Light and Darkness in "A Tale of Two Cities"

                The tone set in A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens when Lucie meets her father is 'optimism.' 'Optimism' is not only created by the characters' actions, but by the light and darkness mentioned in chapter six (when the Manette's meet.) The first piece of evidence of optimism is "Then as the darkness closed in, the daughter laid her head down on the hard ground close at the father's side, and watched him. The darkness deepened and deepened, as they both lay quiet until a light gleamed through the chinks in the wall"(Dickens 36). The darkness that is mentioned in the quote can be describing sadness or depression. That can be seen because the light would play the role as the optimism or happiness. The light that makes it's way "through the chinks in the wall" toward Lucie and her father can be seen as the positivity that will enter their lives now that they have met each other. The light is shining on them as if optimism and hope is being cascaded down on their life. The darkness being taken over by the light could be the end of a bad time in their lives, now that light has entered. The darkness in this case would be sadness because the light is the happiness; they are opposites. Another quote proving optimism is the tone that is set is "He[Dr.Manette] gradually dropped to the floor, and lay there in a lethargy, worn out. She[Lucie] had nestled down with him, that his head might lie upon her arm; and her hair, drooping over him curtained him from light"(Dickens 35). The light in this quote could be seen as evil instead of something positive. "Her hair drooping over him curtained him from the light" is describing how Lucie will protect him from the bad things in life. The light in this case plays the role of anything negative and Lucie's hair is Lucie standing in front of those negativities. Now that Lucie has met her father, she does not want him taken away from her,one of the only possibilities of it happening could be done by something evil. Lucie's hair covering her father from the light can foreshadow how she might become more and more protective of him as A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens continues. Lastly, "his cold white head mingled with her radiant hair, which warmed and lighted it as though it were the light of Freedom shining on him"(Dickens 34). This quote also shows optimism during the time Lucie meets her father, it is while they are holding each other. It foreshadows how optimistic their future will be together. The light is explained as the Freedom that has downed on them. This light is a look into their future that it most likely will be bright. In conclusion, optimism is the tone created by the light and darkness of when Lucie and her father meet in A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.