The Evolution of Sacrifice The French Revolution was a seditious movement that involved much bloodshed and the killing of an entire race of aristocracy, which began with the peasants revolting against the nobles in France. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens is a great example of many kinds of sacrifices that people experienced not only for themselves, but also for their country and for what they believed in. During the French Revolution, the peasants had to be willing to sacrifice themselves for what they believed in for the Revolution to function as planned; therefore, those who were not willing, suffered the consequences. There are many types of sacrifice in a revolution, such as the sacrifice for your country, your fellow people,
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First, Madame Defarge’s brother attempts to sneak back into his master’s house to kill the man who had raped his sister out of his love for her, sacrificing his life. The brother states, “’Then I tracked the brother here, and last night climbed in – a common dog, but sword in hand’”. He knows that he is no match for the brother, but he sacrifices his life to defend his sister (253). The brother is sword fighting the man who raped his sister, and is completely willing to die to avenge her. Secondly, Miss Pross delays Madame Defarge to allow Lucie more time to escape, and even fights Madame Defarge, willing to sacrifice her life to protect Lucie. Dickens himself describes Miss Pross as having “the vigorous tenacity of love, always so much stronger than hate” (Dickens 286). Here, Dickens shows his personal opinion on the outcome of the fight. Miss Pross is sacrificing her life to defend Lucie in the name of love because she loves Lucie so much, that she is willing to die for her. Lastly, and the biggest example of sacrifice in the novel is Carton’s sacrifice for Lucie. Carton takes Darnay’s place in the jail and eventually goes to the Guillotine to give Lucie what he promised, “the life you love” (117). Carton foreshadows the ending when he tells Lucie to, “think now and then that there is a man who would give his life, to keep a life you love beside you!” (117). Carton loves Lucie more than anyone could, but he knows that she would not be happy with him, so he promises Lucie to always be there for her. He upholds this promise by sacrificing his life to give Lucie the life she loves, which is Charles Darnay. Love is the greatest motive for any sacrifice, as it is the greatest emotion of which people are capable of feeling, as Dickens clarifies in the
First, Madame Defarge’s brother attempts to sneak back into his master’s house to kill the man who had raped his sister out of his love for her, sacrificing his life. The brother states, “’Then I tracked the brother here, and last night climbed in – a common dog, but sword in hand’”. He knows that he is no match for the brother, but he sacrifices his life to defend his sister (253). The brother is sword fighting the man who raped his sister, and is completely willing to die to avenge her. Secondly, Miss Pross delays Madame Defarge to allow Lucie more time to escape, and even fights Madame Defarge, willing to sacrifice her life to protect Lucie. Dickens himself describes Miss Pross as having “the vigorous tenacity of love, always so much stronger than hate” (Dickens 286). Here, Dickens shows his personal opinion on the outcome of the fight. Miss Pross is sacrificing her life to defend Lucie in the name of love because she loves Lucie so much, that she is willing to die for her. Lastly, and the biggest example of sacrifice in the novel is Carton’s sacrifice for Lucie. Carton takes Darnay’s place in the jail and eventually goes to the Guillotine to give Lucie what he promised, “the life you love” (117). Carton foreshadows the ending when he tells Lucie to, “think now and then that there is a man who would give his life, to keep a life you love beside you!” (117). Carton loves Lucie more than anyone could, but he knows that she would not be happy with him, so he promises Lucie to always be there for her. He upholds this promise by sacrificing his life to give Lucie the life she loves, which is Charles Darnay. Love is the greatest motive for any sacrifice, as it is the greatest emotion of which people are capable of feeling, as Dickens clarifies in the