What I find intriguing about this novel is, that it is meant to help inform people of a historical event, though it's not much more interesting than the dry textbooks we have today. Which, is part of the reason Dickens wrote the novel in the first place, for realizing the significance of such an occurrence, and the interest surrounding it, he knew his audience wanted to know more about the French revolution. What better way to give his readers a feel for the revolution than to write an engrossing, dramatic novel about English characters directly effected by the revolution? While taking the reader along the journey that comprised the pre-revolution/early revolution era, Dickens cleverly intertwines themes of redemption and rebirth throughout the novel. The question that is always posed in these situations of rebirth is, is rebirth possible and is rebirth worth the pain? Though, in the beginning of the novel it seems the answer to these questions may be no the conclusion draws a satisfying yes from the reader with the redemption of Sydney. In the end the book's message is similar to that of the French revolution; it's never to late for redemption, and don't settle with what you have if all you have amounts to nothing. This is defiantly not a book to be written off as just a romanticised take on the French revolution, but rather this is novel of great moral value and engaging historical context.
Main Characters:
Lucie Manette-
The daughter of Doctor Manette, she is French- born but flees after her father is taken prisoner by the authorities. She later returns to bring sanity back to her father's life and restore him to himself again. she also helped to free Charles Darnay from certain death at the hands of the British court system.
Doctor Manette-
Father of Lucie, he was a prisoner at the infamous Bastille even after he was released, until Lucie freed his spirit from the confines of the prison. He also testified on behalf of Charles Darnay, and helped bring him back from the brink of death on several occasions.
Charles Darnay-
Husband of Lucie, he renounced his titles of French nobility after becoming disgusted with the nature of it's status. he then travelled to England were he was arrested, tried, and acquitted. Later he remade himself as a prosperous Englishman and married Lucie.
Sydney Carton-
Friend of the Manette's he also testified at Darnay's trail helping prove his innocence by revealing the similarity in appearance between himself and Darnay. He believed himself to be incapable of change and rebirth until the end of the novel when he redeems himself by helping Darnay.
Connections
Oliver Twist-
In one of Charles Dickens most popular books, the continued themes of redemption and rebirth play a dominant role throughout. The orphan Oliver Twist rises from an oppressed orphan to living a happy life with a family he loves.
A Christmas Carol-
What is undoubtedly Dickens most famous work, his messages of redemption and rebirth drive the plot and its characters to their fates. Ebenezer Scrooge is a your classic, stereotypical, cranky old man who hasn't a care for anyone around him and is generally unhappy. Scrooge undergoes a massive change in character after being visited by the three ghosts of Christmas. After this rebirth of values, Scrooge redeems himself in the eyes of his fellow man by helping all those in his life and by being a jolly guy to know and be around.
Frankenstein-
Mary Shelly does an excellent job of illustrating the opposite results of Dickens novels by showing what can happen if you choose not redeem yourself after realizing your failures. After study the ways of ancient 'scientists', Dr. Frankenstein creates a monster of great proportions and lets it lose upon the world. Realizing what a mistake it was to ever construct such a being Frankenstein condemns is actions but does little to undo them. He is given the opportunity he sought (but also avoided) but refuses to follow through. This then results in the demise of all that he once loved and eventually leads to his death.
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