Dr. Manette's Death In The Book 'A Tale Of Two Cities'

Gaspard’s need to avenge his child by killing the marquis eventually results in his own execution. As the Marquis’ carriage went speeding through town, it jolted, causing the coachman to get out and observe the condition of the horses. To his surprise, there was a child dead under the wheel of the carriage. While Gaspard, the father of the young boy was in a miserable state of mind, the Marquis showed no concern for the boy and addressed the peasants saying, “It is extraordinary to me that you people cannot take care of yourselves and your children. One or the other of you is forever in the way. How do I know what injury you have done my horses” (84). The Marquis took no responsibility for his actions, but instead blamed it on the people themselves.

Manette’s revengeful denouncement of the Evremonde family causes the condemnation of Charles Darnay and the ensuing death of Sydney Carton. After Dr. Manette discovers that the two Evremonde brothers sexually assaulted a peasant woman, killed her husband, and fatally injured her brother, they wrongfully imprisoned him in the Bastille. During his time in the Bastille, the Doctor wrote a letter comprising the words “now I believe that the mark of the red cross is fatal to them, and that they have no part in His mercies. And them and their descendants, to the last of their race, I, Alexander Manette, unhappy prisoner do this last night of the year 1767, in my unbearable agony, denounce to the times when all these things shall be answered for. I denounce them to Heaven and to earth” (258). He did not understand until later during Darnay’s trial that by denouncing the two Evremonde brothers and their family, he denounces Charles Darnay, the son and nephew of the brothers. Greatly regretting writing the letter, Dr. Manette attempts to get Darnay out of prison and avoid death. When his plans fail and he relapses, Carton is compelled to take matters into his own hands and switch places with Darnay a few hours before his execution. No one at the prison questions Carton as Darnay due to the similarity in appearance between the two. A guard at the prison exclaims “Down, Evremonde! To the Guillotine all aristocrats! Down, Evremonde” (290)! Although Charles Darnay was intended to die, Dr. Manette’s spiteful letter ultimately led to the death of brave and innocent Sydney