Heroism

Dear Decathletes:


As we near the end of A Tale of Two Cities we see Carton get ready for his heroic act. He will seek to redeem his wasted life (as he sees it) by some action that will require sacrificing his life.

He says two significant things on his way to take the place of his "double" Charles Darnay.

First, on page 318 he recalls the words that had been read at his father's grave..."I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die." These words from the Bible fall in line with one of the themes of the book, that being seeking redemption through sacrifice of life, which will eventually result in a resurrection.

Carton is the individual manifestation of this theme. But Dickens also is writing about the country of France, and how this country is seeking redemption--people will die in order to pursue this redemption--in the hopes that a new France will be resurrected.


Second, on page 341 he says his goodbye to Lucie as she is asleep. He mouths the words "A life you love."

Does anyone want to explain the significance of those words? Are they subject to interpretation?

Carton also symbolically shows us how he is a changed man from the "jackal"described earlier in the book. On page 343 please take note of the fact that "For the first time in many years, he had no strong drink." He has stopped his partying ways! It's time to be a hero.

The noble part of this man is starting to come out. He wants to make something of his life. And he is willing to do it for his love, Lucie, whose window he looks up at on page 351...Note how Dickens writes of that scene.... "He entered the court-yard and remained there for a few moments alone, looking up at the light in her window. Before he went away, he breathed a blessing toward it."

Lucie is symbolized by light in a chapter titled "Darkness."