Christian Concepts in A Tale of Two Cities

《双城记》中的基督教思想

Thesis statement: This thesis shows the impact of Christianity on western literature through analyzing how the concepts of love, sacrifice and resurrection are elaborated in A Tale of Two Cities.

Abstract
 Christian culture is one of the main forces penetrating the whole Western civilization. English literature in the Victorian era is of no exception. Charles Dickens, as a renowned realistic writer in the 19th century England, was greatly affected by Christianity. This paper explains three Christian themes: love, sacrifice and resurrection through a brief analysis of the Christian impact on the 19th century English literature from two aspects: the social phenomenon of the Victorian England and the author’s Christian background. Based on the study, the author takes A Tale of Two Cities as an example, expatiates how the three themes are developed through character-molding. This paper tends to prove that Christianity has great impact on the Western culture.
Key words: Christianity, love, sacrifice, resurrection

摘要
基督教文化是渗透于西方文明之中的一股重要思想力量。维多利亚时代的英国文学也毫无例外地受到其影响。作为19世纪英国杰出的现实主义作家，查尔斯•狄更斯的作品中也充满了基督教思想。本文阐述了基督教爱、牺牲和重生三大主题的含义，从维多利亚时代英国的时代背景和作者的基督教背景两方面入手，简析基督教对19世纪英国文学的重大影响，并在此基础上以《双城记》为例分析爱、牺牲和重生三大主题是如何通过人物塑造得以体现。文章旨在反映基督教对西方文化的深远影响。
关键词：基督教，爱，牺牲，重生

Contents

Abstract
摘要
I. Introduction
II. The Victorian Era, Charles Dickens and Christianity
A. The Victorian Era and Charles Dickens
B. Basic Concepts of Christianity: Love, Sacrifice and Resurrection
III. The Development of the Themes: Love, Sacrifice and Resurrection
A. Love
B. Sacrifice
C. Resurrection
IV. Conclusion
Bibliography

Christian Concepts in A Tale of Two Cities

I. Introduction
A Tale of Two Cities is a renowned novel of Charles Dickens, who enjoys a wider popularity than had any previous author during his lifetime. The story starts in the time of the French Revolution when Lucie Manette goes to Paris to reunite her father who is recently released from prison and “recall him to life”. She later marries Charles Darnay, a heroic nobleman who renounces his status in opposition to his uncle and the evils of oppression he represents. Meanwhile, unrest is growing in Paris. The revolution erupts with full force in July 1789 with the storming of the Bastille. By 1792, the revolutionaries have taken control of France and are imprisoning and killing anyone they view as an enemy of the state. When Darnay returns to Paris to save his servant, he is arrested and sentenced to death but saved by Sydney Carton, who bears a striking resemblance to him and is willing to die for his love for Lucie.英语作文