“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness; it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity…”
The opening lines of “A Tale of Two Cities” will immediately engulf you in a sense of gravity and historical weariness.
This novel is one of the iconic works by the renowned British author Charles Dickens, written during his later years. It’s a concise yet heart-stirring narrative among his extensive literary contributions. Set against the backdrop of the French Revolution, the tale unfolds around the experiences of Dr. Manette and his family, portraying a story filled with tender, tragic, and moving moments.
Since its publication over a hundred years ago, the novel has been translated into dozens of languages with nearly a hundred million copies sold. It has inspired countless research papers, books, and articles. Its profound impact is further showcased through various film adaptations and a music album named after it.
Through Dickens’ pen, society is portrayed as complex, life as painful, and fate as unfair, yet love never fades away. With love in one’s heart, life is filled with hope. Understanding “A Tale of Two Cities” might lead you to some meaningful insights into life.
1. Kindness is A Choice
Dr. Manette is a renowned physician with a successful career and a happy family. One late night, he’s forcibly taken by the Evrémonde brothers to attend to a medical emergency. What he encounters at their residence is a gruesome scene of a young man and woman bound and injured. The brothers, seeking momentary pleasure, had cruelly imprisoned and harmed them, also murdering their relatives.
Despite Manette’s efforts, the siblings succumb to their injuries. When the brothers offer him a bribe to keep quiet, Manette, being upright and kind, could not turn a blind eye to such evil deeds. He refuses the bribe and sends a letter to the court to report the crime. However, his letter gets intercepted, and the brothers, now viewing him as a threat, imprison him in Bastille prison, leaving his family desperate and destitute.
2. Letting Go to Have Better
Eighteen years later, Dr. Manette is finally released. However, the long-term incarceration has left him mentally disturbed and physically frail. Thankfully, with his daughter Lucy’s love and care, he gradually recovers. Soon, Lucy falls in love with a French gentleman, Darnay, who reveals on the eve of their wedding that he’s the nephew of the Evrémonde brothers.
The mention of his tormentors’ name nearly sends Manette into a frenzy. Yet, knowing Darnay is nothing like his ruthless relatives, and for the sake of his daughter’s happiness, Manette chooses to let go of the past grudges.
As the French Revolution erupts, Darnay is imprisoned due to his lineage. Dr. Manette utilizes his past as a Bastille prisoner and his status as a physician to negotiate Darnay’s release. However, Madame Defarge, a vengeful woman related to the dead siblings from Manette’s past, brings Darnay back to court, leading to a death sentence.
Unlike Manette, who chose love over bitterness, Madame Defarge’s life gets consumed by revenge, illustrating the saying by German author Hermann Hesse, “Some of us think holding on makes us strong, but sometimes it is letting go.”
Our vexations often arise from the obstinacy of our hearts. The tighter we grasp the past, the more we get hurt. By learning to let go and move on, we can overcome the hurdles life throws our way, finding a path towards healing and happiness.
3. True Love is Fulfillment
In this world, only two emotions can be referred to as romantic, one is called growing old together, and the other is getting lost in the vast wilderness.
The love story of Carton belongs to the latter.
He was an obscure legal assistant, handsome but unkempt, and seemed careless towards everything.
However, underneath his indifferent appearance, very few knew of his outstanding talent and superior abilities, yet he always yielded his accomplishments to others.
During a trial, Carton met Lucy who was a witness, and from then on, he was deeply smitten by her.
But he knew that Lucy and Darnay were already in love with each other, so he stepped back gracefully, silently standing guard beside Lucy.
Later, when he heard that Darnay was sentenced to death, he hurried to France to assist the Manette family.
After all efforts proved futile, Carton conceived an astonishing idea.
Utilizing his striking resemblance to Darnay, he collaborated with a secret agent, drugged Darnay in prison, swiftly swapped clothes, and had the agent escort Darnay safely out of the prison.
He deceived everyone, resolved to die for love.
Perhaps to us, Carton’s life seemed full of goodbyes, loves lost, a journey laden with regrets and sadness.
Yet at his end, he said:
“What I am doing now is the best thing I have ever done; what I am about to receive is the most peaceful rest I have ever had. ”
Closing the book, tears filled my garments.
Immersed in the whirlwind of life, we too have been ensnared in the web of love like Carton.
Regrettably, not everyone meets the right person at the right time.
Perhaps when we met, we were too young and naive to understand love.
Or when we got to know each other, we had individual responsibilities, unable to wait for one another.
Or when in love, already entangled with others, unable to grow old together.
Many people, after experiencing the pain of unrequited love, come to realize that the pinnacle of love is fulfillment, not possession.
A person who truly loves you will understand your predicament, respect your choices.
They won’t impose their desires upon you, and certainly won’t bring trouble or distress to the ones they love.
As Gibran said: “Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself. Love possesses not nor would it be possessed; for love is sufficient unto love.”
In the realm of love, fulfilling others is also fulfilling oneself.
Final Thoughts
Gorky once highly praised Dickens:
“He is not only a writer who reflected reality but also strived to affect it.”
In the story of “A Tale of Two Cities”, there is political contemplation under the current of times, as well as emotional realizations in individual lives.
Through it, we seem to witness a societal life we have never experienced, feeling firsthand the love and hatred of the characters.
The profound message is apparent between the lines:
In a lifetime, life is the foundation, love is the essence.
In the cold world, may we never abandon the kindness in our hearts; facing the cold human nature, may we never forget the authenticity of life.
Life is indeed a mix of good and bad, only by striving to overcome obstacles, letting go of grudges, laughing at joys and sorrows, can we live freely and calmly.
May we all, upon seeing the truth of life, still have a warm heart, and thrive towards the sunlight.
