The Brightness and Darkness of Family Relationships

The novel A Tale of Two Cities by the late Charles Dickens shows the hopeful tone of a discovered father and daughter relationship between Ms. Lucie & Dr. Manette through light and darkness. In chapter 6 of Book 1 Monsieur Defarge says,”’to let a little more light in here. You can bare a little more?”(Dickens 30). During this moment, his daughter, whom he’s never seen before come to see him for the first. Dr. Manette has suffered through nearly two decades of solitude in the room he’s currently in. When he sees Lucie for the first time he becomes filled with joy that has been almost nonexistent for this chapter in his life. Lucie without knowing it is the light to guide her father back to England safe from harm. Later on in the chapter Dickens writes,”...It looked as though it had passed like a moving light, from him to her”(Dickens 32). This first encounter with eachother sets the emotional path of their relationship. Dr. Manette finally sees this beacon of a better life, and Lucie sees a man that urges to reclaim the life that has long been lost. From this, we can see that they are the other’s hope and happiness in the brief amount of time they’ve met. Finally, near the end of the chapter Dickens states,”...It were the light of Freedom shining on him”(Dickens 34). Dr. Manette’s imprisonment has turned a respected man into a shoemaker to keep his sanity. Now, Lucie’s light has been infectious and has made him hopeful as well. After roughly 18 years, Dr. Manette has both his daughter Lucie and hope at last.