A+Tale+of+Two+Cities

=**Title of the Work**= //A Tale of Two Cities//

=Author= Charles Dickens

=Nationality/Ethnic Background= Dickens was English and born in Portsmouth, England to English parents.

=Pertinent Biographical Information= Charles Dickens lived from 1812 to 1870. He is known as the greatest novelist of the Victorian Period. He commented often on the class differences that were so prevalent during his lifetime. This is probably how he was able to criticize society and the aristocracy in //A Tale of Two Cities// during the French Revolution (1789). Dickens was the second out of eight children and, as such, had a difficult childhood. His father was sent to debter's prison when Dickens was only 12, leaving the latter to work to pay off the family debt. This experience made him deeply sympathetic to the plight of the common man. =Literary Historical Period/Movement and Pertinent Background= __A Tale of Two Cities__ takes place in time leading up to the the French Revolution and the actual start of the Revolution itself. Dickens got the idea for writing this story after he starred in a play called //The Frozen Deep//, in which he played a man who sacrificed his life so that his love could live with her chosen love interest. This is remarkably similar to the situation of Carton.

=Genre and Sub-genres= Historical Fiction

=Major Characters, Their Relationships, Their Conflicts=
 * Charles Darnay-**This wealthy Frenchman eventually maries Lucie Manette. His uncle was Marquis St. Evremonde, a French arisocrat who had no care at all for the poor people. Darnay goes against his uncle because he cares for the plight of the less fortunate. Darnay goes to trial because he is considered treasonous to the England. This is because his uncle was killed by revolutionaries in France making Darnay the new Marquis. Darnay is found not- guilty by the work of Stryver and Carton. Darnay had met Lucie and her father when they were returning to England. Lucie and her father came to Darnay's trial in hopes that he would be aquitted. Later Darnay started to court Lucie Manette. He works as a tutor and eventually wins the father's favor and the couple marries. When Darnay's child is 6 years old, he decides to return to France. Darnay is imprisoned because of the crimes of his family. Sydney Carton saves Darnay's life by switching places with Darnay before the execution


 * Sydney Carton-** This young Englishman worked in law under Stryver. His nickname is the Jackel. This is because Stryver, as the lion, gets all the credit for the courtcases, but Carton, as the jackel, helps him greatly in the triumph. Carton is known as self-pittying and self-indulgent because of his wasted life. He has an undying love for Lucie Manette. This love transforms him from a drunken, sloppy lawyer to a caring figure who sacrifices himself to save Lucy's husband, Darnay, from the guillotine. Carton and Darnay look very similar to each other.


 * Doctor Manette-** He is a smart physician, but has been trapped in the bastille in Paris for 18 years, which has done a number on his mind and spirit. Luckily, his daughter comes to rescue him and brings him back to London. He ends up being a loving father who cares about his daughter more than anything in the world. He also tries to help Darnay from being killed in Paris.


 * Lucy Manette-** She is the daughter of Doctor Alexandre Manette. He is extremely kind, generous, and wise. Lucie is French and grew up with no family. She first travels back to Paris to find and save her father from his prison cell. On their way home, she first meet Charles Darnay. Darnay is arrested as being a spy and Lucie and her father attend the trial out of concern for him. Lucie eventually marries Darnay and they have a daughter. When their daughter is 6 years old, Darnay returns to France and his family follows him. Lucie waits everyday in the Paris streets so Darnay can get a glimpse of her from his prison cell. Lucie is known for her positive and forgiving nature.


 * Monsieur** **Defarge-** Ernest Defarge is the owner of a wine shop in Paris. He is also the mysterious leader of the Jacquerie, a band of rebellious peasants, during the French Revolution.


 * Madame Defarge-** Madame Thérèse Defarge is the wife of Monsieur Defarge. She knits the names of the aristocracy that she wants to eliminate in France. She also leads women revolutionaries on a killing rampage. She is evil and has a lust for revenge. Madame Defarge also has a bizarre fixation of killing Luce.


 * Jarvis Lorry-** He is a banker at Tellsmon's Bank in London. He is a good-natured man and very kind. Lorry helps Lucie find her father and bring him home to England. This bachelor becomes good friends with the Manette family and also helps them when Darnay is imprisoned in Paris

=Brief Plot Summary= =Motifs (Recurring Images, Ideas, Figures of Speech, Symbols, Colors) & Their Thematic Significance=
 * 1775-Jarvis Lorry, a worker for Tellson's Bank, meets Lucy Manette in Paris.
 * He states that he long-thought dead father has been "recalled to life" and brings her to the wine shop of Monsieur and Madame Defarge. Lorry assures Lucie that she will be able to bring her father back with love and devotion.
 * Doctor Manette has been locked up in the Bastille for 18 years. He has forgotten about his old life and family and busies himself making shoes.
 * 1780- Charles Darnay is on trial against the English crown. His lawyer, Stryver, is not having much luck aquiting Darnay until the drunken Carton helps.
 * Marquis Evrémonde runs over a poor child in a carriage. His nephew, Darnay, yells him for being so terrible to unwealthy peasants. That night the Marquis is murdered with a note left from the French revolutionaries.
 * Manette is asked by Darnay for permission to marry Lucie.
 * 1789-beginning of French Revolution. Darnay goes to France.
 * Darnay is arrested and Defarge produces letter that reveals a woman who was raped and her brother killed, resulting in the death sentence for Darnay. However, Darnay and Carton switch clothes and Darnay is drugged by Carton in order to have him safely taken away. Carton dies in place of Darnay and Defarge is killed by her own gun when she goes to arrest Lucie but finds Miss Pross instead.
 * Doubles-** The two cities, Paris and London. The two men that love Lucy, Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton.


 * Shadows and darkness-** The time before the Revolution was very secretive as the Defarges were planning the Revolution. As such, shadows were necessary to keep the budding movement in tact. The darkness comes from the depression that was felt by the general population of France; no one was happy and everything was secretive.


 * Imprisonment-** Doctor Manette is released from imprisonment at the beginning of the novel. Charles Darnay is imprisoned near the end of the novel. Sydney Carton is imprisoned at the end of the novel when he switches himself for Darnay.


 * Gold-** Lucie's hair is described as gold. This is contrasting to the overall dirty/grimy feel of the city as Lucie is portrayed as the most pure and thus explaining why she had so many suitors.


 * Death-** The flies died after they tasted the wine in the streets, many men died throughout the course of this book, etc. This references the high risks high reward scenario of the revolution: the entirety of France may die, but at least they'll be free. It also foreshadows the high number of deaths that occur during the Revolution.


 * Wine-** The Defarge's own a wine shop. A wine barrel breaks and wine spills out into the street while the poor people revel and celebrate in it.The wine is almost always referred to as "blood," describing and foreshadowing the bloody war that occurs.


 * Knitting-** Madame Defarge knits in her wine shop, stitching the names of the aristocrats that she wanted to kill into the scarf. Knitting is a symbol for planning the French Revolution and being in control of the chaos.

**Other Significant Thematic Elements (Significant Character's Names, Significant Quotations, Significant Actions/Events)**

=Major Themes=
 * Resurrection-** Doctor Manette is said to have been brought back from the dead when he is found and released from prison.


 * Sacrifice-** Carton sacrifices his life to save Lucie and Darnay by allowing them escape Paris. Doctor Manette sacrificies his happiness with his daughter to allow her to be happy with her husband.


 * Violence/revenge-** Scenes of people sharpening their weapons. The French Revolution.