Tale of Two Cities

1. Tale of Two Cities Meredith Martin and Angeline Nercessian

2. “It was the best of times” • “Ever busily winding the golden thread that bound them all together, weaving the service of her happy influence through the tissue of all their lives, and making it predominate nowhere, Lucie heard in the echoes of years none but friendly and soothing sounds.” • Book Two Chapter 21, pg. 212 • This is a time in Lucie’s life where everything in her life is good and happy.

3. “It was the worst of times” • “The faintness of the voice was pitiable and dreadful. It was not the faintness of physical weakness, thought confinement and hard fare no doubt had their part in it…So expressive it was, of a hopeless and lost creature, that a famished traveler, wearied out by lonely wandering in a wilderness, would have remembered home and friends in such a tone before lying down to die.” • Book One Chapter 6, pg. 40 • This talks about Dr. Manette’s voice and how ruined it sounded after a long time imprisoned.

4. “It was the age of wisdom” • “On the marriage morning, Doctor Manette had made it his one urgent and express request to Charles Darnay, that the secret of his name should be – unless he, the Doctor, dissolved the obligation- kept inviolate between them. Nobody else knew it to be his name; his own wife had no suspicion of that fact; Mr. Lorry could have none.” • Book Two Chapter 24, pg. 241 • This shows the wisdom of Doctor Manette because he knew that Charles Darnay’s real identity should be kept a secret to protect his family.

5. “It was the age of foolishness” • “Two score and twelve were told off. From the farmer-general of seventy, who riches could not buy his life, to the seamstress of twenty, whose poverty and obscurity could not save her. Physical disease, engendered in the vices and neglects of men, will seize on victims of all degrees; and the frightful moral disorder, born of unspeakable suffering, intolerable oppression, and heartless indifference, smote equally without distinction.” • Book Three Chapter 13, pg. 351 • This shows the foolishness of the Revolutionaries because they targeted and killed random people like the seamstress.

6. “It was the epoch of belief” • “I see a beautiful city and a brilliant people rising from this abyss, and in their struggles to be truly free, in their triumphs and defeats, through long years to come, I see the evil of this time and of the previous time of which this is the natural birth, gradually making expiation for itself and wearing out.” • Book Three Chapter 15, pg. 381 • This is Carton’s belief that a new life will come from the destruction for the time.

7. “It was the epoch of incredulity” • “‘You are the fellow we want,’ said Defrage, in his ear, ‘You make these fools believe that it will last for ever. Then, they are the more insolent, and it is the nearer ended.’” • Book Two Chapter 15, pg. 176 • This passage is when they visit the King and Queen and the mender of roads pretends to adore them and this reassures them of the peasants’ alliance with them.

8. “It was the season of Light” • “Mr. Charles Darnay – just released – congratulating him on his escape from death… Mr. Darnay had kissed her hand fervently and gratefully… ‘I am glad to have brought you off with honour, Mr. Darnay. It was an infamous prosecution, grossly infamous; but not the less likely to succeed on that account.’… ‘I have done my best for you, Mr. Darnay; and my best is as good as another man’s, I believe.’” • Book Two Chapter 4, pgs. 79-81 • This is after Charles Darnay is acquitted from his charges and he is being congratulated by everybody. The acquittal of Darnay shows the light of his future life.

9. “It was the season of Darkness” • “‘They are in great danger. They are in danger of denunciation by Madame Defrage. I know it from her own lips. I have overheard words of that women’s, to-night, which have presented their danger to me in strong colours. I have lost no time, and since then, I have seen the spy.’” • Book Three Chapter 12, pg. 349 • This is the account of Carton about Madame Defrage’s plan to imprison and accuse all of Darnay’s family.

10. “It was the spring of hope” • “The sea of black and threatening waters, and of destructive upheaving wave against wave, whose depths were yet unfathomed and whose forces were yet unknown. Through remorseless sea of turbulently swaying shapes, voices of vengeance, and faces hardened in the furnace of suffering until the touch of pity could make no mark on them.” • Book Two Chapter 21, pg. 222 • This shows hope of the Revolutionaries in their attempt to get rid of the upper class of France.

11. “It was the winter of despair” • “ ‘For the love of heaven, of justice, of generosity, of the honour of your noble name, I supplicate you, Monsieur heretofore the Marquis, to succour and release me. My fault is, that I have been true to you. Oh Monsieur heretofore the Marquis, I pray you be true to me!’” • Book Two Chapter 24, pg. 243 • This is the letter from Gabelle to Darnay pleading for rescue from an afflicted imprisonment.

12. “We had everything before us” • “‘If, when I tell you, dearest dear, that your agony is over, and that I have come here to take you from it, and that we go to England to be at peace and at rest, I cause you to think of your useful life laid to waste, and of our native France so wicked to you…Thank God for us, thank God!’” • Book One Chapter 6, pg. 46 • This quote is about the agony Doctor Manette went through and his daughter willing to take care of him and providing him a new life.

13. “We had nothing before us” • “‘Don’t despond,’ said Carton, very gently; ‘don’t grieve. I encouraged Dr. Manette in this idea, because I felt that it might one day be consolatory to her. Otherwise, she might think ‘his life was wantonly thrown away or wasted,’ and that might trouble her.’ ‘Yes, yes, yes,’ returned Mr. Lorry, drying his eyes, ‘you are right. But he will perish; there is no real hope.’ ‘Yes. He will perish: there is no real hope,’ echoed Carton.” • Book 3 Chapter 11, pg. 342 • The second time Darnay was in prison nobody had any hope for him.

14. “We are all going direct to heaven” • "As the patient eyes were lifted to his face, he saw a sudden doubt in them, and then astonishment. He pressed his work-worn, hunger-worn young fingers, and touched his lips. 'Are you dying for him?' she whispered. 'And his wife and child. Hush! Yes.' 'O you will let me hold your brave hand, stranger?' "Hush! Yes, my poor sister; to the last.'” • Book Three Chapter 13, pg. 360 • This shows Sydney Carton posing as Darnay in order to safe Darnay's family and his own life. He is sacrificing himself in order to protect the life and happiness of Darnay. This also shows the kindness Carton shows for the young, poor seamstress.

15. “We all going direct going the other way” • "It was nothing to her, that an innocent man was to die for the sins of his forefathers; she saw, not him, but them. It was nothing to her, that his wife was to be made a widow and his daughter an orphan; that was insufficient punishment, because they were her natural enemies and her prey, and as such had no right to live.” • Book Three Chapter 14, pg. 367 • This passage shows the revenge and cruelness of Madame Defrage. She cares nothing of Darnay's life; the only thing she wants is the revenge of her family.