Meghan White
Mrs. Izzo
AP English
01 May 2009
Macbeth
-ShakespeareSummary
1. Duncan hears that Macbeth and Banquo have defeated enemy armies from Ireland and
Norway.
2. Macbeth and Banquo meet the witches, who make prophecies. They predict that Macbeth
will become thane of Cawdor then king of Scotland, and Banquo will start a line of
Scottish kings, though he will never be one. The two men doubt the prophecies until
some men come by and tell Macbeth he has indeed been made thane of Cawdor.
3. Lady Macbeth convinces her husband to kill Duncan in order to gain the kingship.
Macbeth kills Duncan in his sleep and frames the chambermaids, who he also kills.
Duncan’s sons flee fearing their own murders.
4. Macbeth fears that the witches’ prophecy about Banquo will become true, so he orders
the death of Banquo and his son Fleance. Banquo is killed successfully, but Fleance flees.
5. At a feast, Macbeth is visited by Banquo’s ghost. Lady Macbeth attempts to quell her
raging husband, who is frightening his guests.
6. Macbeth visits the witches, who show him more prophecies. They tell him that he must
beware Macduff, that no man of woman born can harm him, and that he is safe until
Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane Castle. Macbeth takes comfort in this information.
7. In order to protect himself from Macduff, Macbeth orders the seizing of Macduff’s castle
and the murder of Macduff’s wife and children.
8. Hearing of his family’s murders, Macduff works with Malcolm to raise an army to fight
Macbeth.
9. Lady Macbeth has fits of sleepwalking where she sees bloodstains on her hands. Lady
Macbeth kills herself, causing Macbeth great despair.
10. Macbeth prepares for the coming invasion, though he feels safe because of the witches
prophecies.
11. Macduff’s English army advances on Dunsinane Castle shielded by branches from the
woods, confirming the witches’ second prophecy.
12. Macbeth fights well, but his army slowly falls to their opposition.
13. Macduff tells Macbeth that he was born by a caesarian section, thus making him “not
woman borne” and confirming the witches’ third prophecy.
14. Macbeth fights Macduff, but is ultimately beheaded and killed.
15. Malcolm becomes the king of Scotland.
Characters
Macbeth – Macbeth, the protagonist, is introduced as a courageous and valiant soldier.
Macbeth’s interactions with the witches show both his ambition and self-doubt. When first
approached with the proposition of murder, Macbeth is hesitant and has to be convinced by his
wife. As the plot progresses, though, Macbeth turns into a blood-thirsty killing machine.
Macbeth does feel guilt, as shown by the presence of Banquo’s ghost, but he will do all it takes
to become and remain powerful.
Lady Macbeth – Lady Macbeth is the opposite of what would be expected from a female
character in the time period. While she holds the desire for social power that many women aspire
to have, she is willing to go to excessive means to attain it. She insults her husband’s masculinity
in order to convince him to murder, showing that she may be the stronger of the two. Like her
husband, Lady Macbeth feels guilt. Her sleepwalking and image of blood on her hands
demonstrate this fact, and in the end she commits suicide because her guilt has driven her insane.
The Witches – The witches add a certain element of mystery to the play. Their prophecies prove
to be almost always true, but the question remains: are they fulfilled because of fate, or because
Macbeth works towards their fulfillment? In other words, do the witches control life or simply
toy with it?
Banquo – Banquo is a brave and noble man who is murdered by Macbeth in his attempt to
protect his crown. Banquo is ambitious, but he does not strive to fulfill any of his ambitions.
Banquo’s chosen path represents the path that Macbeth could have taken rather than the path of
violence and murder. The presence of Banquo’s ghost is a constant reminder to Macbeth of his
lost opportunity and his now ever-plaguing guilt.
Duncan – Duncan is the Scottish king that Macbeth kills in order to take control of the throne.
Macduff – Macduff is the Scottish noblemen who led the army to fight Macbeth. Macduff
wanted revenge for the murder of his family by Macbeth.
Malcolm – Malcolm is Duncan’s son who takes over the Scottish crown after Macbeth is
dethroned, representing the return to order in Scotland.
Fleance – Fleance is Banquo’s son who is prophesized to become king. At the play’s close, the
whereabouts of Fleance are unknown, so whether or not the witches’ prophecy came true is
never to be known.
