When they get there, they meet Defarge, who has been keeping Lucie’s father, Doctor Manette, safe. However, he has been discovered in France. Once Lorry arrives at Dover, he finds Lucie Manette, a young orphan whose father is supposed dead. The message simply reads “Wait at Dover for Mam’selle.” Lorry tells Jerry to return to the bank with the message, “Recalled to Life.”

A man named Jerry Cruncher, who is working for Tellson’s Bank, intercepts the mail coach with a message for Jarvis Lorry. The novel opens in the year 1775 during exceptional social unrest in both England and France. Having a compelling story that also visits this time in history is valuable to study and adds an enormous contribution to the English literary canon. This brutal time in French history did not allow any exceptions, creating a dire time for all of the French population.

Any individual connected to the aristocracy was seen to be worthy of execution so that the French lower class could rise out of oppression. Set against a war-filled social backdrop, this only adds to the crescendo of emotion and catharsis.įurthermore, being a work of historical fiction, the novel provides a look into what life was like during the French Revolution. The idea of redemption through death giving others an opportunity to start anew, creating endless sympathy for all characters involved. The real-life inspiration that contributed to this is part of what makes the events of this story so emotionally strong. This inspired the love triangle in the novel between Charles Darnay, Lucie, and Sydney Carton. He had recently stared in a Wilkie Collins play called The Frozen Deep in which Dickens played the part of a man who had sacrificed his own life so that his rival could have the woman they both loved. In the novel’s Prologue, Dickens explains how he got the inspiration for this story. Literary Significance of A Tale of Two Cities Major Symbols: The broken wine casket Madame Defarge’s knitting The MarquisĬlimax: In court, a letter is read aloud indicting Darnay as a member of a cruel aristocratic lineage-cementing the concept that Darnay may have to die or else his oppressor, Madame Defarge will. Plot: Jumps through time in a forward-moving fashion. Major Thematic Elements: The ripple effect of sacrifice Violence and oppression at the hands of revolutionaries The promise of resurrectionĮxposition: The novel opens in 1775 and England and France are both suffering from social unrest.Ĭonflict: Madame Defarge is seeking revenge against Darnay while others strive to keep him protected from the guillotine.

Dickens a tale of two cities