International Journal of Research ISSN NO:2236-6124

RESURRECTION IN CHARLES DICKENS’ ‘A TALE OF TWO CITIES’

N.ILAYANILA
II M.A ENGLISH, S.T.E.T Women’s College, Mannargudi

V.REGA
Assistant Professor, Dept. of English, S.T.E.T Women’s College, Mannargudi
,
ABSTRACT
Resurrection is the rising again from the dead of all human kind at the last judgment. A “Tale of two
cities” by Charles Dickens is a wonderful novel and it deals with the happenings which occur in two cities
London and Paris. The author portrays both French and English characters without any artificiality. The
author’s aim is to highlight the impact of French revolution, secondly he admitted the English people also
suffered by the revolution, and thirdly he highlights the theme of resurrection. It was the time of discoveries and
exploration of reforms and movements, through the lives of the character we can understand the theme
employed by Dickens’ ‘’The of Resurrection’’.

RESURRECTION IN CHARLES DICKENS’ ‘A TALE OF TWO CITIES’

INTRODUCTION
The concept of “A Tale of Two Cities” is not depiction of common life in the two cities of London and
Paris alone, nor is it only a novel about the French revolution. Its central theme is a Christian theme of
resurrection which means the image of Jesus Christ rising from his grave on the third day of his crucifixion. In
this novel resurrection has been related to renunciation. It is said that Dickens’ derived both these theme from
Willkie Collin’s play ‘The Frozen Deep’.
Resurrection is the leitmotif, the key-note of “A Tale of Two Cities”. Resurrection is the principal
theme but it is not merely spiritual Resurrection and a beatific vision, a communication with God. It is also
moral resurrection, social resurrection, mental resurrection, physical resurrection, political resurrection and so
forth and so on. In fact the novel begins with physical resurrection, culminating in spiritual resurrection.The
resurrection theme progress through the lives of Dr.manette, Darnay, Carton,Rogercly, OldFoulon, Solomon(or
Barsad) and Jerry Cruncher. These characters in the novel are resurrected in one way or the other. In this novel,
resurrection is a powerful and predominant theme throughout the play.

RESURRECTION IN ‘A TALE OF TWO CITIES’

The term ‘Resurrection’ is drawn upon the New Testament of the Bible. When the mourning women
were shedding bitter tears on the tomb where Christ, was buried after his crucifixion, the Angel spoke to them:
‘’I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified, but he is not here for he has come back to life again, just
as he said, he would. Come in and see where his body was lying. And now go quickly and tell them that he has
risen from the dead and that he is going to Galilee to meet them there’’. (Matthew28:5-6)

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International Journal of Research ISSN NO:2236-6124

Dr. Manette was ‘buried alive’ for eighteen years in the Bastille. His acquittal is described as ‘Recalled
to Life’, which means his resurrection. The theme of resurrection is presented at the very beginning of the story
when Mr.Lorry, Who is travelling by the mail-coach to Dover, sends a message to Tellson’s bank through the
messenger, Jerry Cruncher. The words of Lorry’s message are, ‘’Recalled to Life’’. These words are very
significant as Mr. Lorry accompanied by Miss Lucie is going to Paris to bring to Dr. Manette to England.
Dr. Manette’s imprisonment is like death; his release is on act of resurrection .His long imprisonment of
18 years seems to Mr.Lorry a kind of burial in a grave from which Dr. Manette’s rises. The return of Manette
from insanity to sanity is a second resurrection. This resurrection is brought by Lucie’s nursing, service, loving
care and affection.
There is Charles Darnay who is rescued from death thrice. Each time this escape theme takes place, it is
kind of resurrection for Darnay. The first occasion is his trial at Old Bailey where he has been charged and
released after trial. Darnay’s second resurrection takes place when he is in France. But he is rescued through the
good influence and efforts of Dr. Manette. The third resurrection of Darnay is even more important. This is
when he is rearrested on charges by Defarge and others. He is tried and is sentenced to death. It is Sydney
Carton who impersonates as Darnay and replaced by him.
Sydney Carton himself is an example of a resurrection in the novel, a real resurrection in the Christian
sense. He achieves resurrection in two ways. First his death makes a spiritual resurrection for him. By his
sacrificial death, Carton who had been leading a life of profligacy is morally regenerated. Secondly when
Carton formulates his bold plan to save Darnay’s life, the words of Christian Burial Service echo in his ears: ‘’I
am resurrection and the life, saith live; and whosever liveth and believeth in me shall never die’’.(TTC- 294)
These words Carton had heard at the time of his father’s funeral, and these words now come to him as a
promise that the man who believeth in Lord Jesus Christ is Immortal. Carton dies with the certainty of
resurrection and gives its message. Young Jerry sees his father doing this kind of work and he too desires to
become, ‘’A Resurrection Man’’, a man who digs out dead bodies to be sold as a money making work.
Resurrection, redemption, regeneration and renunciation are interdependent. Foulon, who once laughed
at the poor people and offered them a sheaf of grass instead of bread, circulated the news of his death. When the
mob finds him alive they hang him. It is another kind of resurrection that has no tragic grandeur. A loving sister,
Miss Pros was robbed of all her worldly possessions by her brother Solomon who was supposed to be dead. The
sister shed bitter tears. Solomon, however, was alive and kicking. A British spy, Solomon, assumed the name of
Barsad and leaves for Paris to work as a spy for the revolutionaries. In Paris the sister chances upon him and
exults over his resurrection.
Roger Cly has also his resurrection. A spy that he is, he, on the instruction of his friend and fellow-spy,
leaves for Paris to work as a French spy. A funeral procession is arranged, and an empty coffin containing only
stones and dust, is buried in the graveyard. Renunciation is part and parcel of resurrection. Miss Pros has
renounced worldly possessions with no regret. Charles Darnay is the living embodiment of renunciation. He has
watched with horror the in human treatment of his uncle meted out to the poor tenants. While quite a child he
was told of the murders, rape, and extortion by the uncle. Gladly and voluntarily he renounces the huge
ancestral property and chooses the life of a poor French Tutor.Finally, resurrection is the life of the people of
France as a whole is suggested by the political and social regeneration through the French Revolution.

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International Journal of Research ISSN NO:2236-6124

CONCLUSION
In A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens uses a variety of themes, including revenge, revolution, fate,
and imprisonment. Though these are very important themes and are integral element of this novel, resurrection
serves as the main theme aside from the obvious one which is revolution. The theme of resurrection is
applicable outside of the novel’s setting and the theme of sacrifice is closely tied into it. Resurrection is the
overriding theme of this novel, manifest both literally and figuratively. The most important ‘resurrections’ in
the novel are those of Charles Darnay. These resurrection are surrounded with heavily religious language that
compare Carton’s sacrifice of his own life for others sins to Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

WORKS CITED:
Coles Editorial Board, Dickens: A Tale of Two Cities, Notes, Ontario, Coles Book Stores, 1972.
Elliot, Ralph W.V., Dickens: A Tale of Two cities, Macmillan, 1966.
Cock shut, A.O.J., the Imagination of Charles Dickens. New York:New York University Press,1962.
Grant, Allan, a Preface to Dickens, London: Longman Group,1984.

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