Sacrifice in the Tale of Two Cities

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31 March 2011 The Sacrifices In Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, the theme of sacrifice is manifest in the novel in regards to the characters selfless actions from Lucie Manette devoting time to her husband before his final hours to Carton substituting his life in the place of a friend. The characters in the novel sacrifice their time to aid others. In order to preserve the life of a loved one, one may have to offer the life of another. Sydney Carton would surrender him at any opportunity he gets to extricate Ms. Manette or anyone she loves out of a troublesome situation. Carton stated that “if [his] career were of that better kind that there was any opportunity or capacity of sacrifice in it, [he] would embrace any sacrifice for [Lucie] and for those dear to [her]” (Dickens chapter 19). Carton comforts Ms. Manette and reassures her that he will be there for her in her time of exigency. He informed her to “think now and then that [he] would give his life to keep a life [she loved beside her]” (Dickens chapter 19). Even in the absence of her husband “She arranged the little household as exactly as if [he] had been there” (Dickens 35) to visualize her quarters as if he were there. Lucie devotes her time to her husband from day to day while he is imprisoned. Her magnanimous sacrifices express to the reader the hardships she would endure to assuage her husband’s distress. Dr Manette puts his daughter’s safety before his own. During the trial, Dr. Manette exclaimed that “[his] daughter, and those dear to her, are far dearer to [him] and [his] life (Dickens chapter 39). The reader can conclude from doctor Manette’s statement that he fears losing his daughter and would sacrifice his virtue to secure his daughter. Though her father would go to great lengths to safeguard Lucie, he cannot prevent the inevitable situations. The court asserted that “If the Republic
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