Character Sketch of Lucie Manette in A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens Summary

 

INTRODUCTION:

The character of Lucie is the main focus and heroine of the novel ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ written by Charles Dickens. Dickens portrays her as a compassionate and a virtuous woman who inspires great love and loyalty in the other characters. She is beautiful physically and spiritually, and she possesses a gift for bringing out the best qualities of those around her.

 

LUCIE’S APPEARANCE:

Lucie Manette, the daughter of Dr. Alexander Manette is presented as a 17 years old charming and loving girl. Like all other Victorian heroines, Lucie too is both physically and spiritually attractive. Stryver describes her appearance on as "a golden-haired doll," and the "picturesque Doctor's daughter...." which shows that her hair is the main focus of her beauty and the source of light that is associated with her name.

 

LUCIE’S UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AND COMPASSION:

The novelist has presented a sharp contrast of love and hatred in the novel. On the one hand, we have the revolutionary characters that are hungry to shed bloodshed and revenge; but on the other hand we have the character of Lucie who represents unconditional love and compassion for all around her. Dickens uses the character of Lucie to demonstrate how powerful these qualities can be, even in the face of violence and hatred. Darnay, Carton, and Stryver all court her and envision their futures being made brighter with her as their wife. Additionally, both Mr. Lorry and Miss Pross, who are without families, love Lucie as if she were their daughter and do everything they can to keep her safe.

 

LUCIE – AN IDEAL DAUGHTER:

Although she is only seventeen when she hears that her father is alive, she goes to Paris to meet him, brings him back to London, and successfully nurses him back to health and happiness. Her father who had gone insane in jail, is brought to sanity only by Lucie’s nursing, love, care and compassion. This shows that she is an ideal daughter.

 

LUCIE – A PILLAR OF STRENGTH AND PATIENCE:

Lucie is also a pillar of strength and patience accepting her troubles and sorrows.

·      She sympathizes with the plight of her insane father and never gives up. She treats him with love and care.

·      When she learns that her husband has been arrested in France, she heads to Paris in spite of the revolution.

·      When Draney is headed to the guillotine (a machine to cut the heads of people), she never sheds a tear in his presence, not wanting to add to his misery.

CONCLUSION:

In this way, Lucie is indeed a truly “golden thread” that unites, the various characters in the novel. Her physical as well as spiritual beauty is the center of the novel and makes her an ideal Victorian heroine.

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