From: David Parker (cdickens@RMPLC.CO.UK)
Date: Wed Mar 03 1999 - 03:19:17 PST
My dear Miss Gunning, Whatever else it is, "A Tale of Two Cities" is a novel of redemption, and it is Sydney Carton who, above all, is redeemed, by selfless love. It was less a case of my making Carton a "Christ-figure," as you put it, than of my recognising that anyone who sacrifices himself as Carton does, for the reasons Carton has, is following in the footsteps of our Saviour. In introducing the little seamstress, I sought to remind readers of our Saviour's compassion for the weak and humble. Let me remind you that the first words of his Sermon on the Mount are "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Faithfully yours, Charles Dickens ____________________________________________________________________________ _________ -----Original Message----- From: Mo Gunning <gunning@uswest.net> To: cdickens@RMPLC.co.uk <cdickens@RMPLC.co.uk> Date: 03 March 1999 03:10 Subject: A question about A Tale of Two Cities >Dear Mr. Dickens, > My high school Brit. Lit. class has just finished reading this book and I have two questions for you. > 1. What did you wish to show by using Sydney Carton as a Christ-figure? > 2. Why did you bring in the poor seamstress at the end of the novel? > > Thank you very much. >