双城记中的圣经隐喻

The Biblical Connotation in A Tale of Two Cities

Charles Dickens’ historical novel A Tale of Two Cities contains significant religious symbolism and these symbols reveal Dickens’ Christian humanity which is one of the important themes of the novel: benevolence.

As a criticism of the social abuses of Victorian society the book integrates a grand view of the turbulent industrial age the fierce revolutionary age and biblical imagery which makes the novel real didactic yet mysterious and hyperbole. In fact Dickens uses French society as an example of rampant political and ecclesiastical oppression which he clothes in Christian symbolism to show his strong criticism on the excess of bloodshed during the French Revolution especially in his consideration of the innocent being punished along with the guilty. He specifically advocates Christian ethics and morals as a solution to remedy the social offense of his era(Lucy Manette is the representative of his ideal redemption.)

The themes of A Tale of Two Cities include New Testament Christian virtues such as love mercy and charity amidst the savagery of the French Revolution. Others like the principles of redemption sacrifice and resurrection are setting off the praised virtues. In the beginning of the novel there go the famous words: “It was the best of times it was the worst of times…it was the season of Light it was the season of Darkness”. The biblical language of “Light” and “Darkness” foreshadows the dramatic study in contrasts. The image of light and darkness are important literary motifs throughout the story emphasizing the duality of goodness and evil. Light is associated with brightness of spirit life mercy forgiveness justice and divine humanity. The Almighty is symbolized by.a pure and glorious “father” Jesus and in A Tale of Two Cities Dr. Manatte.

In the story of Dr. Manatte’s trip from France to England he has been imprisoned for eighteen long years living in a dark dungeon and working aimlessly as a shoemaker. Dickens depicts Manette as coming out of the prison of darkness into the light of life and freedom although we can see the sudden change isn’t that easy to face. Manette has been “recalled to life” was repeated for at least four times. When he first gets out of prison his facial s are “black mist” mind blank and mechanical because he has lost his sense of self as well as time. Manette has adapted to living in darkness so well that light now can only be let inn a little at a time. However after his daughter Lucy Manette has brought him into a real warm life and family he returned to the initial “light” people willing to help and sacrifice. When he realized the identity of Darney he kept it a painful secret and repress his terrible feelings and imaginations instead of refusing his daughter’s lover. Dr.Manette sacrificed his hate and psychological burden even torment to promise the happiness of Lucy his saver. The loss of nine-days-and-nights madness and anguish vindicated the new family life in Darney’s London.

Another impressive image is the spilling of the red wine on the street. Undeniably it is an ominous occurrence in the tale and carries a bloody intention. Dickens thoroughly describes how the people of Saint Antoine glamour for it and attempt to drink every bit of the puddled wine. They kneel down and scoop it up with “mutilated earthenware” and “dipped handkerchiefs” even squeezing it into the infants’ mouth. There is a carnival atmosphere with loud singing and much “playfulness”as they greedily try to get every drop of the red wine just like how they were anxious to kill and let flow every drop of blood of aristocrats. The French poor rise up as a single class driven by a prolonged hunger against the equally prolonged indifference of the wealthy landowners who in the interest of preserving their opulent lifes maintain the nation’s oppressive conditions. Dickens leaves the aristocracy largely untreated only once in the novel does the governing body of France figure directly in the narrative: the scene at the fortnightly reception of an unspecified aristocrat “the Monseigneur”. To further reinforce the wine-blood connection Gaspard a resident of Saint Antoine dips his finger into the muddy wine puddle and writes “blood” on a wall a sign of future events to come.

Death terror revenge and bloodshed are soon to arrive. Dickens seems to be alluding to the writing on the wall in the biblical story of Daniel and Belshazzar in Babylon. In the biblical account the writing on the wall told Belshazzar that because of his blasphemy and pride his downfall was sealed and his kingdom would be given to others and he was killed that very night. Just as the writing on the wall foretold the future of the ill=fated Babylonian monarchy so the writing on the wall prophesied the doom of the French old regime system.The blood-wine connection is a prominent biblical motif in both the Old and New Testaments. Blood is sacred because it signifies life for without it we return to dust. The appearance of blood also means violence. Yet blood is also a cleansing agent used as ritual sacrifice in the Old Testament. It was instituted by God after the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Blameless spotless lambs were slaughtered as a sacrifice and propitiation for the sins of humanity. Animal sacrifices of course foreshadowed and pointed to the death of Christ on the cross in the New Testament.

By ing wine and blood symbolically in the novel Dickens ie foreshadowing the people's thirst for bloodshed and revenge during the French Revolution. As the French inhabitants clamoured for the spilled red wine so shall they thirst for the blood of the aristocracy. Just as the red wine flowed on the cobblestone streets so shall blood flow from the guillotine before too long. Dickens is foreshadowing the terror that is already written on the wall. Truly the people seem prepared for the revolution to start. The mood of the city is dark and gloomy and the wine shop is central to the blood-wine connection in the story giving us a glimpse of the events to come:By ing wine and blood symbolically in the novel Dickens ie foreshadowing the people's thirst for bloodshed and revenge during the French Revolution. As the French inhabitants clamoured for the spilled red wine so shall they thirst for the blood of the aristocracy. Just as the red wine flowed on the cobblestone streets so shall blood flow from the guillotine before too long. Dickens is foreshadowing the terror that is already written on the wall. Truly the people seem prepared for the revolution to start. The mood of the city is dark and gloomy and the wine shop is central to the blood-wine connection in the story giving us a glimpse of the events to come: people’s revolt and the protagonist Darney’s imprisonment and Carton’s death.

