Everybody Loves Lucie
In psychology, a theory called Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs explains the steps to reach self actualization which is a state similar to nirvana. The prerequisites are steps of "love or belonging" and "esteem". "Love or Belonging" refers to caring and having a stable relationship with friendship and family. The step "esteem" explains that one has confidence, respect by others and selfless character. Though Charles Dickens was not a psychologist, he created a set of characters that proved Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs more plausible. Furthermore in A Tale of Two Cities, Doctor Manette, Sydney Carton, and Mr. Lorry were evident characters who reached self actualization through resurrection by Lucie.
Once Lucie helped resurrect her father, Doctor Manette consequently became more alive and aware of life. Doctor Manette returned from the dead, after eighteen years in solitude prison. Doctor Manette was described to have "sunken cheek, cadaverous colour, emaciated hands and figures", which illustrated how dead he became through those years. His social skills were lost and he easily isolated himself from society as shown through his acquaintance with Mr. Lorry. When Mr. Lorry asked business questions to Doctor Manette, "the faintness of [Doctor Manette] was pitiable and dreadful" as he replied to Mr. Lorry. Accordingly, he cannot continue conversations and also draws from society by making shoes. However, Doctor Manette shows the life he most likely had before imprisonment when Mr. Lorry introduced his long lost daughter, Lucie. Contrasting to the indifferent responses from Doctor Manette in Mr. Lorry's conversation, Manette has "some pleasure in the mere sound of his daughter's voice, and invariably [turns] to it when she spoke". As life becomes more valuable to Doctor Manette with his daughter in his life, the gloomy shadow upon his face gradually faded. He finally has a family to care for and loves, and consequently cares for others as he was "thus steady and confident" to defend Charles Darnay in his second trial. Also his mysterious work of shoes ended which connected to his dead and isolated experience in prison. In the end, Doctor Manette reached self actualization in effect of his resurrection with the help of his daughter's presence.
In addition, an alcoholic lawyer, Sydney Carton, is resurrected from a self centered and jackal life to a life in self actualization. Sydney Carton had no purpose in life regardless of his superior educational and occupational background. He lived with a firm belief that he cares "for no man on earth and no man on earth cares for" him. Obviously Mr. Carton lived in a self centered life and cared not for a social life. Charles Dickens not only illustrates Mr. Carton as a lonesome and emotionally insecure man, but as repetitious. Due to the lack of aspiration, Carton is "an amazingly good jackal, and that he rendered suit and service to Stryver in that humble capacity". As Mr. Carton silently works for Stryver, Mr. Carton seems as he does not control his life completely. Along with his negative characteristics, he is inept to fit with society socially. Mr. Carton stood alone excluded from the circle when the men congratulated Darnay outside the court even though Darnay's release was made possible by Mr. Carton's help. Fortunately, Carton revitalizes his life when he is acquainted with Lucie. Regardless of Stryver's advice about marriage, Sydney Carton finds love that ultimately allows him to arise from his lifeless years. He changed from being self centered to "embrace any sacrifice for [Lucie] and for those dear to [her]". In the end, Carton chooses what he truly wants for himself, which is not his repetitious routine, and takes a risk to save Darnay. All in all, Sydney Carton, who initially was lifeless being self-centered, repetitious and a jackal, was resurrected to a true life by his love for Lucie.
A similar character to Mr. Carton, Mr. Lorry, a man of business, found self actualization through resurrection, which made him selfless as a character. Mr. Lorry could be interpreted to have a dead life, unlike Doctor Manette with physical appearance, but more similar to Mr. Carton, who had internal conflict. His problem was as confessed his character as "a man of business" and therefore he "has no time for them, [and] no chance of them". Throughout the beginning and even the middle of the novel, Charles Dickens emphasizes the business characteristic of Mr. Lorry. Even when he shares a conversation with Lucie, his business character shows and excludes emotions. Dickens portrayal of Mr. Lorry as a robot who is too involved in his work suggests a way of life that is undesirable. Eventually, the relationship between Mr. Lorry and Doctor Manette along with Lucie resurrects Mr. Lorry from his insignificant life to a life full of purpose and selflessness. Evidently, Mr. Lorry makes "arrangements to absent himself from Tellson's for the first time in his life" to supervise Doctor Manette, which shows his interest in people, not business. Mr. Lorry, whose thoughts were all about work for Tellson's Bank decides to devote his time and attention to Doctor Manette and Lucie. Therefore, Mr. Lorry surpassed his selfishness and business character by resurrection with the help of his relationship with Lucie, and in effect found self actualization.
Though the early lives of Doctor Manette, Sydney Carton, and Mr. Lorry are considered undesirable because of their fatigued physical appearance or self centered, selfish, isolated characteristics, they changed to have a enhanced life, measured by the stages of Maslow's Hierarchy theory. The characteristics in the early lives of the characters are closely related as if they were dead, because of their undesirable traits. However, Lucie helped resurrect Doctor Manette, Sydney Carton and Mr. Lorry to realize the value of life.Get more detail about
A Tale of Two Cities.
