed. He goes "fishing" in a churchyard, implying he digs up bodies for sale to medical schools. His son, Young Jerry, witnesses his father's activities and expresses a desire to follow in his footsteps, highlighting the grim realities of poverty and desperation.

Section 5: Echoing Footsteps and A Knock at the Door

Lucie and Charles Darnay fall in love. Darnay, seeking Dr. Manette's approval, reveals his true identity and aristocratic lineage, causing Dr. Manette to relapse into his shoemaking state for nine days after the wedding. Lucie and Charles marry and have a daughter, Little Lucie. Carton visits Lucie, reiterating his devotion and making his prophetic promise of sacrifice.

Section 6: The Grinding Stone and The Gorgon's Head

The French Revolution erupts with the storming of the Bastille. Ernest and Madame Defarge are prominent figures among the revolutionaries. Madame Defarge continues to knit, her stitches forming a register of those marked for death. The savagery of the revolution is vividly portrayed, including the storming of the Bastille and the subsequent violence. The château of the Evrémondes, now deserted, stands as a symbol of the old regime, awaiting destruction.

Section 7: To the Guillotine

In 1792, a letter arrives for Charles Darnay, written by Gabelle, an old family servant who has been imprisoned in France. Gabelle pleads for Darnay's help. Despite Dr. Manette's warnings and Lucie's pleas, Darnay feels compelled by honor and a sense of responsibility to return to France, believing his renunciation of his title will protect him. This decision tragically pulls the family into the maelstrom of the revolution.

Book the Third: The Track of a Storm

Section 1: In Secret

Charles Darnay arrives in France and is immediately arrested as an émigré and an aristocrat. He is taken to La Force prison. His pleas that he has renounced his title are ignored. Jarvis Lorry is also in Paris on Tellson's business, cautiously navigating the revolutionary chaos.

Section 2: The Grindstone

Lucie, Little Lucie, and Dr. Manette arrive in Paris. Dr. Manette, having been a Bastille prisoner and now a respected figure of the revolution, attempts to use his influence to secure Darnay's release. He becomes the "insensible physician of La Force," ministering to prisoners and trying to find a way to save his son-in-law.

Section 3: The Wood-Sawyer and Triumph

After more than a year in prison, Darnay is finally brought to trial. Dr. Manette's testimony and the revolutionary tribunal's sense of "fairness" lead to Darnay's acquittal. However, the triumph is short-lived. That same night, Darnay is rearrested under the charge of the Defarges and one other, whose identity is kept secret. The Wood-Sawyer, a seemingly jovial but chilling revolutionary, frequently spies on the Manette-Darnay family.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
The Wood-Sawyer	A seemingly harmless but sinister revolutionary, former road-mender, who observes the Manettes.	To serve the revolution, fueled by hatred for the aristocracy, and perhaps a twisted sense of enjoyment in the chaos.

Section 4: A Hand at Cards Again and The Substance of the Shadow

Sydney Carton, having followed the family to Paris, reveals his presence and begins to put a plan into motion. He encounters John Barsad (who turns out to be Solomon Pross, Miss Pross's long-lost brother), a spy for both the French and English governments. Carton blackmails Barsad, revealing his true identity as an English spy and forcing him to assist in his plan. Carton also finds out that Roger Cly, supposedly dead, is also a spy and was never buried (confirming Jerry Cruncher's grave-robbing activities).
At Darnay's second trial, the identity of the third accuser is revealed: Dr. Manette himself. A letter written by Dr. Manette during his imprisonment is read, detailing how the Marquis St. Evrémonde and his brother (Darnay's father) imprisoned him for witnessing their brutal crimes against a peasant family. The letter calls for the extermination of the entire Evrémonde line, thus condemning Darnay to the guillotine.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
John Barsad (Solomon Pross)	Spy and informer, untrustworthy, Miss Pross's estranged brother.	Self-preservation and personal gain, often betraying others for his own benefit.
Roger Cly	Another spy, supposedly dead, who testified against Darnay in the first trial.	To serve as an informer for political and personal gain.

