Redemption and Resurrection

Fantastic students of Olympian HS:

Did you catch the mysterious message in the first part of A Tale of Two Cities? The message that was given to Mr Lorry? The message was "Recalled to Life." Of course, the message was a reference to Monsieur Manette being found after being imprisoned for eighteen years.

"Recalled to life" is also a reference to one of the themes of the book--that being Resurrection. Manette was all but dead before being found alive after all those years. He was practically brought back to life-- or at least back into the civilized world. We will see other references to this theme later in the book. Resurrection is a common theme...a biblical allusion of sorts. In this book, if one is thinking in terms of biblical allusion, one must think not of "crucifixion" but of "the guillotine." Keep that in the backs of your minds.

The other theme I want you to think about is Redemption. At least one major character will attempt to redeem himself for the life he has lived.

How about the name of that character...Jerry Cruncher?!! Did anyboyd think that name unusual? Dickens always had fun coming up with unusual names for the characters in his stories. Names such as Scrooge, Sweedlepipe, Cherry Pecksniff, and Wilkens Macawber show up in some of his novels. The names usually have some significance--some double meanings. In my opinion, J.K. Rowlings follows that tradition with some of her characters' names. What is the significance, if any, of Cruncher's name?