suitors before discussing Doctor Manette's strange decision to keep the old workbench and shoemaking tools in his home, where they serve as an unhappy reminder of his imprisonment.

The bench's presence is indeed ominous. It reminds the reader that the storm is still brewing and that the injustice done to Manette is still crying out for vengeance.

We see the Manettes, Miss Pross, Charles Darnay, Sydney Carton, and Mr. Lorry all interacting with one another, endearing them to the reader (which will put the reader in higher levels of suspense when the Reign of Terror threatens them).

There are two main ideas in Charles Dickens’s A Tale of Two Cities. The first idea, or theme, is one of redemption and resurrection. The second involves the failure of revolutionary movements to ensure a more just political regime.

Dickens’s novel takes place in the period leading up to and including the French Revolution, a protracted and messy affair that included the infamous "Reign of Terror." The late eighteenth century was a period of enormous social and political transformation in France. The aristocracy that dominated France and that gave rise to the revolutionary movement that ultimately toppled it was thoroughly corrupt and remiss in its responsibility to the lower classes. The poverty that dominated much of French society, especially in Paris, was a breeding ground for violent sentiments directed towards the aristocracy, famously personified by the monarchy of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, both of whom would be executed by guillotine.

While the violence, chaos, and authoritarianism that characterized the French Revolution—developments that stood in stark contrast to the revolution against the English monarchy across the Atlantic Ocean in North America during the same period of time—represented the short-term failure of the ideals upon which the revolution was carried out, Dickens’s more important theme revolved around the characters in his novel. The drunken, seemingly worthless lawyer Sydney Carton emerges as the noblest of humans, sacrificing his life for those whose lives he deems of greater value.

Lest the reader miss the theme of resurrection inherent in Carton’s actions, Dickens has his character reference the life of Christ in his final moments on Earth. As the knitting women methodically and dispassionately count off the dead, Carton repeats the statement he has made previously,

I am the Resurrection and the Life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.

For greater emphasis, Dickens then observes,

They said of him, about the city that night, that it was the peacefullest man’s face ever beheld there. Many added that he looked sublime and prophetic.

Carton has gone to the guillotine in the place of Darnay, the repentant former aristocrat, because he believes it is the noblest of actions and will lead to his resurrection. While the subversion of revolutionary ideals is a theme that runs throughout A Tale of Two Cities, it is the redemption of the characters that is arguably the more important theme.

A few important symbols in A Tale of Two Cities include the recurring image of footsteps, the wine cask breaking and shadows. 

Throughout the novel, footsteps in the distance are a motif that foreshadows the impending doom in France. The revolution is coming and even in London, the distance of the footsteps can be heard in the front room of Lucie & Darnay's apartment. The footsteps symbolize the vengeance of the revolutionaries. The last chapter is titled "The Footsteps Die Out Forever" indicating that the revolution and danger is over. Lucie & Darnay are happy with little Lucie and their son little Sydney. 

Shadows are often linked with Madame Defarge. She can "cast a shadow" over Lucie, and the chapter in which they explain her family and past is called "The Substance of the Shadow" indicating that Mme. Defarge is the shadow. Her connection with darkness indicates her evil nature, but this chapter conveys that she is also someone to be pitied. She is not a flat character (like a shadow is without depth) but rather there are reasons for her evil nature. The shadow and dark imagery throughout the novel therefore represents evil. 

The wine cask breaking at the beginning of the novel leaks wine all over the cobblestone. The peasants run to the cask scooping up the wine, celebrating together in the streets. One man uses the wine from the street to paint the word blood on the walls in an alley. This obviously foreshadows the wine spilling in this scene to the wine spilling in the revolution. Like in previous scenes, Dickens uses animal diction to characterize the peasants who are "tigers" violently lapping up as much wine as they can. The imagery in this chapter illustrates the energy, violence and desperation of these peasants.  It thematically connects to the idea of mob mentality as being both treacherous and dangerous. 

Probably the most memorable and most inspired symbol in Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities is Madame Defarge and her perpetual knitting. According to the eNotes summary:

She knits into a scarf growing longer by the day the names in symbols of those who will later die at the hands of the revolutionaries.

The slow, patient, silent process of knitting symbolizes the hatred that is building up among the French people and will ultimately be released in one of the most violent and dramatic explosions in human history. Most of the people whose names are being recorded in Madame Defarge's knitting will end up under the infamous guillotine, a towering device which is itself a supreme symbol of the French Revolution. There were so many people being decapitated that the executioners needed a machine to keep up with the work.The guillotine is a horrible tool and seems to represent the horrors of the revolution and especially of the so-called Reign of Terror.

One significant symbol that I always remember from reading the book is that of the word "blood" being written on the wall in wine that had spilled out into the streets.  The wine running through the streets of Paris was very symbolic of the blood that was being shed in this revolution, and it was chilling that the man who wrote it on the wall was the father whose son was run down by the carriage of the Marquis St. Evremonde.

This book is full of symbolism, and a careful read of it, along with the information contained on eNotes, will help you discover those symbols and their meaning.  Good luck!

One of the major themes in this novel is sacrifice/selflessness. This is exemplified in the heroic figure of Sydney Carton who at the end of the story allows himself to be executed in the place of Charles Darnay, the husband of the girl he loves.

Another major theme is that of resurrection, or redemption. Carton gives up his physical life but might be said to be spiritually reborn in doing this; in fact he appears almost as a Christ-like figure in this supreme act of self-sacrifice in order to save others. The theme of resurrection is also related to the character of Dr Manette, who is released from a long and unjust imprisonment in the first book of the novel, which is actually entitled 'Recalled to Life'. More fundamentally, this theme could be said to relate to the French Revolution as a whole. The revolution were often grim and bloody, as depicted in this book, but in Carton's closing vision he sees these terrible events as hopefully paving the way for a better, more just society. In this way the Revolution is seen to mark the death of one world and the birth of another.

