In Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, the predominate theme is being "recalled to life." This theme implies that the characters are given a new chance at life, such as Dr. Manette when he is released from prison, Charles Darnay when he avoids being found guilty at his trial and Sydney Carton when he gives his life for the happiness of Lucy Manette.
To begin with, Dr. Manette has lived a great portion of his life within prison walls, when he is released he finds it difficult to cope with the outside world until he is unexpectedly "recalled to life." He is recalled to life when his long lost child, Lucy, comes to him and takes him to her home to recover. Throughout his life he was unsure of how his child that he did not know at all would turn out, when he meets her all his past fears are put to rest. Lucy is also able to help Dr. Manette deal with his new life outside of prison, allowing him to readjust to the outside world. Furthermore, Lucy and Mr. Lorry nurse him back to a healthy state and throw away his tools and bench. "Mr. Lorry hacked the shoemaker's bench to pieces." This is significant because when they throw away his cobbler tools, he is unable to retreat back to his former self when times become more difficult for him.
Dr. Manette is recalled in an abstract way, as opposed to Charles Darnay who is actually saved when he is recalled to life. He is recalled to life when Stryver points out his striking resemblance to Carton at the trial, therefore making it impossible to prove that he, and not Carton, was indeed guilty. When Darnay is saved from certain death at the trial, he is given a new lease on life. Stryver says, "and then look well upon the prisoner. How sat you? Are they very like each other?" Pointing out their similarities to the court. Now the jury is unsure of what they were previously certain of, allowing Darnay to go free after the trial.
Ironically, the very same act that recalled Darnay to life recalled Carton as well.
