A Tale of Two Cities

A detailed Summary of A Tale of Two Cities

Keys of the Kingdom,? by A.J. Cronin, starts off as a heart wrenching story about a boy who experiences misfortune one after another. His life seems to take a slide until God turns his afflictive calamity into a glorious fortune.

In the first half of the story, Francis grows up in Tweedside, Scotland in the year 1878. Scotland is a gorgeous country filled with luscious greens and mountains that fill the eye with wonder and awe. Francis?s father was a Catholic and unlike his father, his mother was of a different religion. But when Francis travels to an alien land, the scene is filled with easy country, splendid mountains, the valleys were aflame with wild rhododendrons, and glades of flowering apricots whose perfume prickled the nostrils like sparkling wine. Although the scenery is as beautiful as it is, in the town Pai-Tan, China is filled with gloomy faces, and pockets empty.

Francis is the type of man whose speech is sparingly heard, but strongly and most definitely imprints a mark in the heart of the listener. His humble attire and sincere character make him appear sensitive and devout. Throughout life his companion, Willy, is a headstrong and faithful pagan that is always there when a stick

y situation appears. Because he attended medical school, his precise and quick-witted actions help Francis when he needs Willy the most. Another main character in the story, although short lived, is Nora. Nora had been Francis?s only one true love, the kind of love that Francis would give his life for. In Francis?s eyes she was breath taking and gorgeous. Her skin was as soft as a baby?s and her face was a pleasant sight for sore eyes. But an undesirable accident occurs where Nora is dreadfully sick, depressed and disoriented. In the end, out of desperation, Nora kills herself as a way out. Although Nora did not have the biggest part, she sure imprinted a life long memory in Francis?s soul that changed him for the surpassing vocation that would come from his horrible journey. When in China, a young boy named Liu-Ta (also called Joseph) around the age of fifteen leached onto Francis and because of his faithful and sincere ways, helped Francis immensely. Joseph is ambitious, polite and loves doing work for God with all of his heart. Later on in the story, Reverend Mother appears. She is unreasonable. She and Francis have an impersonal barrier between them. She is cold and conceited. In the end, despite of their differences, she learns to love and care for Francis. Her heart changes one hundred percent.

Francis in the end never did resolve his life long struggle with society. He spent thirty-five years trying to resolve the problem, but once he returned home, the same struggle returned. Francis lived his life for Christ and did everything he was ever asked to do. Because of his faithfulness and obedience to God his life long journey for witnessing the Truth and trying to find the keys to Heaven, he finally ended up finding it, And I will give thee the key

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1202
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Novels