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Sacrifice In A Tale Of Two Cities

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Sacrifice in the Name of Love Charles Dickens became a profound writer at a young age, and had much literary success in his life. One of Dickens’ most famous works was his powerful historical fictional novel, A Tale of Two Cities. A Tale of Two Cities is full of metaphors and themes that help the reader understand the complexity of the novel, one of those major themes is sacrifice. In Dickens’ novel, sacrifice is strongly made in the name of love. Sacrifice made in the name of love is illustrated throughout the novel by Miss Pross, Dr. Manette, and Sydney Carton. Miss Pross makes a major sacrifice in the name of love for Lucie in the novel. Miss Pross is a red haired woman that practically raises Lucie and loves and protects her as if she …show more content…

Throughout the novel, Miss Pross continues to show her love for Lucie up to the point that she is willing to give her life for her. On the night that Madame Defarge tries to catch Lucie grieving for Darnay, Miss Pross is there as Lucie’s protection. In the midst of their argument, Miss Pross is brought to an emotional state. Dickens’ explains to the reader what is behind her tears when he says, “but, her courage was of that emotional nature that it brought the irrepressible tears into her eyes. This was a courage that Madame Defarge so little comprehended as to mistake for weakness” (Dickens 286). Miss Pross is willing to give her life for Lucie in this moment, and her tears are tears of courage and love. When Madame Defarge pulls out a gun, the two women fight until the gun goes off. The reader learns Miss Pross sacrifices her hearing when Dickens states, “’If she don’t hear …show more content…

Manette sacrifices his mental health in the name of love for Lucie and her happiness. Dr. Manette is Lucie’s father and has been locked in prison for many years. He was sent to jail because of Lucie’s husband, Charles Darnay’s, family. Being in jail for a long amount of time puts him in a very bad mental state and Dr. Manette turns to shoemaking to keep him sane. Charles Darnay promises the Doctor that he will tell him about his past on his wedding morning if he marries Lucie Manette. When Darnay reveals his past, the Doctor pushes who he is aside for Lucie. Being his daughter, Dr. Manette has a lot of love for Lucie, and sacrifices his feelings for Darnay’s family so that she can be happy. The reader can understand that Dr. Manette is putting Lucie’s happiness first when he says, “’Take her, Charles! She is yours’” (149). However, when the Doctor figures out whom his daughter is about to marry, he relapses and begins to make shoes again. Dickens proves to us that the Doctor sacrifices his mental state when he says, “The secret was well kept, and Lucie was unconscious and happy; but he could not fail to observe that the shoemaker, whose hand had been a little out at first, was growing dreadfully skillful, and that he had never been so intent on his work, and that his hands had never been so nimble and expert, as in the dusk of the ninth evening” (152). This was kept a secret from Lucie so that she would not worry and so that she could be happy. Further along in the

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