Zach Hanger
Mrs. Godard
Brit Lit Honors- 7
April 19 2017
Dicken’s character development in “A Tale of Two Cities” frequently consists of a recall to life or a rebirth. In fact, some experience multiple rebirths or resurrections. While the recalls to life can have spiritual or grotesque undertones, they also contain a common themes. Whether they are literal or figurative, each instance comprises of an attempt to give someone a chance to live again, or at the least a chance to change the way he/she lives. Not all of the resurrections Dickens includes are successful, but they each play a role in developing characters or themes. In the recall to life of Doctor Alexander Manette, Jerry Cruncher, Charles Darnay, and Sydney Carton, Charles Dickens …show more content…
It is a beneficial opportunity for someone to correct mistakes and have a better future. While Dr. Manette, Sydney Carton, and Charles Darnay all experience meaningful rebirths, Jerry Cruncher is a resurrection man in the most literal meaning of the word. Although he does miscellaneous jobs for Tellson’s bank during the day, he digs up graves during the night to sell the bodies. The irony is that Cruncher becomes a main part in Carton’s heroic plan. Because of a seemingly meaningless scene where Cruncher digs up an empty grave, Cruncher is able to reveal Barsad’s lie that Roger Cly is dead. Although he refuses to explain how he knows, he exclaims that Cly’s grave was indeed empty. Consequently, Barsad has to succumb to Cruncher and is then manipulated into helping with Carton’s plan. Instead of resurrecting men by stealing their bodies, Cruncher actually contributes to the salvation of Darnay’s life. This is quit the transformation because while delivering the message that Manette had been recalled to life, or released from prison, Cruncher mocks the saying and calls himself “an honest tradesmen” (Dickens 191). This is clearly not the case as he participates in illegal activity to make a few extra dollars. Towards the end of the novel, Cruncher announces that he will become a legal grave digger to make up for all of the stolen bodies. Hence, while Cruncher’s main role is to provide a comic representation of the saying recall to life, he experiences somewhat of a rebirth in his changed attitude and contributes enormously to the resurrection of
Mrs. Godard
Brit Lit Honors- 7
April 19 2017
Dicken’s character development in “A Tale of Two Cities” frequently consists of a recall to life or a rebirth. In fact, some experience multiple rebirths or resurrections. While the recalls to life can have spiritual or grotesque undertones, they also contain a common themes. Whether they are literal or figurative, each instance comprises of an attempt to give someone a chance to live again, or at the least a chance to change the way he/she lives. Not all of the resurrections Dickens includes are successful, but they each play a role in developing characters or themes. In the recall to life of Doctor Alexander Manette, Jerry Cruncher, Charles Darnay, and Sydney Carton, Charles Dickens …show more content…
It is a beneficial opportunity for someone to correct mistakes and have a better future. While Dr. Manette, Sydney Carton, and Charles Darnay all experience meaningful rebirths, Jerry Cruncher is a resurrection man in the most literal meaning of the word. Although he does miscellaneous jobs for Tellson’s bank during the day, he digs up graves during the night to sell the bodies. The irony is that Cruncher becomes a main part in Carton’s heroic plan. Because of a seemingly meaningless scene where Cruncher digs up an empty grave, Cruncher is able to reveal Barsad’s lie that Roger Cly is dead. Although he refuses to explain how he knows, he exclaims that Cly’s grave was indeed empty. Consequently, Barsad has to succumb to Cruncher and is then manipulated into helping with Carton’s plan. Instead of resurrecting men by stealing their bodies, Cruncher actually contributes to the salvation of Darnay’s life. This is quit the transformation because while delivering the message that Manette had been recalled to life, or released from prison, Cruncher mocks the saying and calls himself “an honest tradesmen” (Dickens 191). This is clearly not the case as he participates in illegal activity to make a few extra dollars. Towards the end of the novel, Cruncher announces that he will become a legal grave digger to make up for all of the stolen bodies. Hence, while Cruncher’s main role is to provide a comic representation of the saying recall to life, he experiences somewhat of a rebirth in his changed attitude and contributes enormously to the resurrection of