Light Vs. Dark

TTC: Light vs. Dark

In the novel, A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, the theme of light vs. dark is present in many different ways. One way it is shown throughout the novel is by the characters, such as Mr. Manette’s life, Madame Dafarge’s knitting, and Stryver and Carton’s friendship. Another way light vs. dark is shown is by way of institutions, such as the prison. Lastly, the theme light vs. dark is shown in natural phenomena, such as the guillotine. The theme of light vs. dark in these situations each has an importance on the novel throughout the book.

Mr. Manette’s life is an example of the theme light vs. dark through a character. As the reader may know, Mr. Manette, or Dr. Manette, was in prison. When someone thinks of a prison, you think: bad, evil, and even deadly. Bad, evil and deadly are all signs of something dark because that is what a prison symbolizes. Prison will even change your life style, almost as if it brainwashes you. “One Hundred and Five, North Tower.” (page50) This is said by Mr. Manette right after he gets out of prison. The quote shows how dark prison can be, and that his room number is all he can remember. Early in the book, Mr. Manette leaves prison and goes back to his job as a shoemaker. Someone with a job is devoted, responsible, and capable of doing something. Not being lazy, being responsible and being capable of doing something all symbolizes something good. When you are talking about light vs. dark, good is a sign of light.

Mr. Manette’s life shows you that it involved light vs. dark, because part of his life he was in a dark place (prison) and now he is in a good place (job).

Another example of the theme of light and dark is Madame Dafarge. She loves to knit, do to the fact that she wants revenge, and enjoys it. These reasons for knitting contradict, making it a theme of light and dark. Madame Dafarge knits next to the guillotine, making bags for the heads and knitting the name of the suspect on the bag. The darkness is shown because she is knitting at the site of the guillotine, where people are being beheaded and do to the fact that it is for revenge. Death and revenge are both signs of an act of evilness and that is a sign of darkness. The point that makes Madame Dafarge’s knitting a theme of light is the fact that she enjoys to knit. When you think of enjoyment, it is a sign of happiness, which also symbolizes light. Madame Dafarge’s knitting is a good example explaining light vs. dark in the novel, A Tale of Two Cities.

Stryver and Carton is one main example of light and darkness shown by characters. They are great drinking buddies, and nice to each other when they are drinking. As shown then Dickens says: “What the two drank together, between Hilary term and Michaelmas, might have floated a king’s ship.” (Page 102) Being nice, being good friends, and drinking as much as the quote says they did, symbolizes happiness, respect, and trust. Happiness, respect,