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A Tale of Two Cities, a novel written by Charles Dickens, illustrates the effect of the French Revolution on the lives of the individuals affected. One of the most evident themes of this novel is that love has the power to heal. Dickens utilizes the character and restoration of Dr. Manette to portray this theme to the reader. Through the contrast of the shadow and the golden thread Dickens is able to make this theme clearly stand out. Dickens also uses the characterization of Sydney Carton, and his need to be loved to present this theme.
By combining both characterization and the contrast of the shadow and the golden thread, Charles Dickens clearly presents us with the theme that love has the power to heal. Dickens uses the characterization of the Doctor and Lucie's love for him to portray that love has the power to heal. When we first meet Dr. Manette, Dickens describes him as "a hopeless and lost creature. " (Page 47) When Dr. Manette is asked his name, all that he says is "One Hundred and Five, North Tower. " (Page 49) This is a result of his eighteen-year imprisonment in the Bastille, which he was doomed to by the Evrmonde brother for telling of their wrongdoings. It is clear that Dr.
Manette has lost his sense of life because of his imprisonment. When Dr. Manette sees Lucie, he knows that she is without a doubt his daughter. Through the love of his daughter, Dr. Manette is able to forgive the Evrmonde family. Five years later, when Dr.
Manette, Lucie and Mr. Lorry enter the courtroom to testify at a trial for Charles Darnay, the spectators see Dr. Manette as, a man of a very remarkable appearance. (Page 72) From the expression on his face, on his speaking to his daughter became a handsome man, not past the prime of his life. (Page 72) This indicates to us how Lucie's love has the power to heal and overcome unpleasant memories of the Doctors time in the Bastille. Dickens restates the theme that love has the power to heal, thought the contrast of the shadow and the Golden Thread. We are first introduced to the shadow when Mr. Lorry and M.
Defarge are questioning the Doctor in Book 1. As the Doctor looked at Mr. Lorry and M. Defarge, there seemed to be some thoughts coming though the black mist that had fallen on him. (Page 50) This constantly overhanging shadow is a result of his imprisonment in the Bastille.
Nevertheless, when he encounters Lucie, the shadow seems to disappear. It is during the first trial of Charles Darnay, the Lucie is referred to as the golden thread the united Dr. Manette to a past beyond his misery, and to a present beyond his misery. (Page 86) It was the sound of her voice, the light of her face, and the touch of her hand, that had always had a strong beneficial influence on him. (Page 86) Dickens uses the Golden Thread as a metaphor for Lucie's love towards her father, Dr. Manette. From this we can see that it is Lucie that gives him the strength and courage to overcome his horrible memories of him imprisonment. Lucie offers her love to her father, with the hope that she can help him over come the dark shadow.
Once again the love of Lucie helps to fill and empty soul. At the beginning of A Tale of Two Cities, Dickens presents the character of Sydney Carton as a hopeless drunk who leads a life of uncertainty. Carton compares himself to Charles Darnay, only to see what he could have been. Carton wallows in his own self-pity and he has quite a negative outlook on life. This is quite evident since Carton cares for no man on earth and no man cares for him. (Page 91) As he is leaving Servers house one night, Carton looks very deeply into his soul for the meaning of life.
The waste forces within him is a metaphor for his lack of hope and depression. This contributes to the portrayal of Carton as hopeless and lost. We first see hoe strong Cartons love for Lucie is when he promises to give his life, to keep a life you love beside you. (Page 156) Carton is beginning to heal his wasted soul, as he express his powerful love for Lucie, by pledging to give his own life in order to save Lucie or anyone that matters to her. Dickens closes the novel with Cartons last words being: 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. (Page 367) When Carton says it is a, better thing that I do it is evident that he mean sacrificing his life for Darnay in order to fulfill his promise to Lucie. Through his love for Lucie, he fully heals his wasted soul. Dickens uses the characterization of Cartons loneliness to demonstrate how love has the power to heal.
Throughout A Tale of Two Cities, the theme hoe love has the power to heal is quite evident. Lucie Manette, though her love and compassion, is able to restore her father from his re-occurring shadow. Her concern and love for others, in turns gives strength to them. Dickens provides contrast between the light of the Golden Thread and the darkness of the shadow. It is evident that Dr. Manette has reached the final step of his restoration when he forgives the Evrmonde family for being imprisoned in the Bastille.
Sydney Carton is saved from his reckless and wasted life because of his love for Lucie. Through Dickens characterization and use of contrast, he establishes the theme that love has the power to heal.
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Research essay sample on Love For Lucie Tale Of Two Cities