Setting
The witches’ cave – The witches’ cave has a very mysterious atmosphere, which is very fitting
with the mysterious women and their prophecies.
Macbeth’s castles – The woods surrounding Macbeth’s castles create another mysterious
atmosphere for the play.
Symbols
Weather – The changing weather during different events in the play represents the corruption of
moral and political order.
Blood – Blood is typically an archetype for violence, but in Macbeth it symbolizes the guilt that
is felt by Macbeth and his wife. For example, Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking fits include her
hallucination of blood on her hands. The blood does not represent her want for murder and
violence, but rather the guilt she feels for the murders she has already committed.
Motifs
Hallucinations – The hallucinations Macbeth is famous for serve as reminders of the guilt that
Macbeth and his wife feel. The image of the sword and Banquo’s ghost demonstrate Macbeth’s
guilt for killing his friends. The image of blood on Lady Macbeth’s hands show her guilt for her
murders as well.
Prophecies – The prophecies in the play help to foreshadow events in the future. The witches’
numerous prophecies cannot be taken completely seriously, though. The prophecy about
Banquo’s sons does not come true, and the prophecy about the man “not woman borne” must be
taken as a riddle in order to be fulfilled.
Themes
The power of ambition – Macbeth has a lot of ambition; he wants to be the king. He would no
typically be the type to murder, but his ambition overcomes his common sense. At first, no one
stops him from chasing his dreams. His wife even convinces him to undergo drastic measures in
order to gain the crown. Once he has started, Macbeth cannot stop his killing spree; he kills
everyone who gets in his way. Macbeth’s unchecked ambition leads to many deaths, including
his own.
The question of fate – The witches’ prophecies raise the question of who controls life: a person,
or their destiny. In the play, it is unknown whether Macbeth fulfils the prophecies because he is
driven to do so by his ambition, or because it was his fate all along.
A woman’s true role – Lady Macbeth wants nothing more than to be Queen of Scotland, and she
freely expresses this to her husband. Lady Macbeth is the driving force behind many of
Macbeth’s actions, including his murders. Rather than being the stereotypical housewife, Lady
Macbeth almost curses her own femininity and exchanges it for violence and power.
The Importance of Being Earnest
-Oscar WildeSummary
1. Jack arrives at Algernon’s apartment in order to propose to Gwendolen.
2. After Algernon questions Jack about a cigarette case, Jack reveals that he leads a double
life. He explains that he is Ernest in the city, and Jack in the country. In the country, he
tells others that Ernest is his troublesome brother.
3. Algernon reveals that he created an invalid friend called Bunbury, whose illnesses allow
Algernon to travel to the country whenever he pleases.
4. Lady Bracknell arrives with Gwendolen, and Jack proposes. Gwendolen tells Jack that
part of her attraction for him is due to the fact that she believes that his name is Ernest,
and she would not marry him if his name were anything else.
5. Lady Bracknell questions Jack about himself, and he reveals that he was discovered in a
handbag in a coat room, and has no idea who his parents are. Lady Bracknell forbids him
to marry Gwendolen.
6. Algernon, posing as Jack’s imaginary brother Ernest, arrives at Jack’s country estate
where he meets and falls for Cecily.
7. Jack informs Miss Prism and Dr. Chasuble that his brother Ernest has died, and Jack
expresses his wish to be christened by the name Ernest. Cecily then emerges and tells of
the arrival of Jack’s brother.
8. Algernon proposes to Cecily, who accepts and tells him that they have been engaged for
months as a part of Cecily’s imagination. She also mentions that she loves him for his
name, which she thinks is Ernest. Algernon also asks Chasuble to christen him as Ernest.
9. Gwendolen arrives as a surprise. She and Cecily have an argument over who is really
engaged to “Ernest.” When Algernon and Jack arrive, the matter is straightened out and
their identities are revealed.
10. Lady Bracknell arrives, and Algernon tells her of his engagement to Cecily. Jack will not
allow Cecily to be married until Lady Bracknell allows Gwendolen to be married.
11. Lady Bracknell hears about Miss Prism, and becomes very interested. Miss Prism arrives,
and begins to act very oddly. Lady Bracknell questions Miss Prism about a baby whom
Miss Prism had lost years earlier. Prism explains that she mixed up the bag with the baby
and a bag with some books, and as a result left the baby in the coatroom of a train station.
