Previous
Book 3, Chapter 4
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in A Tale of Two Cities, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Tyranny and Revolution
Secrecy and Surveillance
Fate and History
Sacrifice
Resurrection
Imprisonment
Summary
Analysis
Through it all, Lucie tries to keep a normal English household to relieve her mind. Dr. Manette reassures her that he can save Charles. He suggests that she walk near the prison at a place where Charles might see her from the window of his cell in order to boost Charles's spirits. Lucie does just that, everyday, rain, shine, or snow.
Lucie fits the classic Victorian stereotype of female strength through domesticity ("the angel in the house") and selfless dedication to her husband. Just as Dr. Manette will unwittingly doom Charles later, he dooms Lucie with his advice here.
Themes
Quiz
Test Yourself
As Lucie stands at her spot on the street each day, a wood-sawyer—formerly a mender of roads—who works nearby always says hello. As he cuts his wood, the wood-sawyer jokes that he is guillotining a little family. Though the wood-sawyer unnerves her, Lucie is always polite and friendly to him.
The mender of roads has transformed into a man drunk on the violence of the Revolution. His sawing represents the potential executions of Charles, Lucie, and their daughter.
Themes
Quiz
Test Yourself
One snowy day, as Lucie stands outside the prison, she sees a crowd of people dancing to a popular revolutionary song. Lucie is horrified by their savage movements and screams.
Another intense depiction of revolutionaries as crazed savages who worship the violence of the Revolution.
Themes
Quiz
Test Yourself
Moments later, Dr. Manette appears. He tells Lucie that Charles's trial will be held tomorrow, and promises her that all will work out well. Lucie kisses her hand in farewell to Charles as she departs, just as Madame Defarge comes around the corner. Manette and Madame Defarge salute each other.
For Lucie, her kiss is a gesture of love toward her husband. For Madame Defarge, it's a crime of commiserating with an enemy of the state. But Defarge is not yet ready to make her play against Dr. Manette.
Themes
Quiz
Test Yourself
Get the entire A Tale of Two Cities LitChart as a printable PDF.
