The Gift of a Life: Sacrifice in a Tale of Two CitiesSome men are eternally engraved in the hearts and minds of those they inspired. This is done in a way that allows his name to live on forever, long after its fleeting existence. However, what truly sets a man apart from his lesser counterparts is his willingness to give without taking. Indeed, pioneering aviator and author Anne Morrow Lindbergh says it best when she says, “giving without any reward, or any notice, has a special quality all its own.” In A Tale of two Cities by Charles Dickens, Dickens shows the inherent goodness of his characters. By illustrating various acts of sacrifice, it demonstrates that the character's gifts ultimately bring about great changes, often changes that facilitate the rebirth of those close to them. The very first signs of sacrifice are noted in the opening scenes of the book. Dickens speaks of a “fatal revolution” by metaphorically comparing the woodcutter and the forester to the creation of the guillotine. Dickens notes that in the midst of a revolution, heavy bloodshed must be committed to achieve the vengeance desired by the peasants. Although the peasants were originally people of good faith, they were forced by the aristocratic government to take drastic measures. Poverty, the mother of all crimes, and the crushing of humanity by the aristocrats, gave the peasants no choice.” Dickens explains here that due to government negligence, people were forced to sacrifice their good character and engage in acts of violence which caused a period of great animosity and despondency. Sacrifices are often made to strengthen bonds, and no other bond in the novel is stronger than the one Lucie Mannette shares with her father, Dr. Manette. Indeed, Lucy has gone to great lengths to ensure that their bond remains strong. In the first chapters of the novel, Lucie, hoping that her pleas can cure her father's madness, devotes herself wholeheartedly to Dr. Manette, without regard for her own personal desires. She promises her father that if “...I mention to you a home that lies before us, I will be faithful to you in all my duty. » (46) Lucie's undying devotion to her father is a clear example of how one person's sacrifice can inspire life in another..