12. Jack becomes very interested in the conversation, and he presses Miss Prism for details.
He retrieves a handbag which Miss Prism identifies as her own. Jack embraces her,
assuming she is his mother.
13. Lady Bracknell corrects Jack, telling him that he is the son of her poor sister, and
therefore Algernon’s older brother.
14. Jack and Gwendolen are curious as to what Jack’s real name is. After researching it, he
discovers that his name is indeed Ernest John.
15. The three couples—Jack and Gwendolen, Algernon and Cecily, and Miss Prism and Dr.
Chasuble—embrace, and Jack recognizes the “vital importance of being earnest.”
Characters
Jack Worthing –– Jack, the play’s protagonist, lives a double life; in the town he is Ernest, and in
the country he is Jack. Jack has created a troublesome younger brother named Ernest, whom he
uses as an excuse to visit the town and act indulgently. In the town, he is friends with Algernon
Moncrieff. Jack falls in love with Algernon’s cousin Gwendolen, but her mother Lady Bracknell
does not approve of their marriage because Jack lacks a family. He initially has no clue as to who
his parents are. As a baby, he was found abandoned in a coat closet at a train station. He was
found and adopted by an old man, who made Jack the guardian of Cecily, the man’s
granddaughter. Eventually, Jack discovers that he is the son of Lady Bracknell’s sister, and
therefore Algernon’s brother and Lady Bracknell’s nephew. With the issue of his family cleared
up, Jack is allowed to marry Gwendolen. Jack is the play’s hypocrite; he uses his fictional
brother Ernest to indulge in actions he criticizes his “brother” for. Jack is Wilde’s representation
of traditional Victorian values and his condemnation of the obsession with maintaining one’s
respectable reputation.
Algernon Moncrieff –– Algernon, the secondary protagonist of the play, leads a double life
similar to his friend Jack’s. Algernon does not have much responsibility, so he has created a
sickly friend called Bunbury, whom he uses to get out of social obligations. Algernon calls this
practice of leading a separate life “bunburying.” Jack is the nephew of Lady Bracknell and the
cousin of Gwendolen. Algernon, posing as Jack’s brother Ernest, meets Cecily and proposes to
her. Jack disapproves of this marriage until Lady Bracknell approves of his. Algernon eventually
discovers that he is the younger brother of Jack, and he is allowed to marry Cecily. Unlike Jack,
Algernon admits to the wrongness of his lies, and he takes pleasure in how clever it is.
Gwendolen Fairfax –– Gwendolen is the daughter of Lady Bracknell and cousin of Algernon.
Gwendolen represents traditional Victorian values. She is set on constantly improving herself,
and she adores Jack primarily because she thinks his name is Ernest. Her fascination with the
name hinders her ability to see the man’s lies, symbolizing the Victorian fixation with reputation
and honor. Gwendolen is very confident and speaks her mind. She is much like her mother, and
perhaps more extreme.
Cecily Cardew – Cecily is the ward of Jack Worthing. She is more of an imaginative, free spirit
compared to Gwendolen and the other women in the play. Cecily is also fixated on the name
Ernest, but only because it reminds her of the iniquity she knows Algernon for. Her invented
relationship with Ernest shows her fantastical, childish side. She is the opposite of Gwendolen;
she is in no way a traditional Victorian woman.
Lady Bracknell – Lady Bracknell is a controlling, successful, narrow-minded, traditional
Victorian woman who Wilde uses to mock the aristocracy. She is the mother of Gwendolen and
the aunt of Algernon.
Miss Prism – Miss Prism, Cecily’s governess, is a kind woman who harbors forbidden feelings
for Dr. Chasuble.
Dr. Chasuble – Chasuble is the rector on Jack’s estate, and he clearly has romantic feelings for
Miss Prism.
Lane – Lane is Algernon’s servant, and he is initially the only person who knows about
Algernon’s “bunburying.”
Setting
London, England – The play opens at Algernon’s flat in London. In London, Jack poses as
Ernest and divulges himself into a life of luxury and indulgence. In the country, he acts as though
London is a place solely for inconvenient business, yet his behavior in the city is just the
opposite. The setting in England has almost the same atmosphere as Jack’s manor in the country.
Hertfordshire, England – Jack’s manor in the country is where he actually deals with most of his
business. Much more nature is seen while at Jack’s manor, but its beauty is not emphasized as
would be expected. Rather it is a part of life for Jack, Cecily and everybody else. The similarity
of the country and city settings show that the characters in both places are very much similar;
they have the same goals, values, and intentions, but choose to carry out their business in
different ways.
