Love triumphs in the end: Lucie and her family escape, and Sydney Carton has a vision of a better world to come. But no triumph comes without loss: Miss Pross loses her hearing and Carton gives up his life. Love is willing to die so that another might live. It is the back force of sacrifice.
B. Sacrifice
There are many sacrifices in this novel made by many different characters. Dr. Manette sacrifices his own feelings for Lucie's happiness when Darnay reveals to him his true identity. Darnay sacrifices a title and inheritance rather than live "on the overburdened people of France". He sacrifices his personal freedom and safety in order to aid a faithful family servant in Paris. The tribunal expects Dr. Manette to sacrifice his family, if need be, for the good of the revolution. Miss Pross is willing to sacrifice her life to protect Lucie. While trying to stop Madame DeFarge from seeing Lucie, they struggle, resulting in Madame DeFarge's accidental death and Miss Pross loss of hearing. Sydney Carton makes the ultimate sacrifice. Because of his love for Lucie and his friendship with Darnay, Carton's actions portray one of the most important themes implied in this book. Carton helps others, and does not think so much of himself. When Darnay is sent to the guillotine, Carton could have let him go, and possibly have Lucie for himself. However, he ends up being the true hero, and sacrifices his life for the life of others, in the name of love.
There exist surprisingly similarities between Sydney Carton and Jesus Christ, which most probably is an intentional plan of the author. When Carton makes his decision to die, the New Testament verse begins "I am the Resurrection and the Life." The words are repeated the last time at the moment Carton dies and nearly becomes his theme song. Carton’s dying in Darnay’s place wipes away his sin, just as Christ’s death washes man’s accumulated sins. Sydney Carton pays the highest cost of sacrifice of his life for Darnay, just like Jesus Christ let himself be beaten, abused, and killed for the same people who split in his face. In addition, both carton’s and Jesus’ sacrifice are inspired by a deep desperate love for which they are willing to do anything. Carton is willing to die for Lucie because of his desperate, scandalous love for her, just like Jesus shows his love for man when he is willing to give up his life for every man. This level of love makes the sacrifice even more valuable and brings things to closure. Finally, Carton and Jesus both know that through their sacrifice others can have life. Carton’s death gives life to Darnay, while Jesus Christ’ death gives life to those who trust in him. Through his sacrifice the cost of privilege of living can be measured, just as Christians can see the true cost and privilege of life through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice. The importance of their death is that it brings life to others.
C. Resurrection
If we accept Carton's death as the greatest sacrifice in the novel, we can't overlook its connection with the theme of resurrection. Book one of A Tale of Two Cities is entitled “Recalled to Life”. This shows resurrection being a major theme. Dr. Manette is recalled to life first when he is released after 18 years imprisonment, then when his daughter Lucie nurses him back to physical and mental health. When Darnay's true identity is revealed to him, such fearful memories are recalled to life that he suffers a mental relapse. Charles Darnay is recalled to life when he is aquitted at his treason trial; a guilty verdict would have resulted in his death. He is again recalled to life when he is tried, then freed, in Paris. This is short-lived because he is re-arrested that same night, retried the next day, and condemned. He is again resurrected from certain death by Carton. Roger Cly is "resurrected" when he fakes his own death in England and resurfaces in France. Jerry Cruncher is a "resurrection man", digging up newly deceased bodies and selling them to science.英语作文