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Tale Of Two Cities Sacrifice

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Sacrifice in A Tale of Two Cities
Charles Dickens is a brilliant Victorian novelist who captures the imagination and sentiment of not only his nineteenth century readers, but also readers for centuries to come. Dickens writes many novels such as Great Expectations, A Christmas Carol, Oliver Twist, and one of his most famous novels, A Tale of Two Cities. The novel takes place during the French Revolution in a time of great extremes. Dickens writes about the poor and the aristocracy, the Manettes and the Defarges, as well as love and hate. In Dickens’ novel, his characters are so deeply rooted in their passions that they will sacrifice anything for their causes. Sacrifice may seem like such a drastic word, but through the characters of Miss Pross …show more content…

The motherly Miss Pross and pragmatic Mr. Lorry are loyal servants who sacrifice their time and safety for the Manette family. Mr. Jarvis Lorry is the man of business, but behind his stoic facade he is a very feeling, loving man. In the beginning of the novel, Lorry travels from Tellson’s Bank in England to France in order to resurrect Dr. Manette from his eighteen year “burial.” On his way, Mr. Lorry stops at the Royal George Hotel to consult Dr. Manette’s daughter, Lucie. Ultimately, Mr. Lorry reunites Dr. Manette with Lucie who is “the golden thread that united him to a Past beyond his misery” (Dickens 60). Mr. Lorry sacrificed his time and safety during this mission, and he continues to serve the Manette family throughout the novel. Another endearing character is Miss Pross who is a vibrant and loyal nurse of Lucie’s. Throughout the novel, Miss Pross sacrifices her time and safety for Lucie. One of the greatest sacrifices Miss Pross makes is letting Lucie go. When it comes to suitors, Miss Pross is only sure of one thing: “There never was, nor will be, but one man worthy of Ladybird” (72). Unfortunately, that one man is Solomon Barsad, “a heartless …show more content…

When the reader is first introduced to Carton, he is an intelligent, off putting man who seems incapable of something so emotional as love. He lives a life of dissipation and misery and seems to be a dead man walking. However as the story progresses, readers begin to receive glimpses of hope and love inside of Carton. Towards the middle of the novel, readers finally see what secrets lies in Carton’s heart. Carton tells Lucie, “I wish you to know that you have been the last dream of my soul” (115). In this intimate moment, Carton is revealing the best of himself to Lucie. He is sacrificing his privacy and comfort to profess his love for her. Carton goes on to say, “For you, and for any dear to you, I would do anything” (117). These are not empty words, for Carton dies honoring this promise. When Darnay is imprisoned and condemned in Paris, Sydney Carton goes to resurrect him. The beauty of this is that in resurrecting Darnay, Carton resurrects himself. Before Carton had said, “There is a man who would give his life, to keep a life you love beside you” (117). That man is Sydney Carton. He dies in place of Darnay, so Lucie can keep a life she loves. In the end of the novel, Carton reflects on what he has done. He states, “‘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’” (293). Through these profound words, Carton explains that his sacrifice

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