Themes and Symbols in TOTC Tone is dark and ominous o Dover mail route o Mist o Darkly paneled room where Lorry meets Lucie Manette o Gloomy and suggestive o Darkness and secrets o Climate of suspense – gives readers many questions that need be answered (anticipation) Secrets: Every person possesses a secret (Discovered over a period of time – slowly) o Charles Darnay o Sydney Carton o Miss Pross o John Barsad o Doctor Manette o Madame Defarge o Mr. Lorry Symbolism Broken wine cask conveys the suffering and rage that will lead French peasantry to revolt. It has a nightmarish quality. People stain themselves with wine, the wine is smeared on their hands, feet and faces foreshadowing the approaching chaos during which the blood of aristocrats and political dissidents will cover the ground. The word “blood” is scrawled on the wall. Mob of people are like a beast, threatening with danger rather than promising freedom Hunger (anaphora) – dominates the people’s lives Jacques is name for revolutionary. Common name given to them by the aristocracy to accent their inferiority and deny their individuality (Like we use John Doe or Jane Doe) Madame Defarge’s knitting – a list of names of people condemned to die when the revolution occurs – vengefulness Shoemaker tools – monotonous activity to avoid boredom and insanity Golden hair = golden thread – hope Duality England of Dickens’s time is like France of the past, prior and up to Revolution (Dickens was more concerned with portraying the death and destruction that accompany revolution than with endorsing a working class revolt) Novel is a warning to England to redeem itself, to be reborn as various characters in novel are reborn/“recalled to life” Telson’s bank (where Jarvis Lorry and Jerry Cruncher both work) is a connection between both Paris and London Charles Darnay (France) and Sydney Carton (England): Look remarkably alike, both love Lucie Manette; Charles is noble, honorable almost to a fault; while Sydney appears to be useless, a wasted life, unredeemable Madame Defarge (France) and Dr. Manette (England): Defarge’s sister raped, brother murdered; Manette witnesses crime and is framed/imprisoned Ernest Defarge and Jarvis Lorry: Both businessmen, both care for Dr. Manette Madame Defarge and Miss Pross: Their final conflict representing bloody outcome of revolutionary action Lucie Manette: the “golden thread,” the light of redemption, the vehicle for rebirth England must be redeemed or be reduced to the bloody violence of the French Revolution Marriage of Charles and Lucie – similarities between the two cities/countries Burial and Resurrection: “Recalled to Life” - Characters redeemed in novel; primarily by humanity’s noblest qualities as represented by Lucie Manette (humanity can redeem itself, has the capacity for resurrection and rebirth) Imprisonment as burial/death Other themes/motifs: Theme: Commonality among all individuals (Beginning of Book I, Chapter 3); all revolutionaries named “Jaques,” etc. Motif: Storm/sea imagery: describes coming revolution, mob mentality (Dover beach) .