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Example research essay topic: Tale Of Two Cities Man Of Great - 2,136 words

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Tale of Two Cities Many individuals base their lives on their religious beliefs, and Charles Dickens explains his religious beliefs in A Tale of Two Cities. Dickens uses spiritual allusions in his novel; he manifests his religious views through symbolism, references to sacraments, and the themes of resurrection and personal sacrifice. First, Dickens uses many symbols throughout the novel to explore his religious views. His belief in traditional Christianity is characterized by many references.

An inspiration in life that many people cling to be, that no matter how rough and demoralizing things get, there is always a possibility of redemption and salvation. Many characters in the novel, A Tale Of Two Cities, are sure that their own death or mental destruction is at hand but somehow they escape the grasp of death. Dr. Manette who has been imprisoned for eighteen years is completely insane and is lovingly nursed back to health.

Characters such as Charles Darnay slip through the fingers of death more than once. Redemption and salvation do not always come in the form of being saved from death. Sydney Carton, a man of great potential, has wasted his life and ends up giving his life, in an act of redemption. Dickens, in A Tale Of Two Cities, shows that no matter how bleak a person's life might seem, redemption and salvation are always possible. Dickens refers to many characters throughout the novel as allusions to Jesus Christ. "In London, Jerry Cruncher, a 'resurrection man' with the same initials of Jesus Christ, performs a parody of the Easter story when he digs up Can's grave only to find the tomb empty" (Davis, p. 380). Through his account of Cruncher's actions, Dickens affirms his belief in Christ's victory over death by rising from the tomb after his crucifixion.

A second reference to Jesus Christ is displayed through Sydney Carton. There are instances in the story where Carton quotes Jesus Christ. An example is before he dies by the guillotine and "[... ] meditates on the biblical promise 'I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord, he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die" (Davis, p. 380). Another symbol used in the novel is the guillotine. The revolutionaries believe that the "guillotine-the symbol of unpitying vengeance - replaces the cross - the symbol of redeeming love - on every breast" (Alter, p. 19).

Both the guillotine and cross were gruesome symbols of inhumane cruelty and the premature deaths of innocent men. However, these ghastly symbols became a basis for hope and happiness for Jesus followers and Carton's dearest friends. Dickens utilizes these symbols throughout the novel to express his religious views about Christianity. Second, Dickens refers to sacraments throughout the novel. Robert Alter says, "Some of the most compelling scenes in this scenic novel are at once allegorical tableaux and solemn sacraments of the Revolution" (Alter, p. 19). The third religious aspect of the novel is displayed through the theme of resurrection. "In a very basic way A Tale of Two Cities is a fable about resurrection" (Weigal, p. 16).

Dickens exhibits this theme through Jerry Cruncher. He leads a terrible life, which causes him to be considered a "resurrection man." Jerry Cruncher is referred to as a resurrection man because he makes an honest living during the day as a handy man for Tells's bank, but at night he robs the graves of the dead. Carton sees himself reborn, or "resurrected" through the Darnay family. Carton believes that after he dies he will be resurrected as the son of Lucie and Charles Darnay. He imagines the son as a successful and fair judge. He sees everything in Lucie's son that he wished people had seen in him while he was alive.

Jerry Cruncher and Sydney Carton are the two points in which Dickens shows the theme of resurrection. Dickens stresses the theme of personal sacrifice through the character Sydney Carton. Sydney Carton begins the story as a drunken, unsuccessful lawyer who does not care about anyone but himself. His attitude does not change until he meets Lucie Manette.

He falls in love with her immediately but loses her to Charles Darnay. When Darnay is sentenced to death by the guillotine, Carton offers to switch places with Darnay so that his life may be spared. Darnay is drugged so that Carton may take his place. Before his death, Carton says, "It is a far better thing I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest there I go to than I have ever known" (Dickens, p. 299). Carton is explaining that his life is not as important to him as Lucie's happiness and that he will soon visit a happier place. "Sydney Carton, who possesses the greatest love, to lay down his life for his friend" (Alter, p. 19) sacrificed himself for the good of others. Although Carton's sacrifice is only for Charles and Lucie's happiness, Carton gave his life in the same spirit as Jesus did.

Dickens develops the theme of redemption and salvation through Dr. Manette's painful experience in prison and his resurrection back into society. The famous quote, "Recalled to life" (Dickens, p. 8), is used many times in A Tale Of Two Cities to describe Dr. Manette's escape from sure death in the Bastille. Dr. Manette's story begins when he is imprisoned unjustly for eighteen years.

The solitary time spent in the prison waiting for his certain death is so excruciating it makes Manette go insane. When Dr. Manette is finally released he does not even know his own name. Mr.

Lorry and Lucie Manette have the emotional stressful task of restoring Dr. Manette back to health: "to restore him to life, love, duty, rest, comfort" (Dickens p, 22). It took more than five years for Mr. Lorry and Lucie to reinstate Dr. Manette's health and even still he has a lot of trouble dealing with flashbacks of his agonizing years in prison: "old air of avoidance and dread had lately passed over him, like a cold wind" (Dickens, p. 178). The redemption and salvation barely attained by Dr.

Manette left deep emotional scars and whenever they are jolted Dr. Manette goes back to his deranged state of mind. The shoemaker bench Dr. Manette used in prison has immense psychological effect on him.

