The Tale of Two cities: Doctor Manette Character Analysis (A.K.A. 105 North Tower)

By Kristin McCurdy and Ashley Scibelli

A quick summery: Dr. Manette begins the book fresh out of prison where he has ben held captive for 18 years in the Bastille. While in the Bastille, he became a crafted shoemaker, a hobby he took up in order to keep himself as mentally sane as one may remain after 18 years of solitude. Dr. Manette is the father of Lucie and his wife passed away before he was let out of prison. He wore a piece of cloth around his neck which held a few pieces of golden hair from his wife, this was his only souvenir of her or his previous life. Lucie aids her father in regaining his sanity after he is reintroduced to the real world, in return, Manette slowly begins to recover from his prison tortures and is a caring and loving father to Lucie, always keeping her best interest at heart.

Death and rebirth (resurrection):Dr. Manette accentuates this theme in the Tale of Two cities because he changes drastically from the beginning of the book to the end. He is a living state of death when he first is released from the Bastille. However, with the help of Lucie, he is resurrected and Manette finds things worth living for. He is placed in a healthy environment and is no longer tortured by imprisonment.

Dr. Manette's Secrets: Manette holds many secrets both from the reader and from the other characters in the novel. The secret he holds from everyone is the reason behind his initial imprisonment and also the tortures he experienced in the Bastille. Manette's past is represented by his shoemaking rather than the actual pains he suffered. It is through the discussion of his shoemaking that the reader is given information regarding his past. Another secret Manette holds is about Charles Darnay, his son in law. On Lucie and Charles' wedding day, Charles tells Manette the truth about his history and his real name. Darnay is from Paris and is related to the Marquis. No one can know this about Darnay and Manette must keep this information to himself. Not even Lucie knows the truth about Darnay.

Exciting Interview with Dr. Manette: Dr. Manette, who's latest life movie is due to come out has had a life only read about in books, like A Tale of Two Cities. Imprisoned for a crime he was hailed by the French people for, he became a valuable figure for the people of France and his son in law. While imprisoned in France's upscale Bastille, he occupied his mind (like all great thinkers must do) through making shoes. After 18 years of perfecting his shoe making, he practically invented the shoe wear for such lines as Prada. What a man!

With such an infamous career, he was even more graced by the presence of his beautiful daughter, and many friends. He not only has a strength in making shoes but the love of his daughter surpasses all physical capabilities this man has. He is his daughter;s hero in the wildly violent streets of Paris as he fights for his daughter's love, her husband, Charles Darnay.

We decided to interview Dr. Manette, of whom society has taken a liking to call the "sole doctor" (no pun intended).

---- "Dr. Manette, after many years imprisoned what were the first things you decided to do?"

---- "Well, my lovely daughter showed me various things I had missed in life while I made shoes. For example, green catsup (what a turnoff), Bridget Jones' Diary, and her love Charles Darnay. I don't know of the three, which one I was more surprised by!"

----- "Your life has been considered so tumultuous that Charles Dickens decided to write a novel about it. Are there any movies that you feel stand up to your life or can compare to it?"

----- "The movie The Hurricane reminds me of myself and the hardships I went through."

(This is a fine photo of the great Dr. Himself!)