Plot and Conflict
For A Tale of Two Cities
Plot
Time flied by and the year was 1780. Charles Darnay, a french aristocrat, is accused of treason against England. Lucie an her father are reluctant witnesses for the prosecution, as they had already met him while traveling from Calais to Dover. During the prosecution, Lucie stresses the good qualities of Darnay while recounting her testimony. The evidence against him is overwhelming as the prosecution produces a number of witnesses who swear that he is a spy. However, it is Sydney Carton, a colleague of Darnay, points out the resemblance between the prisoner and himself to the defense lawyer Mr. Stryver. The jury then realizes that it could be a case of mistaken identity, and Darnay is cleared.
Years pass, and both Darnay and Caton fall in love with Lucie Manette. Carton is a lawyer who wastes his life in drinking and vegetating. Lucie has no interest in him; instead, she marries Darnay. Darnay's uncle, Marquis St. Evermonde, is a notorious man known for his cruelty; he had lived a life of a extravagant and has no respect for human life. This is emphasized when he had run over a child on the streets with a carriage. That very night he was murdered in bed by the child's father, Gaspard.
Very soon, The French Revolution broke out in all fury with the storming of the Bastille. In London, Darnay had been happily married to Lucie for eleven years, and they have a beautiful daughter. On hearing that Gabelle, his steward in France, has been wrongly arrested, Darnay returns to Paris to save his faithful servant. On hearing of her husband's capture, Lucie, her daughter, Dr. Manette, and Mr. Lorry rush to Paris. Dr. Manette, himself a victim of oppression, convinces the people of his son-in-law's innocence, and Darnay is discharged. Madame Defarge, however, seeks personal revenge against the Evermonde Family, for the cruel Marquis tormented her sister and killed her brother. So Darnay is re-arrested, tried and sentenced to death. Now, there is no hope of saving him. Even the lives of Lucie and her daughter are in danger because the Defarges would like to eliminate anyone who has a close connection with the French aristocracy.
Find out what happens at the end by reading the book...