A Tale of Two Cities Book 3, Chapter 12

A Tale of Two Cities

Book 3, Chapter 12: “Darkness”

156. Carton gives his traveling papers to Mr. Lorry: “It is a similar certificate, enabling him and his daughter and her child, at any time, to pass the barrier and the frontier” (333). He tells Mr. Lorry to arrange a coach traveling to the English border and to wait until his place his filled in the coach before leaving.

157. Carton instructs Mr. Lorry to prepare to leave the next day because he is worried that Madame Defarge will try to denounce the entire family very soon and then their papers would become void: “They are in great danger. They are in danger of denunciation by Madame Defarge” (333). I think that Carton plans to switch places with Darnay, so that Cartons would die and Darnay would go free with Lucie.

Book 3, Chapter 13: “Fifty-two”

158. Charles writes in his “last” letter several things. He sends his love and blessing to Lucie and Dr. Manette and he tells Lucie to “devote herself to their dear child” (337), little Lucie. He informs Lucie that he did not know anything about Dr. Manette’s imprisonment and he finishes off by thanking Mr. Lorry of their grateful friendship.

159. Carton knew that there was no easy way to get Charles to go along with his plan. Carton enters Darnay’s cell and starts exchanging his clothes with him. Darnay understands what’s happening but thinks that it won’t work. “Carton, there is no escaping from this place; it never can be done. You will only die with me. It is madness” (339). That’s when Carton drugs him.

160. Carton enters the Darnay’s cell and exchanges his clothes with him. He then drugs Darnay and tells Barsad, who was with him, to carry him outside leaving Carton in the jail instead of him claiming that he was sick.

161. In Book 2, Chapter 13, Carton said to Lucie: “For you, and any dear to you, I would do anything. If my career were of better kind that there was any opportunity or capacity of sacrifice in it, I would embrace any sacrifice for you and for those dear to you” (147). He says that is would give up his life to save anything dear to her. Carton is keeps his promise to Lucie by dying at the hands of the guillotine instead of Charles Darnay, her husband.