Symbols
Ernest/Bunbury – Ernest and Bunbury, the double lives led by Jack and Algernon, symbolize the
deceit and manipulation of Victorian society. These dishonest lives allow Jack and Algernon to
get the best of both worlds without repercussion. Through Ernest and Bunbury, Wilde criticizes
Victorian society who escaped responsibility and valued reputation.
Food – Food plays a large role in the play. It is almost always a source of conflict between
characters. Food is not only a social tool utilized by characters in the play, but it also symbolizes
gluttony in general. Rather than indulge in sexual gluttony, for instance, Jack and Algernon
devour food with much enthusiasm. Algernon even accuses Jack of devouring his food as though
he was already married to Gwendolen.
Motifs
Death – Mentions of death frequently occur throughout the play. Overall, death is treated as a
light subject. Lady Bracknell behaves as though death is something controllable, such as when
she criticizes Bunbury for his “shilly-shallying” between life and death. The idea of controlling
death ties into the idea of living ones life as a work of art; the final decision to die contributes to
the artwork of life.
Puns – Puns are a form of comedy Wilde uses in his play. While the puns are abundant, they are
rarely simple. For example, the title itself is a pun. The double meaning in each pun plays into
the deceit which is intertwined throughout the play and throughout Victorian society itself.
Themes
The essence of marriage – Marriage plays a huge role in the play. Much of the conflict is
centered around marriage and its purpose: is it for business or for pleasure? To Lady Bracknell,
marriage is for business, including social position, reputation, and income. Algernon’s views on
marriage are fairly cynical until he meets Cecily, but Jack is a romantic from the start. The entire
play deals with the debate of whether marriage is for business or pleasure and if marriage is
pleasant or unpleasant.
The difference between hypocrisy and inventiveness – Jack and Algernon create similar
deceptions, but the deceptions have different impacts. Jack’s scheme impacts not only himself,
but also Cecily and everybody else at the manor. Jack is very into his lie. In turn, his entire life is
a contradiction. He is a hypocrite. On the contrary, Algernon’s lie does not have a great impact
on either others or the truth. He merely uses his lie to escape the annoying social responsibilities
he holds. Algernon’s lie is more inventive than hypocritical. In the end, it is Algernon who truly
lives his life like a work of art.
The absurdity of strict morals – Morality is in high regard to all of the characters, and Wilde uses
this idea to criticize their morals. In Victorian society existed many rigid rules that Wilde saw as
absurd and unnecessary. In the play, the word “one” is used often, as if to lay out rules for all
people to follow. The ludicrousness that Wilde sees in Victorian society is expressed in his
condemnation of the strict morals characteristic to the era.
The Crucible
-Arthur MillerSummary
1. Betty falls into a coma after dancing with in the woods. Abigail claims that it was just
simple dancing.
2. Abigail tells the other girls not to say anything.
3. John Proctor fends off Abigail, who still has feelings for him.
4. Betty wakes up screaming, and the neighbors debate whether or not she is bewitched.
5. After Hale investigates, he becomes suspicious and questions Tituba, who admits to
commuting with the devil. Tituba, Abigail, and Betty start accusing people of doing the
same.
6. Elizabeth tells Proctor to turn Abigail in for fraud, but he refuses, so she accuses him of
still having feelings for Abigail.
7. Mary tells the Proctors that Elizabeth has been accused of witchcraft.
8. Giles Corey and Francis Nurse arrive to tell the Proctors that their wives had been
arrested for witchcraft.
9. Elizabeth is arrested, and Proctor tells Mary to turn Abigail in.
10. Proctor brings Mary to court, where he discovers that Elizabeth is pregnant and will be
spared for a while.
11. Mary accuses Abigail and the girls of fraud, and Abigail in turn accuses Mary of
bewitching her.
12. Proctor confesses his affair with Abigail in order to show her motives. When asked to
confirm it, Elizabeth tries to protect John and denies it.
13. Abigail still accuses Mary, who breaks down and calls Proctor a witch.
14. Proctor rages and is arrested.
15. Elizabeth asks Proctor to confess. He confesses, but wont name names, and instead tears
up his confession. He is hung.
