The French Revolution began in 1789, inspired by the American Revolution, which ended just 6 years before the French Revolution began. Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities takes place during the French Revolution for about half the novel. Dickens focuses on a theme involving the sacrifices made by certain characters just before and during the French Revolution using numerous examples to develop the theme. He develops the theme of sacrifice for others in the name of something or someone throughout the book through the sacrifices of Manette's reason for Lucie Manette to marry Charles Darnay, Darnay's freedom to return to France to help Gabelle to get out of prison, and Sydney. Carton gives up his life so that Darnay can live. Towards the beginning of the novel, Dr. Alexandre Manette sacrifices his reason so that Lucie Manette can marry Charles Darnay. Dickens first describes Manette's thoughts about the proclaimed marriage by writing: “'There was evidently a struggle on the face; a struggle with that occasional look that tended to obscure doubt and fear. (Dickens 103). Manette struggles to decide whether or not to let his beloved daughter marry Darnay because he is unsure of her mental stability; Manette is unsure if he will relapse into his unhealthy mental state after his imprisonment. He doubts he will remain sane and return to shoemaking. However, Manette also doubts Darnay's story. Finally, Manette said to Darnay: “You speak with so much emotion and virility Charles Darnay, that I thank you with all my heart and will open my whole heart to you, or almost. (103). These words explain this because of Darnay's honesty about his feelings and his obvious love towards ...... middle of paper ...... and his love. His love for the two girls is so great that he will sacrifice his life so that they can be happy. The sacrifices of Manette's reason for Lucie Manette to marry Charles Darnay, Darnay's freedom to return to France to help Gabelle get out of prison. , and Sydney Carton giving up her life for Darnay to live are examples of the theme of sacrifice for others for the sake of something used to develop this theme throughout the book. The themes carry Dickens' story very well and create a very suspenseful read. Dickens uses themes as well as foreshadowing and symbolism to create this suspense and mystery. A Tale of Two Cities would probably not have been as successful and well-known as it is without Dickens's superlative use of theme, foreshadowing, and symbolism. Works Cited Dickens, Charles. A tale of two cities. Mineola: Dover, 1999. Print.