A Tale of Two Cities

A detailed Summary of A Tale of Two Cities

A plot in a story can be developed in several ways. In many great pieces of literature, much of this plot advancement is done by the characters through their actions, by what they say, and how they are perceived by the other characters as well as the reader. In the novel A Tale of Two Cities, Dickens' minor characters contribute significantly to the narrative development. This essay will support this statement through reference to three of the minor characters including: Jerry Cruncher, Mr. Stryver, and Solomon Pross-John Barsad.

Jerry Cruncher, a minor character, is a man of mystery in this novel. This is because of his profession and the places it takes him. His boots are frequently covered by mud in the morning, yet, the night before they would be clean. As we later discover, he is an odd-job man by day and a body snatcher by night. One of his nights in the cemetery finally pays off in the plot. In Book III, Sydney Carton attempts to blackmail John Barsad. Finally, after considering his predicament, Barsad gives in and agrees to aid Sydney Carton in his plan to release

Through Cruncher's testimony, Carton gains the advantage of a favour from Barsad. This favour, as you can see, sets up the rest of the book and ultimately allows Carton access to Charles' cell where he is kept prisoner.

John Barsad, as mentioned earlier, is also another minor character that plays an important role in allowing the plot to progress. "...he becomes an essential instrument in Carton's plan for Darnay's escape." (Coles Editorial Board, 1999, p.115) After being blackmailed to provide Carton with access to Charles Darnay's cell at the prison de Laforce, he aids Carton in getting into the cell, taking Charles out, and keeping the secret of the switch until the ordeal has passed. Without this minor but extremely important piece of the plot, Carton would not have gained entry to the prison to switch positions with Charles and the rest of the book would not have been possible. Darnay would have died a tragic death and Lucie would have died of a broken heart. However, this is not the case as we see in the outcome of the book.

Charles Darnay from prison by taking

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Approximate Word count = 733
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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A Tale of Two Cities

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