Characters
John Proctor – Proctor is the play’s tragic hero. He is a generally good man, but he has a few
flaws that are problematic for him. He makes others feel stupid, and he hates stupidity, but his
most dangerous flaw is his lust for Abigail. Their affair provides the jealousy that motivates
Abigail to begin the entire witch hunt ordeal. The importance Proctor puts on his reputation
makes it difficult for him to confess to his adultery and fix his problems. By the time he has
worked up the courage, it is too late. Proctor has a chance at redemption, and he comes close to
taking it, but in the end he takes the high road. Rather than lie and accuse others, Proctor chooses
to save his personal integrity and not give in to the madness that has overwhelmed the town.
Abigail Williams – Abigail Williams is the villain of the play; she is the reason for the deaths of
many innocent people. Her motives are based in sexual desire and jealousy. She takes the
opportunity to seize as much power as she can, for she typically has no power as an unmarried
orphan. Her power shows the importance of religion to the people of Salem. A usually powerless
young girl suddenly holds the power to end the lives of others simply by accusing them of a
ridiculous crime.
Rev. John Hale – John Hale enters the play in the first act when he examines Betty. Witchcraft is
Hale’s specialty, and he is both knowledgeable and excited about his first case. Hale initially
encourages others to testify, but in the end he believes the Proctors rather than Abigail and the
girls. By the time he quits the trials, it is too late—they are no longer in his hands. Hale
emphasizes survival over doing what is morally right. His response to the trials is not defiance as
it should be, but rather forfeit.
Rev. Samuel Parris – Samuel Parris is the father of the bewitched Betty. He is a widower who is
not good with children. Parris is a reverend who preaches sermons of hellfire and damnation,
turning many parishioners away. Due to this fact, Parris believes that he is being persecuted.
Parris’s biggest concern is his image. He fears that if he cannot control Abigail and Betty, others
will begin to think that he cannot control the community. Parris demands his own property in
Salem in order to have a claim in case he is thrown out by the residents. Parris is continually
doing everything in his power to keep his image clean, yet in the process he tarnishes it greatly.
Elizabeth Proctor – Elizabeth Proctor, John Proctor’s wife, is an honest, virtuous, and loyal
woman who protects her husband even after he has committed adultery.
Mary Warren – Mary Warren, a servant to the Proctors, is one of Abigail’s friends who is
influenced by others around her and gives in to the lies.
Thomas Putnam – Putnam is an influential but greedy man who uses the witch trials as an
opportunity to increase his own wealth by buying the land of those accused.
Betty Parris – Betty, the daughter of Rev. Parris, initiates the entire debacle when she falls into a
coma after dancing in the woods. It is unknown as to whether or not her illness was actually real.
Setting
Salem – Knowing that the play takes place in Salem, Massachusetts gives readers at least an
inkling about what may happen. Salem is famous for its witch trials in the 17th century.
Parris’s House – Parris’s house is a bright place where religion is dominant and characters can be
seen praying for those in their community. Contrasted to Parris’s religious corruption seen later
in the play, Parris’s house is a rather flattering image of faith and virtue.
Symbols
Crucible – The title of the work refers to either a container that will not crack under pressure, or
a great trial or test. Both meanings fit in with the play. The characters are tested to see who will
crack under pressure, and who will pass their “crucible” and survive.
Ten Commandments – Proctor’s religion is tested by his knowledge of the 10 commandments.
He knows all but one—the one regarding adultery. Because Proctor has repented for his sin and
returned to a fairly religious life, the test is rather pointless. Proctor’s little quiz is representative
of the superficial and dumb way of the trials.
Motifs
Empowerment – Many characters that would typically have no power in society are given just
that. Take, for example, Abigail; she is a female, and orphan, and a teenager. None of these traits
would typically give her power, but the chaos of the trials gives her the power to sentence others
to death. Other empowered people are women and servants.
Legal proceedings – Legal proceedings, such as accusations and confessions, dominate the work.
Characters are constantly accusing others in order to deflect blame from themselves, and
confessing in order to avoid further interrogation. The commonality of legal proceedings shows
the constant presence of judgment.
Themes
The consequences of standing up for what is right – In the play, people who stand up for what is
right suffer despite the fact that they are doing the right thing. Proctor stands up and suffers the
worst consequences while Mary walks free because she gave in and went with the flow. The
witch trials in Salem did more than rid of any witches—they tested the citizens and found the
weak links in the town.
