Memorable+Quotes

"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, 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, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way – in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only" (1). Dickens starts his novel with one of the most important quotes throughout his novel. He sets up the comparison between England and France to warn his people of England on the sins they are committing. He tries to compare them to France during the revolution, implying how easy it will be to have the same thing happen. The same atrocities of the French revolution could easily happen in England. He also uses the theme of duality to juxtapose the ideas of dark/light, forgiveness/vengeance, and hope/despair. Throughout the rest of his novel he always has characters with their antitheses while using dark and light to portray the mood of the chapater and how the characters are going to react.

"Whether it has carried me to the utmost brink of death, you would have not cared to stop me there" (92) Darnay accuses his uncle of imprisoning, and the Marquis doesn't even deny it. It shows how wicked and uncaring the Marquis truly is. He is unable to feel remorse or pity for his own kin. He also wanted to imprison Darnay, muttering he hopes that Darnay burns in his bed when he turns in for the night. The Marquis is pure evil, and is the opposite of humane; he is the savage rather than the poor.

"Detestation of the high is the involuntary homage of the low" (93) The Marquis believes that the hate felt by the poor is a compliment. He revels in the pain and suffering he causes the lower classes. He also believes it is there duty to hate him since he is so much better and higher. I think of the quote that mockery is the best form of flattery, or that jealousy is really a compliment when i read this quote. He mistakes their hatred for being jealous of how handsome, intelligent, and regal he believes he is.

"Repression is the only lasting philosophy" (94) Philosophies change all the time due to new ideas and develop due to new knowledge. The truth always seems to change during the centuries, as well as grow and adapt. Philosophy changes with the time eras, and is always replaced with a new one. However, the Marquis believes fear and slavery will always keep people in line. If people fear you, it will never change. He also foolishly believes that you are able to break a human's spirit and turn them into lap-dogs. Ironically, he is stabbed in the heart that night by those he thought obeyed and feared him. This is one of my favorite quotes because it's very short and to the point with a deep message.

"A great woman, a strong woman, a grand woman, a frightfully grand woman!" (143) I believe this quote shows some hidden feeling that Monseigneur Defarge thinks about his wife. He admits that she is frightfully great, and shows much more sympathy than she does. Madame Defarge isn't good or nice, but she is great. Great doesn't mean kind or caring, it represents someone with a lot of power and potential. it is the great people that cause revolutions and lead revolts. In Harry Potter, Olivander states that Voldemort was a great wizard that could do great things. Although those things were terrible, he showed an immense about of potential to change the world. In Madame Defarge's case, she contains courage, intelligence, cunning, but she uses her powers for a twisted type of vengeance instead of good.

"I would ask you to believe that he has a heart he very, very seldom reveals, and that there are deep wounds in it. My dear I have seen it bleeding" (161) Lucie is the only person in the story who ever has faith in Carton. Everyone refers to Carton as being useless, lazy, and a drunk. Carton even sees himself as being a washed-up man with no hope. However, Lucie symbolizes all that is good and pure in this world. She is able to see deep into Carton's heart, and she sees that he is a truly good person with potential. He is able to change into a better person due to her faith in him and the love he feels for her.

"I know how hard it has grown for me, the wearer of this, to support life in myself, but do you know how easy it has grown for me, the wearer of this, to destroy you in life?" (171) The revolutionaries have finally rose to power and have seized all the life in France. It is now there choice who lives and who will feel the wrath of the Guillotine. Although the people are still weak and poor, they are now able to bring down the aristocracy with them. The revolution has changed nothing, but it has only increased the blood spilled in France. This roaring hunger helps nothing and makes everything worse in France.

" I am the Resurrection and the life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet he shall live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die" (244) This is an allusion to the Bible and was often read at funerals. Carton begins to resemble a Christ like figure as he changes into a caring and important person. After he has his own resurrection, he selflessly gives up his life for Darnay. He sacrifices himself for Darnay's family's sins at the Guillotine, similar to how Jesus sacrificed him for our sins on the cross. He also comforts the innocent seamstress and quotes Jesus before she dies. he never once regrets what he does and remains unafraid. He gave up his entire life because of the immense love he felt for the light of the world (Lucie).

"Tell the Wind and Fire where to stop, but don't tell me" (264) Wind and fire are impossible to stop and their paths cannot be changed. A fire will burn until it has no fuel or is quenched. Either M. Defarge will kill every last aristocrat on this earth or she must die. She is unchangeable and it is shown when she is unable to feel mercy towards Lucie. Lucie who symbolized all the good in the world is unable to change her heart. She becomes like the Marquis, and is decribed with stony characteristics, as she is never going to change her beliefs or opinions. She would kill innocent children, women, men, and animals if they were the least bit associated with the Evremondes. Her vengeance has taken over her and now she must die or the other characters must die. She cannot live if Lucie and Darnay live.

"He never thought of Carton. His mind was so full of the others, that he never once thought of him" (270) I think this was a very important quote describing the differences between Carton and Darnay. Although Darnay is typically shown as the hero, and Carton is simply a washed-up mess, Carton proves to be a better person in the end. Carton and Darnay were rivals, but Carton sacrifices his entire life to save Darnay. He did it mostly for his love of Lucie, but he still thought about Darnay as well. However, Darnay doesn;t consider Carton at all. He is still insignificant to him, although he is the one that ultimately saves his life. He owe's his happiness, family, and life to Carton. It's here where his character diminishes a bit, and where Carton's truly shines.

"The wind is plunging after us, and the clouds are flying after us, and the moon is plunging after us, and the whole wild night is in pursuit of us; but so far we are pursued by nothing else" (278) I mostly love the imagery this quote gives and its use of personification. Finally Lucie and Darnay can be at peace. They don;t have to fight anymore or run away because they are all safe. Madame Defarge isn't going to hunt them down, nor are any other revolutionaries. It is the new beginning of their lives.

"It is a far better thing that I do, than i have ever done; it is a far better rest that I go to than i have ever known" (293). I love that Dickens used parts of real letters into his story. I think it truly catches the essence behind it all. I also think it describes Carton's character perfectly before he died. He felt like he had never done anything meaningful in his life, and he finally found a purpose that brought him strength.