'Love and hatred' in 'A Tale of Two Cities'

Essay by dorakhy January 2008

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Love and hatred were almost the major link which linked all the characters and events together throughout the novel. By portraying the relationships and conflicts between the Manettes, Defarge, Carton and Evremonde, Charles Dickens has successfully shown that the vigorous tenacity of love is always so much stronger than hate.

The first incident that Dickens has portrayed to show the power of love was, Lucie restored love and life to Dr. Manette, who has suffered a lot from his 18 years imprisonment. The quote which showed how lovingly was Lucie to her father and how her father was comforted by her were ‘with hands which were extending towards him, trembling with eagerness to lay the spectral face upon her warm young breast, and love it back to life and hope’ and ‘his cold white head mingled with her radiant hair, which warmed and lighted it as though it were the light of Freedom shining on him.’

After 18 years of darkness, Doctor Manette was restored to life by her daughter, Lucie. With her love, it enabled him to regain his confidents and hope, and it became significantly important later when Lucie met Darnay and fell in love with him.

Second, Carton’s love to Lucie empowered him to sacrifice for her, at the same time, restored the true meaning to his own wasted life. Carton was originally a wasted man who drank wine often and cared nothing. He confessed to Darnay when he first met him, ‘I am a disappointed drudge, sir. I care for no man on earth, and no man on earth cares for me.’ But when he fell in love with Lucie, he was motivated to do something better and worthier than what he has been doing. He promised, ‘For you, and for any dear to you, I...