What do you consider to be the themes of the novel? Provide evidence of the themes using quotations.
4 comments:
Anonymous
said...
I think there are many small themes in A Tale of Two Cities, but no doubt the main theme of the novel is resurrection. The priviliged society must die for the common good of the lower class. After the storming of the Bastille takes place, the peasants enjoy a better existence. Likewise Lucie will enjoy a better existence after Carton sacrifices himself to save Darnay. As the prisoners are being executed they say their last words. One prisoner says "I am the Resurrection and the Life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die" (366). This seems a fitting Bible passage as Carton gives up his life so that Lucie's family may lead a better life and so that he may live on in their memory and hearts.
I agree with manny that there are amny themes, such as violence and sacrifice, but the main theme certainly is resurrection. When Carton dies it makes a new and better life for Lucie and Darnay and even himself because his life now has shown meaning because he's a hero of sorts which Dickens shows when he says "They said of him, about the city that night, that it was the peacefullest man's face ever beheld there. Many added that he looked sublime and prophetic"(366). The successful revolution and the overthrow of aristocracy will also resurrect the lives of the peasants and create a better society. Dickens shows the peace of the society when he says
I agree with both Mickey and Manny. The surrounding themes of sacrifice and violent nature play into the main theme of resurrection. One major line that supports the theme of sacrifice in the novel is Carton says, "Of little worth as life is when we misuse it, it is worth that effort." Carton made the ultimate sacrifice for Lucie and her family when he took the place of Darnay in being executed. The other important change was that after the aristocrats were out, it meant a sort of revival in the spirit of the peasents. They could begin their lives in a new way where they weren't so sanctioned and lowly.
Like the others on this blog, I too beleive that the overriding theme of the novel is resurrection. The ideas of violence and sacrifice seem to not be independent themes but rather those ideas play key roles within the theme of resurrection. The greatest example of resurrection occurs on page 366 when Carton says right before he dies that "I am the Resurrection and the Life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." Through his death Carton was able to acheive resurrection in two ways. He beleived that he would be resurrected to live in heaven becuase of his sacrifice and Darnay was resurrected from certain death to a new life that is full of hope.
4 comments:
I think there are many small themes in A Tale of Two Cities, but no doubt the main theme of the novel is resurrection. The priviliged society must die for the common good of the lower class. After the storming of the Bastille takes place, the peasants enjoy a better existence. Likewise Lucie will enjoy a better existence after Carton sacrifices himself to save Darnay. As the prisoners are being executed they say their last words. One prisoner says "I am the Resurrection and the Life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die" (366). This seems a fitting Bible passage as Carton gives up his life so that Lucie's family may lead a better life and so that he may live on in their memory and hearts.
I agree with manny that there are amny themes, such as violence and sacrifice, but the main theme certainly is resurrection. When Carton dies it makes a new and better life for Lucie and Darnay and even himself because his life now has shown meaning because he's a hero of sorts which Dickens shows when he says "They said of him, about the city that night, that it was the peacefullest man's face ever beheld there. Many added that he looked sublime and prophetic"(366). The successful revolution and the overthrow of aristocracy will also resurrect the lives of the peasants and create a better society. Dickens shows the peace of the society when he says
I agree with both Mickey and Manny. The surrounding themes of sacrifice and violent nature play into the main theme of resurrection. One major line that supports the theme of sacrifice in the novel is Carton says, "Of little worth as life is when we misuse it, it is worth that effort." Carton made the ultimate sacrifice for Lucie and her family when he took the place of Darnay in being executed. The other important change was that after the aristocrats were out, it meant a sort of revival in the spirit of the peasents. They could begin their lives in a new way where they weren't so sanctioned and lowly.
Like the others on this blog, I too beleive that the overriding theme of the novel is resurrection. The ideas of violence and sacrifice seem to not be independent themes but rather those ideas play key roles within the theme of resurrection. The greatest example of resurrection occurs on page 366 when Carton says right before he dies that "I am the Resurrection and the Life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." Through his death Carton was able to acheive resurrection in two ways. He beleived that he would be resurrected to live in heaven becuase of his sacrifice and Darnay was resurrected from certain death to a new life that is full of hope.
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