Section 5: Dusk and Darkness

Madame Defarge is revealed to be the surviving sister of the peasant family destroyed by the Evrémondes, intensifying her personal vendetta against Darnay. Carton visits the now-doomed Darnay in prison, drugs him, and switches clothes with him, using Barsad's help. He forces Barsad to carry the unconscious Darnay out of the prison. Carton, now impersonating Darnay, is left to await execution.

Section 6: Fifty-Two and The Knitting Done

Lucie, Dr. Manette, Jarvis Lorry, and the rescued Darnay make their escape from Paris. Meanwhile, Madame Defarge, consumed by her desire for total revenge, plans to denounce Lucie and Little Lucie. Miss Pross confronts Madame Defarge in their Parisian lodging. In a violent struggle, Miss Pross accidentally shoots Madame Defarge, who dies. Miss Pross is rendered permanently deaf by the pistol's recoil but ultimately saves Lucie and Little Lucie.

Section 7: The Footsteps Die Out Forever

Sydney Carton goes to the guillotine, serene and courageous, fulfilling his promise to Lucie. His last thoughts are of a future of peace and happiness for Lucie and Darnay, and of his own redemption through sacrifice. He utters the famous lines, "It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known." The novel ends with the escape of the Manette-Darnay family and the triumph of love and sacrifice over hatred and revenge.

Literary Genre

• Historical Fiction: Set during the French Revolution, depicting real historical events and social conditions.
• Social Criticism: Explores themes of injustice, class struggle, and the destructive nature of mob rule and extreme revenge.
• Romance: Features multiple love stories, particularly the unrequited love of Sydney Carton for Lucie.
• Adventure/Thriller: Contains elements of suspense, intrigue, escape, and danger.

Author Information

Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era.

• Early Life: Born in Portsmouth, England. His father's imprisonment in debtors' prison led to Charles working in a factory, experiences that deeply influenced his later work and social commentary.
• Writing Style: Known for his vivid characterizations, intricate plots, social realism mixed with theatricality, and a mastery of prose. He often wrote in serialized format, which kept readers engaged.
• Themes: His novels often critiqued poverty, social injustice, the legal system, and class disparities in Victorian England. He championed the poor and the oppressed.
• Notable Works: Besides "A Tale of Two Cities," his other famous novels include "Oliver Twist," "Great Expectations," "David Copperfield," "A Christmas Carol," and "Bleak House."

Moral and Curiosities

Moral:
The primary moral lessons of "A Tale of Two Cities" revolve around sacrifice and redemption. Sydney Carton's ultimate act highlights the redemptive power of selfless love and the idea that even a seemingly wasted life can find profound meaning through sacrifice for others. The novel also powerfully explores the destructive nature of revenge when it becomes an all-consuming passion, as seen in Madame Defarge, contrasting it with the constructive power of love and forgiveness. It also champions the idea of resurrection, not just of Dr. Manette from his psychological tomb, but also of dormant virtues within individuals and societies.

Curiosities:

1. Original Title Ideas: Dickens considered several other titles, including "Buried Alive," "The Thread of Gold," and "The Doctor of Beauvais," before settling on "A Tale of Two Cities."
2. Iconic Opening Line: The novel begins with one of the most famous opening lines in English literature: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness..."
3. Influence of a Play: The idea for Sydney Carton's self-sacrifice and substitution was inspired by Wilkie Collins's play "The Frozen Deep," in which Dickens and Collins both acted. Dickens was particularly struck by his own performance as a self-sacrificing character.
4. Historical Accuracy: Dickens meticulously researched the French Revolution, drawing on Thomas Carlyle's "The French Revolution: A History" and other sources to create an authentic backdrop for his story.
5. Popularity: "A Tale of Two Cities" is one of Dickens's most popular works and is often cited as the best-selling single volume novel of all time. Its dramatic ending and timeless themes have resonated with readers for generations.
6. Only Two Historical Novels: "A Tale of Two Cities" is one of only two novels by Dickens that are purely historical fiction (the other being "Barnaby Rudge"). Most of his other works are set in contemporary Victorian England.