Diversion of blame – In the play, people go to great lengths in order to protect themselves. They
are willing to blame others simply in the attempt to diver the blame from themselves.
Mob mentality – In an attempt to stay safe, people tend to follow the crowd no matter how
absurd the crowd’s actions and ideas may be.
A Tale of Two Cities
-Charles DickensSummary
1. Jerry Cruncher, an odd-job man, stops a mail coach in order to deliver a message to Jarvis
Lorry instructing him to wait in Dover for a young woman. Lorry replies with the words
“recalled to life.”
2. Lorry meets Lucie in Dover, then takes her to London where they meet Defarge. Defarge
takes the two to see Dr. Manette, Lucie’s father who had been driven mad after eighteen
years in prison.
3. Five years later, Charles Darnay is on trial for treason. His lawyer Stryver is not much
help until his drunken colleague Sydney Carton clinches the case by pointing out the
uncanny resemblance between Darnay and himself.
4. Darnay and Carton meet at a tavern and discuss Lucie and her sympathy towards Darnay.
Carton resents Darnay because he sees Darnay as everything that he could have been.
5. Meanwhile in France, Marquis Evremonde awaits the arrival of his nephew, Darnay,
from London. When Darnay arrives, he curses the French aristocracy and renounces his
title as an Evremond. The Marquis is murdered that night, and the killer left a note signed
“Jacques.”
6. A year later, Darnay asks Dr. Manette for his permission to marry Lucie, claiming that he
will reveal his true identity if the doctor approves. Carton also confesses his love for
Lucie, but he also admits that his life is worthless and Lucie has led him to dream of a
better life.
7. In Paris, a spy called Barsad enters the Defarges’ wine shop hoping to acquire evidence
about the mounting revolution. Madame Defarge is knitting a secret registry of people
whom the revolutionaries want to execute.
8. On the day of Lucie and Darnay’s wedding, Darnay tells Dr. Manette his true identity.
Manette slips back into his prison habit of cobbling shoes. Nine days later, he slips back
out and joins the newlyweds on their honeymoon.
9. Eight years later, Darnay goes to France to free an imprisoned man. Upon his arrival, he
is arrested as an emigrant. Lucie and Manette go to France to help him. Darnay remains
imprisoned for over a year before Manette uses his connections from the Bastille to free
his son in law. Later that night, Darnay is arrested again after charges come from the
Defarges.
10. During Darnay’s trial, Defarge produces a letter explaining the reason for Manette’s
eighteen year imprisonment; the Evremond brothers asked for Manette’s help in assisting
a woman, whom they had raped, and her brother, whom they had stabbed. The Evremond
brothers had Manette arrested to keep him from revealing their crimes.
11. The jury sentences Darnay to death for the wrongdoings of his relatives.
12. Carton hears the Defarges conspiring to have Lucie and her daughter killed as well
because Madame Defarge turns out to be the surviving sister of the raped and stabbed
siblings.
13. Carton has the Manettes sent back to London, and drugs and switches clothes with
Darnay.
14. Madame Defarge arrives at Lucie’s apartment in order to arrest her, but she instead finds
Miss Pross, Lucie’s servant. After a brief fight, Madame Defarge is killed by a bullet
from her own gun.
15. Carton is executed in the place of Darnay, but he dies knowing that his life finally has
meaning.
Characters
Charles Darnay – Charles Darnay is French aristocracy by birth, but he disassociates himself
from the injustice in France by choosing to live in England. Darnay’s actions make him a very
admirable character; he rejects his cruel family, yet tells Manette the truth, and risks his life to
help others. Most other characters in the novel admire Darnay. Carton sees Darnay as someone a
better version of himself. Darnay is essentially the play’s hero but for his lack of an internal
struggle. Critics’ main complaint about Darnay is that he is a flat character whose virtue is too
consistent.
Sydney Carton – Sydney Carton at first appears to be a drunken, indolent lawyer lacking any
prospects in life. He deems his life worthless and freely admits that he cares for nothing and no
one. Initially, he is almost exactly the opposite of Darnay but for their similar appearances.
Carton’s transformation begins with his profession of his love for Lucie. Carton’s completely
selfless sacrifice makes him one of the novel’s most admirable characters, a very unexpected
outcome judging by Carton’s original reputation.
