Characters
The French aristocrat who renounces his family name and title in order to live a simpler, more honorable life in England.
Charles Darnay
"The man of business"
Mr. Lorry
Introduced at the very beginning of the novel when Dr. Manette is literally "recalled to life" with the help of the love of his daughter.
Rebirth/Redemption
In the chapter, "An Honest Tradesman", Jerry Crunchers epithet is revealed to be ironic because of what discovery?
He is a Grave Robber
Dickens uses this to foreshadow the blood that will be shed in the Revolution and the stain that violence can leave on a person's soul.
Spilled wine
The cruel and selfish French aristocrat whose actions contribute to the growing resentment of the French peasantry and ultimately lead to his violent death.
Marquis
Sydney Carton, the disillusioned and self-destructive English lawyer known as...
The Jackal
Developed throughout the novel with events such as Dr. Manette's life in prison, Charles Darnay's real identity and Jerry Crunchers night time profession.
Secrets/Secrecy
The Marquis De Evremonde is killed with a knife through the heart with a message saying...
"From Jacques"
The people coming into their lives.
The vengeful revolutionary who keeps a knitting pattern that secretly records the names of those she plans to have executed during the French Revolution.
Madame Defarges
"An Honest Tradesman"
Jerry Cruncher
Explored through characters like Dr. Manette, who is imprisoned in the Bastille, and Sydney Carton, who feels trapped by his own life choices.
Imprisonment
Charles Darnay is found innocent of spying at his trial when Mr. Stryver makes this key argument...
That Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton look exactly alike
Lucie is sometimes called this, symbolizing her ability to draw people together and create a sense of belonging through her love and kindness.
The golden thread
The ambitious and pompous lawyer who later proposes to Lucie Manette, despite not truly understanding her feelings.
Mr. Stryver
A pseudonym for any and every revolutionary in France...
Highlighted by the common peoples mistreatment at the hands of the nobles and often shown bubbling just under the surface in the events of the novel
Revolution
Sydney Carton does not ask Lucie to marry him, he only wants to know one thing from her...
If there is still something to sympathize with in him, some shred of hope.
In Book 2 chapter 9, the Marquis' house is compared to this ancient figure.
The Gorgon
Bonus: Why does Dickens repeatedly connect the Marquis and his house to stone?
The British spy who is a gambler and brawler, eventually sent to work in France with dark features and a sinister face.
John Basard
"The wild red woman"
Miss Pross
embodied in Madame Defarge's knitting and the Woodman's work in the very first chapter of the novel
Fate
John Basard enters the Defarge's wine shop and drops this shocking piece of information to Madame Defarge...
That Charles Darnay is an Evremonde and he is marrying Lucie Manette.
Drawing on the Greek myth of the Fates, who weave together people's fates, this symbol emphasizes Fate's role in the novel. Instead of three weavers, one woman embodies this role.
Knitting