A Tale of Two Cities
Charles Dickens
Genre: Social Criticism, Fictional Novel, Historical Novel
Summary: Darnay entered France and on his way to Paris, he was stopped multiple times by the revolutionaries. They questioned him and asked him to identify himself. The last time he was stopped, he was arrested. He informed them that he has rights, but they responded that he lost all of them by being an emigrant. The guard then handed in Darnay to Defarge. Defarge inquired about why he had decided to return to France at the time of the revolution. Darnay did not answer, instead, he made a plea that he helps him. Defarge refused and locked him in jail. A prisoner welcomed him to the La Force prison and told him that he hopes that he will not be held "in secret" (Solitary confinement). In the end, Darnay was held in secret in a room that is 5 feet by four and a half. Later, Doctor Manette, Lucie, her daughter and Miss Pross traveled all the way to France, to get to the branch of Tellson's bank located in Paris. Lorry sends everyone except for Doctor Manette to a nearby lodging. He converses with the doctor. Manette thinks that he could get Danray out of jail because he himself (Manette) is a former Bastille prisoner. Through the window, they saw a crowd of people sharpening their weapons on a grindstone. Manette got an idea, so he went out and screamed that a kindred of a former Bastille prisoner is being held in La Force. After Manette alarmed the crowd, Lorry sent the him to the lodging and Jerry Cruncher to guard him. Defarge approaches Lorry with carrying instructions from Manette. Following the instructions, Lorry tells Defarge where Lucie is. Monsieur and Madam Defarge, accompanied by the woman known as The Vengeance, visit Lucie so they could familiarize with her and her family. Defarge hands her a note from her husband saying that she should stay strong. Lucie asked Madam Defarge to be merciful towards Darnay, but she replied that the revolution will not bend its rules. Doctor Manette, now healthy and full of energy, convinced the Tribunal, the revolutionary court, to keep Darnay alive. He even got a job as the prison physician. By doing these two things, he insured Darnay's safety. France was going through a very hard period, full of violence and aggression. The king and queen were decapitated. Darnay was in jail for a year and three months. Waiting for the trial, the Manettes stand in an area in front of the jail where Darnay might see them from his window. While waiting, Lucie talks with a wood-sawyer. He says that his saw is a guillotine and that each piece of wood he cuts is a head of a prisoner. Soon, a crowd of people came and started dancing a aggressive dance called Carmagnole. When the dancers left, Lucie was scared, so Doctor Manette started comforting her. Madame Defarge passed and exchanged salutes with Doctor Manette. On the day of the trial, Darnay was proven not guilty because he renounced his property and tittle, he married a French woman and is the son in law of Doctor Manette. Later, in their lodging, someone knocked on the door. When they opened the door, they found four soldiers that claimed that they had to re-arrest Darnay. The accusers were Manette, Monsieur and Madam Defarge. On the trial, Darnay was proven guilty, for the crimes of his father and uncle who killed a peasant family. Defarge had strong evidence. Darnay was sentenced to capital punishment. Carton, who was undercover the whole time, with the help of Jerry Cruncher and Barsad, saved Darnay. Carton went to Darnay's cell, drugged him, exchanged clothes and Carton ordered the guard to bring Darnay to the carriage waiting for him outside. Carton's head was cut instead of Darnay's to save Lucie's family. In the meantime, Miss Pross was in hand to hand combat with Madam Defarge. When Madam Defarge pulled out a pistol, Miss Pross took it out of her hand and shot her. Miss Pross, Jerry Cruncher, Lucie, Darnay, his daughter and Doctor Manette safely went back to London.
Reflection:
I am really glad that I chose this book. I enjoyed reading every single page of it. The last part of the book was very exciting and full of surprises. The plot completely twisted in the end. I never expected Carton to do such an honorable thing. I never thought that he would do such a good deed. The book was written in a dark and mysterious, the literary gothic style. It was hard to read because of the old english and the high level vocabulary.
Passage:
"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, 321)
I chose this passage because it is the last sentence of the novel and it reflects Carton's last thoughts and emotions. He finally brought meaning to his life. It was the last and best thing he ever did.
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