One of the first characters introduced in A Tale of Two Cities is Jerry Cruncher, whose purpose in the story seems very small, and seems to be comic relief. Nevertheless, the portrayal of Jerry Cruncher by Dickens discusses abusive relationships, the impact of parents, and morality in the end. As an introduction to Book the Second of A Tale of Two Cities, Jerry Cruncher’s seemingly pointless story discusses his family life and his profession. When he saw his wife praying, “he threw a boot at the woman” and cursed at her, showing his abusive relationship with his wife(Dickens 58). The inclusion of Jerry Cruncher’s abusiveness contributes to the story because it creates a minor character arc that gets resolved in the end. Consequently, Jerry’s
