"Recalled to Life" is about Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities. It focuses on how the characters are repeatedly resurrected.

Essay by SChIZoPHrENiCHigh School, 12th gradeA+, January 2003

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Charles Dickens focuses on resurrection, the revival of mind and emotion, in his novel, A Tale of Two Cities. Dr. Manette, Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton are given second chances as their lives are resurrected.

The story begins with Jerry Cruncher telling the Tellson's banker, Jarvis Lorry to meet Lucie Manette at Dover. Lorry responds to this message with "recalled to life" which in turn, puzzles Jerry. This foreshadows a resurrection that is about to take place. Lorry then drives to Dover, meets the lovely Lucie and reveals to her that her father is still alive. Lucie faints. She and Lorry then go to the Defarges and retrieve Lucie's father. Lucie, Lorry, and Monsieur Defarge go to Dr. Manette's room and find the doctor making shoes. Lorry introduces the doctor to his daughter, and Lucie to her father. Then, he and Monsieur Defarge left the two to have an emotional conversation.

After a while, Lorry comes back and the three of them sail to England.

Dr. Manette is the first to be resurrected. In Book I, Dickens describes Dr. Manette as a "buried man who had been dug out." (I.vi.46) Reduced to a temporary insanity, Dr. Manette remembers barely anything about his past. In fact, he does not even remember his own name; rather, he remembers it as "one hundred and five, North Tower" (his number in prison). (I.vi.37) Thus, in this respect, Dr. Manette dies. However, he is "recalled to life," both by his daughter and Lorry when they take him to England and nurse him back to health. "'I hope you care to be recalled to life?' and the

old man answers, 'I can't say.'" (I.vi.46) Lucie is most responsible for her father's resurrection. Lucie is dedicated to the care of her father and she lovingly assists him...