Dr. Manette – Dr. Manette is one of the novel’s more mysterious characters. Even when the
reason for his imprisonment is revealed, the extent of his suffering is never disclosed. One can
assume, though, that his treatment was probably rather harsh judging by his hobby of shoe
making and his occasional relapses. Manette’s transformation throughout the novel shows the
power that individuals have on the lives of other. Lucie’s love for her father truly allows him to
be “recalled to life.”
Lucie Manette – Lucie is the quintessential romantic character in the novel. Her compassion and
love has the power to affect many people. Referenced as “the golden thread,” Lucie holds her
family together. She is the inspiration for the major transformation in Carton’s life. All parts of
Lucie’s life are filled with love, compassion, and perfection. Like Darnay, though, Lucie’s
character is criticized for being flat and uninteresting.
Madame Defarge – Madame Defarge is a cruel, relentless, and bloodthirsty woman who
represents the hate and violence of the revolution.
Jarvis Lorry – Jarvis Lorry is a honest, moral man who works for Telleson’s bank and proves to
be a loyal friend to the Manettes.
Jerry Cruncher – Jerry Cruncher is a shot-tempered and uneducated man who does odd-jobs for
Telleson’s and supplements his income as a “resurrection man” who digs up bodies and sells
them to scientists.
Marquis Evremond – The Marquis Evremond, Darnay’s uncle, is a French aristocrat with no
regard for the lives of peasants embodies the cruel class system of the time.
Setting
London – London is the calmer of the two locations. The three places inside London where a
significant amount of action takes place are the court, Telleson’s bank, and the Manette’s house.
These select locations give an appropriate sense of the British government, business, and home
life. Justice is rarely served in court, and the bank is old-fashioned and uncomfortable, but the
Manettes’ house is a homey, calm place where even Carton is happy.
Paris – Paris is the more calamitous of the two settings. Like in London, three aspects of life are
shown: government, business, and home. The French courts are even more vicious and unjust as
those in London, and the Defarges’ wine shop is more of a meeting house than an actual
business. Even the Evremonds’ chateau has a tarnished image from the numerous violent
activities taking place there. The overall feeling in Paris is a sense of fear and chaos.
Symbols
The broken wine cask – The broken wine cask outside of the Defarges’ shop and the madness
that ensues in the street represents both the literal hunger of the peasants for food, and the
metaphorical hunger for rights and freedom. The wine is compared to blood, foreshadowing the
blood that will later flood the streets.
Madame Defarge’s knitting – Madame Defarge’s knitting is representative on more than one
level. Literally, it represents the people who the revolutionaries want to kill. It also represents the
blood-hungry attitude of the revolutionaries. Madame Defarge’s knitting seems innocent from
the outside, but in reality she is plotting cruel, vengeful murders.
Motifs
Doubles – Doubles are present in many places in the novel. The opening lines present many
doubles, such as “the best of times” and “the worst of times.” The action takes place between
two cities, and the revolution takes place between two sides. Dickens uses doubles to show both
opposites and parallels. Opposite characters, such as Lucie and Madame Defarge, and parallel
characters, such as Darnay and Carton, help to emphasize the themes of the work by allowing
assumptions to be made based on the contrasting characters.
Shadows and darkness – Shadows and darkness are present in many places in the novel. The
book opens in the darkness of the night, and many scenes take place in the darkness or shadow.
The recurrent darkness adds to the mystery of the novel and the theme that a great mystery
surrounds every person.
Themes
Each person is surrounded by their own mystery – The narrator states that “every human creature
is constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other.” This idea suggests that each
individual is surrounded by their own secrets that are not known to all people around them.
Darnay, for example, has a second life as French aristocracy, which is initially a mystery to the
rest of the characters.
The effect of an individual – The huge effect that one single person can have on another is an
overarching theme in the novel. Lucie herself holds the power to “recall” her father “to life.” She
also gives meaning to Carton’s life. In turn, Carton’s sacrifice saves the life of not only Darnay,
but his family as well. In the midst of a revolution built upon the actions of many, the effect of an
individual’s actions is shown.
The necessity of sacrifice – Sacrifice is made not only by Carton, but by the thousands of
revolutionaries who died for the cause. Had there not be any sacrifices made, things would have
ended a lot differently. Darnay’s death would have torn the Manette family apart, and the control
by the French aristocracy would continue to repress the residents and peasants. Sacrifices were
made, though, because they were necessary for an overall peace in the end.