Re: Themes in A Tale Of Two Cities
Charles Dickens (cdickens@RMPLC.CO.UK)
Wed, 11 Mar 1998 12:04:47 -0100
My dear Miss Weiss,
You are right in thinking that resurrection was on my mind when I was
writing "A Tale of Two Cities." Resurrection, literally, is promised to
Sydney Carton, and to others at the guillotine. There are hints of
resurrection, I like to believe, in the death of Lucie's son.
But most of the resurrections in the book are metaphorical. Dr Manette,
"buried alive," is "recalled to life." Sydney Carton, I submit, undergoes a
metaphorical resurrection as a prelude to his death and promised literal
resurrection. The real man is buried by an aimless and dissolute life. His
love for Lucie resurrects that real man, capable of selflessness and
self-sacrifice.
There are also parodies of resurrection. Jerry Cruncher is what used to
be known as a resurrection man. He exhumes freshly buried bodies, for the
benefit of anatomy teachers and students. Solomon Pross, or John Barsad, is
supposed to be dead and buried, but is found, "resurrected," in Paris.
I hope I have said enough for you to be able to see how the notion of
resurrection shapes the book.
Faithfully yours,
Charles Dickens
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>Charles Dickens,
>
> Hi I am a 16 years old we have just finnished reading your thriling
>novel A Tale of Two Cities. We have to write a 750 word essay on a theme
>and I chose Resurrection. I looked through the Coles Notes and I have
>come up with a couple of examples of people or thingsbeing 'recalled to
>life'. I wondered if you could give me a few more since we had to return
>the books to our school.
> I attend Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Secondary school in London
>Ontario Canada. I am currently in grade 11. Please respond to me as s-
>oon as possible. My e-mail is tweiss@odyssey.on.ca.
>
> Yours Truly,
> Jennifer Weiss
>
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Charles Dickens
charles_dickens@rmplc.co.uk
Author