Tale Of Two Cities Foil

Charles Dickens’ characters in A Tale of Two Cities highlight themes in the book, and symbolize groups of people in the French Revolution, human characteristics, and emotions, sometimes through foils. Themes are the main ideas or underlying meanings in literary works; symbolism is when the author uses objects, people, or actions to represent something that is different from its literal definition. A character that displays qualities that contrast with another character for the purpose of highlighting the other character’s traits is called a foil. The main characters Lucie, Doctor Manette, Miss Pross and Madame Defarge, and Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton all show themes and symbols. Lucie, originally Manette and later Darnay, is the daughter

The narrator reflects that, “every human creature is constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other,” while Jarvis Lorry makes his way to France. (12) During most of the novel Doctor Manette’s reason for being thrown in jail for twenty years is unknown and even though we can see the depth of his misery through his shoemaking sessions, how he suffered is never revealed. The Doctor goes through a drastic change throughout the novel. His daughter helps him transform from a broken prisoner who mindlessly cobbles shoes to a loving father and a well respected doctor again. It goes to show how important experiences and relationships are in life. Dickens uses Manette to show the impact of revenge and forgiveness on people. The Doctor’s ability to forgive and let his daughter, Lucie, marry Charles Darnay even though his family was the reason that he was imprisoned for twenty years brings happiness to not only himself but also to Lucie and her new family. If he had instead chosen to seek revenge, he would have hurt Lucie and ruined her and Charles’ relationship. This shows the healing power of forgiveness and the destructive power of revenge. The strength that the Doctor displays when attempting to free Charles from prison shows the theme that your worth is determined by your impact on the lives of others. While dedicating himself to freeing Charles he finds a new strength and passion. He

He was an aristocrat but he left his land in France because he saw how oppressed and abused the peasants are and did not want to be a part of that system of oppression. “He knew very well, that in his horror of the deed which had culminated the bad deeds and bad reputation of the old family house, in his resentful suspicions of his uncle, and in the aversion with which his conscience regarded the crumbling fabric that he was supposed to uphold, he had acted imperfectly.” (279) Charles believes that it is his justice and duty to not be a part of the horrid system of aristocracy that his family was apart of and because of this he symbolizes qualities of justice and duty. He also stands for the aristocrats during this time that were aware of the damage their family was causing but couldn’t do anything to prevent it. Sydney Carton has no hope or self respect. He is a drunk and a lawyer who doesn’t take credit for his work. Carton views himself as worthless, but by dying for Charles at the end of the book he redeems himself in his own eyes. The theme of resurrection is shown by Carton’s death. Charles’ family lives because Sydney Carton dies. The last few pages of A Tale of Two Cities hints at a joyful, peaceful life for Lucie, Charles, Doctor Manette, and the children that wouldn't be possible without Sydney’s sacrifice. His life gains meaning and value because he has secured a better life for them, thus showing another theme, that your