One of the major and most important themes in A Tale of Two Cities is the dichotomy of London and Paris; where London is calm and peaceful, Paris is chaotic and deadly.

The French Revolution was a horrible time for people in the novel. There was danger on the streets, upheaval in the government, and only the wealthy were able to leave easily. Thousands of people in France were killed. The book doesn't imply that everyone who dies is a good person—many of the aristocrats in France did terrible things to the lower classes. But it's clear that even good people could be swept up in the chaos. Darnay himself never hurt anyone but is still on trial for treason and sentenced to death.

In comparison, England was peaceful. Despite the problems Darnay faced there, he believed it to be a better option than his home in Paris. Darnay wouldn't have left if he hadn't felt compelled to save his servant who was captured by the revolutionaries. This is what led to his imprisonment and trial. Because Carton was willing to sacrifice himself in place of Darnay, it was possible for Darnay and his family to return to England and find the peace that wasn't possible in France. England is always the dream of people who are caught up in the bloodshed and turmoil of the French Revolution in the novel. However, it isn't perfect—it's just a counterpoint to France.

Sacrifice is another very important theme in the book. Dr. Manette sacrifices eighteen years of his life inside the hellhole of the Bastille in order to maintain his integrity and to do the right thing. Charles Darnay sacrifices a life of ease and comfort in turning his back on his aristocratic background. The French people as a whole, in carrying out a revolution, show themselves willing to sacrifice their lives to bring down a hated, unjust system of government. Last, but not least, we have the ultimate sacrifice—Sydney Carton sacrificing his own life for the sake of a friend and his family.

In all these cases, sacrifice causes immediate pain and suffering; in the case of Sydney Carton, it leads to death. But in the long run, all the various sacrifices made ultimately conduce to the greater good. Dickens is suggesting that individuals are not simply the playthings of history—not just puppets controlled by strange, cosmic forces that they do not understand. They are human beings and, as such, endowed with free will. Making sacrifice is the ultimate expression of that free will, one that allows us to step outside the swirling, ceaseless flux of history and achieve a perspective from the standpoint of eternity.

An important theme is resurrection.  There are several “ressurectionists” in the story.  These are people who bring others back to life, figuratively speaking.

The theme is introduced early on in Book 1: “Recalled to Life.”  The title refers to Dr. Manette being released from prison and figuratively brought back from life.  A humorous and satirical reference to resurrection is found in the character of Jerry Cruncher, who jokes that recalling to life would be bad for business, because he is a grave robber!

Much of that wouldn’t do for you, Jerry! I say, Jerry! You’d be in a Blazing bad way, if recalling to life was to come into fashion, Jerry!” (1:3, p. 9)

The strongest examples of resurrection are Lucie Manette drawing Sydney Carton out, because he falls in love with her and desires to be a better man, and Carton returning the favor by bringing her husband back to life when he trades places with him at the end.

“It is a far, far better thing that I do than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.” (3: 15, p. 241)

The novel is really about second chances.  Dr. Manette gets a second chance at knowing his daughter.  Sydney Carton gets a second chance at happiness.  Lucie and Charles get a second chance at being a family when Carton trades places with Darnay so he can live.

The prevailing theme of Book One of A Tale of Two Cities is death and resurrection.

Each of the chapters of Book One center on Jarvis Lorry’s attempt to bring Dr. Manette back from the dead.  Each chapter reinforces the theme of resurrection.  In chapter 1, we are introduced to the troubling state of England and France at this time.  France was dying, and about to be reborn through revolution.

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 (1:1, p. 4)

As the book continues, we finally get introduced to characters.  We meet two resurrectionists: Jarvis Lorry and Jerry Cruncher.  Cruncher is a grave robber, so the term ressurectionist is applied to him ironically.  Jarvis Lorry, on the other hand, is about to rescue Dr. Manette from prison.  It is not an easy task, and he is worried that Manette may not want to go, or that reuniting him with his daughter will be difficult.  Dr. Manette is being reborn, his relationship with his daughter is being reborn, and Jarvis Lorry is being reborn too.  He is just a lonely bachelor, but he will become so close to the Manettes that it is almost like having a family.

The famous first sentence of A Tale of Two Cities is 119 words long.  Dickens uses antithesis to make contrasting lists.  In these lists, he foreshadows the major themes and events of the books. 

First of all, at some times things go well, and at some times they go badly.  There are happy moments in the book, and moments of great tragedy.  Dr. Manette is freed from prison, but suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress. Lucie and Charles get married, but Darnay is in danger.  Thus, it is simultaneously “the best of times” and “the worst of times” for the family. 

…it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us … (Ch 1, p. 4)

 There is both wisdom and foolishness.  Some characters make very wise choices, and others downright stupid ones.  Why did Darnay wait to tell Dr. Manette who he really was?  It turns out to have been wise.  Should Carton have stalked them and enjoyed their love and happiness by proxy?  It worked, because he was able to take Darnay’s place at the Guillotine.  Yet terrible choices are also made.  Dr. Manette should never have questioned the St. Evremonde brothers.  He ended up missing most of his daughter’s life rotting in prison.  The Manettes never should have returned to Paris.

Thus, there is both darkness and light for the main characters as they experience joy and despair, hope and pain, throughout the course of the book. Dicken's first sentence foreshadows this.