Many believe no matter how rough things are, there can always be a possibility of redemption in life. Through A Tale Of Two Cities, most escaped the grasp of their own mental destruction even when death was at hand.
Charles Dickens describes two characters known as Dr. Manette, a man who used to be a prisoner of the Bastille, and Sydney Carton, an alcoholic with potential who chooses to waste his life away. Dickens uses these traits to give the characters a goal towards achieving redemption.Dr. Manette, a man left with no sanity through years of imprisonment, worked on the road to redemption by the help from others. As an outcome of the years spent within the Bastille, Dr. Manette looked older than his age, believed he was a shoemaker, and forgot his name.
Mr. Lorry, a businessman, and Lucie, Dr. Manette’s daughter, were set with the never-ending task of restoring Dr. Manette back to “life, love duty, rest, and comfort” (22) state of being.
Redemption attained by Dr. Manette lead to trauma for years to come; whenever reminded of his imprisonment, the Doctor would go back to his deranged state of mind. Working towards doing what was deemed best, Dr. Manette followed through on his promise to Lucie. Once saving Charles, Dr. Manette thought, “He had accomplished the task he had set himself, his promise was redeemed, he had saved Charles” (293). Saving Charles Darnay from prison as Lucie had saved her father years ago, Dr.
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Manette believed he had been redeemed. Helping Charles as a recompense, Dr. Manette repaid Lucie and redeemed himself in the process. Through other characters, Dr. Manette was redeemed; resulting in a weight to be lifted from his shoulders. One character mentioned Dr. Manette was “aged and bent, but otherwise restored” (381) once saving Charles Darnay. Furthermore, Sydney Carton traded places with Charles Darnay allowing Dr.
Manette to be filled with a sense of relief. Making amends knowing someone other than Carles gave up his life, Dr. Manette was able to be “restored” and redeemed. Dr. Manette shows the reader human spirit is strong and it is always possible to get a second chance at life. Another character in need of redemption, Sydney Carton, is known to be a man who receives the short end of the stick.
Carton lost the outlook on life for the ability to improve upon his ways; leading to not minding if Lucie loved him back, and the fact Sydney received no credit while working with Stryver. Throughout the novel, Sydney is portrayed as a man of no hope who suffered from the loss of his childhood family. Carton’s hope disappeared as early as when “He had followed his father to the grave.
His mother dying years before” (318). Ready for death at any moment, Sydney turned towards alcohol as a result of his life’s tragedy. One positive light in his life was the character, Lucie. Blinded by his admiration for Lucie, Sydney Carton saved a man in the trial at the beginning of the book. Adding a sense of humanity and selflessness, the trait demonstrated when Sydney truly started being redeemed. Looking alike, Carton saved Charles Darnay, as a result of his “strong resemblance he undoubtedly bore to the prisoner” (77). The outcome of Sydney putting in an effort to point out him and the prisoner looked alike added the fact Carton had been working towards redemption.
By focusing on someone other than himself, Carton’s attempt to be humanized supports his goal of becoming a better person which would lead to redemption. At the end of the novel putting Lucie and her husband’s happiness before his own, Sydney carried through on his promise of giving his life for someone Lucie loved. As a result of Carton dying, the insight is shown what Carton had done was admirable. Once Carton had passed, he thought, “It was a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go than I have ever known” (382). As Carton was redeemed by his death, there is irony portrayed.
Sydney redeemed his sinful life in this final sacrifice making him a parallel to Jesus Christ. Making a life-altering decision resulted in an alcohol-filled life worthwhile. Putting others before himself while saving another in place of his life, Sydney Carton developed as a noble and courageous character. One complete act of humanity allowed himself to get steps closer towards redemption.
The character’s transition from a good for nothing person to a hero supports Dickens’ theme showing anyone is worthy of redemption. Through Dr. Manette and Sydney Carton, the author’s theme of redemption is demonstrated. Although suffering their own mental destruction, there is hope and potential bestowed upon Dr.
Manette and Sydney Carton; giving the characters a shot at redemption. By Dickens’ characters in the book, it is shown no matter how bleak a person’s life might seem, redemption is possible for every man.
