Tale of Two Cities One

¶ … Tale of Two Cities

One of the most interesting points of Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities is the surprise ending in which Sydney Carton, a character who is corrupt and represents many of the negative aspects of the time during which the novel takes place, does a supremely good deed to save the lives of the main characters. However, a close read of this novel demonstrates that well before that shocking ending, the author was subtly planting clues to foreshadow the conclusion. An examination of the themes of this work of literature reveals the fact that the author actually did provide a number of clues that effectively foreshadow Carton's final good deed.

The principle theme that Dickens bases the plot around is the resurrection of goodness and its triumph over evil. Therefore, the author utilizes a lot of imagery and diction that refers to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which re[resents the ultimate sacrifice of good to triumph over evil. Although there are other characters in this story that are blinded by anger and revenge, none of them are as impure as Carton, who at the beginning of the book is a waste of a man: a drunk/attorney with intelligence and talent yet who does not care to use them for any true good purpose. Carton's surprising turnaround at the end of the story (in which he sacrifices his life to save the lives of Charles Darnay, Lucy, and Lucy's father) likened to Jesus's sacrifice. Dickens subtly foreshadows this sacrifice by using imagery throughout the novel that is representative of Jesus, his crucifixion, and events leading up to his resurrection. The following quotation illustrates such imagery. "The wine was red wine, and had stained the ground of the narrow street in the suburb of Saint Antoine, in Paris, where it was spilled. It had stained many hands, too, and many faces, and many naked feet" (Dickens). The imagery of wine, which usually represents blood, is symbolic of Jesus's crucifixion. During the Christian sacrament of the Eucharist, wine represents the blood of Christ. Prior to his crucifixion, Christ drank red wine with his apostles. In the preceding passage, it is interesting to note the fact that the wine is descirbed as staining things -- blood also stains. Additionally, the specific body parts that the win has stained in this quotation correlates with the crucifixion of Jesus. The passage states that "hands" and "feet" were stained with red wine; Christ was crucified through his hands and feet. This imagery in this quotation reinforces the theme of the resurrection of good over evil, and subtly suggests that another character will selflessly sacrifice himself for the good of others like Christ did.

Carton's sacrifice at the end of the novel presents an interesting dichotomy that Dickens alludes to through A Tale of Two Cities: he is characterized as both corrupt and uncaring, yet also as selfless and benign. This sort of polar opposite dichotomy is found in numerous passages in this novel, which suggests that such a dichotomy is possible within the characters. One of the prime examples of the opposition of principles that Carton's death represents is actually found in the famous, opening lines of this story. By informing the reader from the very outset that good and evil and other polar opposites exist simultaneously, Dickens is subtly foreshadowing and even explaining Carton's turnaround at the conclusion. The following quotation proves this point.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity… it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair… we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way (Dickens).

Many of the opposite ideals represented in this quotation apply to Carton at the end of the novel once he has made his choice to sacrifice himself. He arguably represented some of the worst vices of humanity, and in saving innocent lives he demonstrates some of the best characteristics of humanity. His choosing to squander his ability and intellect by drinking to excess shows great foolishness, yet his decision to save his friends shows a degree of wisdom. It is also important to notice the religious implications of this quotation. The reference to the time of the novel as one of "belief" can be interpreted to refer to religious belief, especially given the large amount of imagery and passages related to Christ and the concept of redemption. Lastly, it is worth noting that Carton's sacrifice is one which may make him worthy of going to a celestial paradise, while his previous actions certainly seem to incline him towards an afterlife in hell. Essentially, this passage foreshadows the extreme character changes that Carton goes through, while emphasizing the novel's theme of a resurrection of good to triumph over evil.

Yet even before Carton surprises the reader by sacrificing his life for those of his friend, Dickens offers a few glimpses of the good within him which will eventually triumph in the end. Even when the young man is at his lowest point, such as after a hard night of drinking with Stryver after the pair has won the case that frees Darnay, the author makes it quite clear that he has the potential to turn all of his waste to good. This potential seems especially brightened after Carton has met Lucie at the court that day. Upon his leaving the home of Styver (in the morning, after a night of drinking), it is this mention of Lucie that directly precedes the following quotation in which the author foreshadows Carton's redemption.

Waste forces within him, and a desert all around, this man… saw for a moment… a mirage honourable ambition, self-denial, and perseverance. In…this vision, there were airy galleries from which the loves and graces looked upon him, gardens in which the fruits of life hung ripening, waters of Hope that sparkled in his sight. A moment, and it was gone.

There is no denying the religious implications of this passage, or its correlation to Dickens primary theme of redemption and resurrection of good over evil. This passage is powerful because that resurrection is within Carton. Despite the fact that physically he is surrounded by the dullness of the city, within him there are biblical allusions to the garden of Eden and its "fruits of life." This goodness offers Carton, and the reader, hope for the character's moral turnaround at the end of the play, which this passage foreshadows.