mrwclass -period 135 fall 2013, mrwclass.wikispaces.com
"I am going to die. But Lucie and Charles are going to live. They will be happy. Now I am doing something good. Now at last, I can rest." (Dickens, p.62)
A Tale of Two Cities was written by one of the famous English author, Charles Dickens in 1859. In this story, people arrive in the two European capital cities; London and Paris. At that time, new citizens in Paris broke out the French Revolution and it seemed dangerous for English people. I thought that there are several key characters in this story such as Jarvis Lorry, Charle Darnay and Sydney Carton. In addition, I found that French citizens suddenly gaining forces are described as really bad people in a unilateral way. Now, let me explain these issues in detail.
First of all, I'm going to show you about the central characters in this story. The beginning of it is described as the commission for Javis Lorry that he has to bring a freed prison of France, Dr Manette back from Paris to London with the prison's daughter, Lucie Manette. It seemed to me as if the main character were Lorry at first. However, the idea was changed when I finished reading around chapter 5. Lorry disappears for a while.
Charles Darnay, who helps Lorry and Manette family, gradually involves with them and the story revolves around him. He gets married with Lucie while he is the French Aristocrat. Then, French citizens finally grow impatient for Ancien Regime, the political system that aristocrats have cruel power, and broke out the French Revolution. Even of Darnay didn't do anything bad for the citizens, his life is becoming sought. He is at last captured by Republicans.
Nevertheless, one of the side character, Sydney Carton saves his friend's life and was executed vicariously. At first, he appeared as a man who was really similar to Darnay, but the ending is him. Although he was not always kind to others, he chose death for his friend and a woman he loved.
[306 words]
Reference
Dickens, Charles. (2005). A Tale of Two Cities. Oxford, England: Macmillan Heinemann ELT.
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