It helps the reader understand Dr. Manette state of mind before he is saved and nursed back to health. The bench represents how insane Dr. Manette has become. Even though he is a man of great intelligence, he worked day after day for eighteen years on one shoemaker's bench. He has been forced to give up on life and wait in his cell, "on hundred and five north tower" (Dickens, p. 37), for his certain death.

The redemption and salvation of Dr. Manette's body, mind and soul show the reader that human spirit is strong and it is always possible to get a second chance at life. Charles Darnay's evasion of death in England and twice in France develops the theme that being saved from almost certain fate is always possible. In England Charles Darnay is arrested and tried for treason. Lucie, Dr. Manette and Mr.

Lorry are all put on the stand in this trial but the salvation of Charles Darnay comes from his astonishing resemblance to Sydney Carton. "Look well upon that gentleman, my learned assistant, " pointing to him [Sydney Carton] who had tossed the paper over, "and then look well upon the prisoner. How say you? Are they very like each other?" (Dickens, p. 67) The next salvation Darnay experiences is from another trial, this time in France. Darnay is saved again by another person's doing and not his own. Dr.

Manette, a hero among the French revolutionaries, frees Darnay by swaying the crowd in his favour: "His [Dr. Manette] high personal popularity, and the clearness of his answers, made a great impression" (Dickens, p. 265). This trial really shows how lucky Darnay is that he met the Manette's. Darnay's freedom is short-lived - for the same night that he is released he is picked up and arrested again. At the trial, this time, he is convicted.

The outlook on the situation is extremely grim as everyone is preparing themselves for his execution: "Yes, he will perish: there is no real hope" (Dickens, p. 315). As certain as Darnay's death seems, Carton switches places with Darnay and Darnay escaped safely back to England. This is Darnay's third evasion of death, showing that there is always a hope for salvation, even in the seemingly certain death of Darnay. Sydney Carton's redemption comes in a profound form. Carton is a man of great potential who has unfortunately resigned himself to being a drunken slug who sits back and lets his meaningless life consume him: "I shall never be better than I am. I shall only sink lower, and be worse" (Dickens, p. 137).

Carton never gives himself a chance at doing something productive. The only thing he really cares about in the world are his companions, especially Lucie Manette, but he knows he is not worthy of her and is satisfied with just being a close friend. Cartons depression gets to an unbearable point where he follows through on his promise to Lucie: "For you, and for any dear to you, I would do anything" (Dickens, p. 140). Darnay is about to be executed and so Carton breaks into Darnay's cell and switches places. When Sydney Carton does this he is for once in his life confident that he is making a difference by improving the lives of many others. He has complete inner redemption for his wasted life, a life that finally means a great deal to a great many people.

Dickens, in A Tale Of Two Cities, shows through the three characters, Dr. Manette, Charles Darnay and especially Sydney Carton, that no matter how bleak the outlook on a person's life may seem there is always a chance for redemption and salvation. Dickens shows through Dr. Manette that salvation and redemption makes it possible to go from a deranged, demoralized being to a loving, caring, nurturing member of society. The reader is shown through Charles Darnay that no matter how many times someone seems to be at an end, salvation is always possible. "It is said that Sydney Carton holds a position in literature no less illustrious than Shakespeare's Hamlet in his appeal as a tragic hero" (Alter, p 41). Carton is throwing away his life but by his one distinguished act of humanity he achieves complete redemption.

Through these three characters, Dickens explains how redemption and salvation are always possible, whether it is internal or external or in France or England, it does not matter. The theme of salvation and redemption taps into a vision that millions of people hold on to when they " re troubled. Knowing that things can get better than what they are is a knowledge that is so significant to the human spirit. The theme of redemption and salvation is the major theme of the book and is summed up in two famous quotes. "Recalled to life" (Dickens p 8), which Dickens considered for the title of the novel, and, "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" (Dickens, p. 352). In a Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens manifests his views of religion through symbolism, references to sacraments, and the themes of resurrection and personal sacrifice.

Davis writes of A Tale of Two Cities, "That myth is a darkened version of the New Testament story, beginning at Christmas and ending with an Easter sacrifice (Davis, p. 380). " His words embrace Dickens' religious themes throughout this novel that is set in a bloody revolution that is the "worst of times" but ends with a personal triumph in the "best of times." The book is a masterpiece that is appreciated by the literary scholars and general audience alike, because Dickens ability to combine picturesque characters and unique interpretation of historic events creates a story that is usually read from the first time. Bibliography Alter, Robert. The Demons of History in Dickens's Tales. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1997. Brown, James B. Dickens: Novelist in the Market Place.

New Jersey: Barnes and Noble Books, 1992. Davis, Paul. Charles Dickens A to Z: The Essential Reference to His Life and Work. New York: Facts on File, Inc. 1998. Dickens, Charles.

A Tale of Two Cities. New York: Simon and Schuster Inc. 1996. Weigal, James Jr. Tale of Two Cities Cliff's Notes.

Lincoln, Nebraska: Cliff Notes, Inc. 1999.


Free research essays on topics related to: man of great, jerry cruncher, lucie manette, tale of two cities, sydney carton

Research essay sample on Tale Of Two Cities Man Of Great

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