the theme of resurrection is the revelation that Roger Cly, a British spy who staged his own funeral, was actually alive. Another English spy, Basard, who also happened to be Miss Pross’ long-lost brother, presents a death certificate for Cly, but Cruncher, who was present at the funeral procession admits that he attempted to steal Cly’s body after the ceremony, but found only bricks in the casket. Thus Cly was “resurrected” when it was found that he had never died.A more important resurrection occurs in the case of Carton and Darnay. Carton is a lawyer who defends Darnay against the charges of treason against France. Carton is an insolent, boorish alcoholic for whom “no man on earth cares for,” in his own words. He could generally be considered a failure in life, while Darnay is a remarkable contrast to this man. Darnay is gentile, successful, and refined, and represents to the reader all that Carton could have been in life, but was not. The extraordinary similarity between Darnay and Carton makes the dichotomy between the two characters more evident. The two were so similar that they could be mistaken for one another, and this in fact, is one of the defenses used by Carton when an eyewitness at Darnay’s trial claimed that Darnay was a spy.Early in the novel, Carton speaks to Lucie alone, and confesses his love for her, and that he at any time, he would trade his life to save someone she loves. Years pass, and Lucie marries Darnay. Soon after, Darnay is once again accused of the crime of being a spy; this time it is Dr. Manette’s written testimony, found in his cell in the Bastille, which provides the evidence against him that could not get him convicted in the previous trial. Darnay is convicted, and sentenced to death, as a punishment for the crimes of his father and uncle. When the verdict is announced, Carton remembers his promise to Lucie from years prior, and plots with ...