Charles Darney who is to inherit the Marquis St. Evremonde upon his uncle’s death renounces his fortune and family name and moves to England to work as a French language teacher. In effect because he detests the cruelty of the aristocracy toward the peasants he sacrifices his and a life of leisure to work for a living in a distant land. He has a strong sense of justice that was imparted to him by his mother a righteous woman. She strongly impresses upon him the importance of righting the wrongs committed by his father and uncle against the siblings of Madame Defarge when he was a child. For "her hope had been to avert the wrath of Heaven from a house that had long been hateful to the suffering many". The mother seems to realize that her son will one day have to make "atonement" for the evil acts committed by the Evremonde family.

This is his first sacrifice——sacrifice his aristocratic privilege to follow his innate justice and kindness. Hence there is no one left to take on the responsibility of the chateau and the grounds. Monsieur Gabelle feels duty-bound to stay on and look after his former employer's estate knowing it is at the risk of being targeted by revolutionaries. He feels it is the right thing to do. He sacrifices freedom and life in the process.

When Darney returns to France because of Gabelle's imprisonment his status changes radically. Instead of being Charles Darney a free man he becomes "a cursed emigrant". He is stripped of all rights and put at the mercy of vengeful revolutionaries. His imprisonment for his family is sacrifice a sacrifice to hold Manettes safe and sound; in the meantime also a sacrifice to repay the people to resolve their burning anger and make them feel just comparing to the former luxurious aristocrats. Additionally Dickens demonstrates the importance of being willing to do the right thing even at the peril of one's own life such as Gabelle the servant of the Evremondes who feels duty bound to take care of the abandoned estate. After the revolutionaries imprison the servant Darney does not shirk his sense of responsibility helping him even at the risk of imprisonment and death. Darney however has not accepted the of Marquis nor the estate. Nevertheless his loyalty and devotion to Gabelle encourage heroic and sacrificial acts. For the public Darney is a scapegoat for the unjust and unreasonable feudalism oppression. Only did he die can the current settle down for a little while.

The ultimate sacrifice is made by Sydney Carton the apathetic alcoholic lawyer who is conscience-stricken and expresses remorse. He is a loner who has wasted his life. He discloses to Darnay "I am a disappointed drudge sir. I care for no man on earth and no man on earth cares for me". Carton is a man who drinks for consolation. The narrator portrays him as a man with "a fatal darkness". Later he confesses to Lucie Manette Darnay that he loves her and would sacrifice his life for her and anyone who is important to her.

In this sense Dickens is alluding to the redeeming death of Christ on the cross for the benefit of humanity with the self-sacrificing death of Carton on the guillotine. In fact Carton is merely vindicating himself so he can be worthy of Lucie's love by ensuring her happiness with her husband. He defends and protects her as would a medieval Christian knight. Since Carton is not a Deity his death cannot grant forgiveness or salvation to human beings. Carton is by his own admission a “degraded" man who lives in “degradation”. When Carton is about to die for lucres and her beloved Dickens inserts the resurrection of Jesus for three times which makes Carton’s sacrifice legendary as christ. “I am the resurrection and the life saith the Lord: he that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live: and whosever liveth and believeth in me shall never die!”

The guillotine in the novel of course takes the place of the biblical cross where Jesus sacrificed His life. Carton sacrifices his life on the guillotine which has become a symbol of the French Revolution. He has made a complete turnaround in his life from a ne'er-do-well to one who repents for past sins and is willing to do a noble deed for the benefit of others: "A prodigal son he has found his place in the world through the Christ-like sacrifice for Darnay the virtuous son who has lived his life in submission to authority.”

There are striking similarities between the biblical Jesus Christ and Darnay and Carton in Dickens' novel. Both Christ and Darnay are unjustly accused of wrongdoing by false witnesses. In addition both have three court trials and are "recalled to life." And both Christ and Carton die sacrificial deaths on wooden instruments of torture. They both display the lofty attributes of high priests whose main desire is to give comfort to others. Neither one expresses fear of death or anger toward the executioner. They both maintain an attitude of prayerful meditation and serenity before their imminent demise. Both forgive those who commit trespasses against them and do not harbor hatred in their hearts. While Carton goes to the guillotine at 3:00p.m. christ was crucified in the third hour.

Moreover a displacement of the A displacement of the resurrection theme in the story is the spy Solomon who changes his name to Barsad. He is actually the long-lost brother of Miss Pross. She discovers Solomon in a wine shop believing him to be dead. Thus to her he is resurrected and restored. And she weeps when she sees him even though he is gruff with her. She genuinely loves him even though "this precious brother had spent her money and left her!" (Dickens 285-6). Dickens is portraying Miss Pross as a loving and forgiving woman who overlooks her brother's crude and selfish nature. Her gentleness is in sharp contrast to the vengeful mob who savagely kill Foulon. Miss Pross is able to forgive her brother for his disregard of her which is true Christianity in action. Because both Barsad and Cly have a false death their resurrection are simulated. As villains in the narrative they have no loyalty to family or country however before Carton goes to the guillotine he prophesies the annihilation of corruption and prophesies that the repentance and rebirth of unscrupulous and wicked people. He foresees a new social order no doubt an ideal romantic impractical world.

Throughout A Tale of Two Cities we can see lots of religious connotations appearing and representing Dickens’ stand. He was consistently on the side of the victim. When the peasants were exploited and abused by an arrogant aristocracy the narrator showed his righteous indignation. However when the French Revolution started and the peasants retaliated against the upper classes Dickens expressed his strong disapproval of mob violence and vengeance. Indeed Dickens continually professed his belief in the necessity of Christian forbearance and sympathy. He demonstrated his conviction in the fundamental goodness and nobility of humanity. The novel reflects a severe indictment of those who do not attempt to live up to the supreme biblical edict to love as commanded by Christ in the New Testament.

2022-09-07

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