Charles Darnay

Charles is the guy who’s got it all. Born a French nobleman. He leaves his land and his family in the dust and begins his life over as Charles Dranay. Darnay is hardworking. Dickens writes, "Miss Manette, I am a man of business. I have a business charge to acquit myself of. In your reception of it, don’t heed me any more than if I was a speaking machine-truly, I am not much else. I will, with your leave, relate to you, miss, the story of one of our customers." (Dickens 36). I chose a hammer to symbolize Charles Darnay's hard work. His life kind of revolves around work but he has a soft spot for Lucie and only Lucie. He tells Lucie that he is taking care of her because it's strictly business but he has grown to love her. Besides her, he focuses on work and nothing else. Next I chose money to symbolize Darnay's care for other people.  He doesn't care for the money unlike his family, he wants to give it to the poor. He has a kind heart. For example Dickens says, "'this property and France are lost to me, ' said the nephew sadly; 'I renounce them'" (Dickens 217). This quote indirectly characterizes Charles Darnay, since it describes one of his actions. Darnay wantes to give up his French name and any relation with his French family because he believes that the family has done wrong and wants nothing to do with it. This shows that Charles is a caring and responsible gentleman who does not only care for money and power, so I put a stack of dollars in his hand. He can do a lot with that money but he chose to give it to the poor. The well being of the people is more important to him, and he does not want to be apart of a family that has caused them so much harm. "I am only looking to sharing your fortunes, sharing your life and home, and being faithful to you to the death" (Dickens 235). This quote shows that Charles Darnay is a man who respects boundaries and does not want to get into others person space. He is saying that he does not want to separate and break up Dr. Manette and Lucie's. This characterizes him as trustworthy, as well, when he says that he will be faithful until his death. His true loyalty, dedication, and passion to achieve what he wants is shown here.

Light and Dark

Charles Dickens uses light and dark to illustrate hope for Lucie and Dr. Manette's relationship. To illustrate Dickens writes, "...on her fair young face, that looked as though she passed like a moving light" (Dickens 32). Lucie is the light to her father's world. Dickens shows that Lucie is going to shed light on Dr. Manette and help him with his depression. He didn't even know that he had a child, let alone that child living to an adult and finding him one day. Another example is when Dickens states, "'I want.' said Defarge: to let in a little more light here. You can bear a little more?" (Dickens 30). This conversation is between Defarge and Dr. Manette is when Lucie walk in. Lucie was the light being brought into the room. Lucie is going to bring good/light into his life. He has been locked up in a prison for over 18 years, so anything good that will come his way he will take. Later, when they hug, "his cold white head mingled with her radiant hair, which warmed and lighted it as though it were the light of Freedom shining on him" (Dickens 34). The warmth and love of his daughter are strong enough to bring Doctor Manette back from the cold, horrible place his mind has gone to during his years in prison. His daughter is his chance to bring back his old self that has seemed to vanish. Ultimately, Charles Dickens shows hope when Dr. Manette and Lucie meet by using light and dark.

The Wine-shop

In the book A Tale of Two Cities, Charles dickens foreshadows the French Revolution. He says, "it had stain many hands, too, and faces, and many naked feet, and many wooden shoes" (Dickens 21). When Charles Dickens speaks of the stains he's symbolizing the blood that was shed in the next few years coming. Dickens emphasizes the bloodshed even more when he writes,"...scrawled upon a wall with his fingers dipped in muddy wineless—BLOOD" (Dickens 21). Also he hints how hunger can change a person into an animal. He writes,"some men kneel down, made scoops of their two hands jointed...dipped in the puddles with little mugs... Or even with handkerchiefs from woman's heads… Started here and there, to cut off a little stream of wine that started away in new directions..." (Dickens 21). These people are literally on their knees trying to get this wine. They are doing anything for that wine. The monarchies have all the food they could ever want but then there's these kind of people, the poor. They are feeding their children wine, their young children. The monachary is doing nothing. Dickens foreshadows the bloodshed and the hunger that will soon be coming with the war.