To make a great novel what it is, as Charles Dickens did on many occasions, there must be a variety of themes included within the novel which are frequently expressed throughout, that causes the reader comes out with a sense of higher moral understanding than they had before reading it. Three of the most dominant and recurring themes presented in "A Tale of Two Cities" are revenge, altruism, and resurrection.
             Revenge, a natural human tendency when an act of wrong is committed against a person, is one of the most overriding themes in this book. It is presented at several points in the story. One example of revenge is when the carriage of the Marquis St. Evremonde hits and kills a child in the streets. Because the Marquis fails to properly apologize and take the blame for his actions, revenge is taken soon after when he is murdered. The man who murdered him, Gaspard, also the father of the child who was killed by the carriage, has to pay the price for his actions and is executed. Also, the French Revolutionaries, throughout the plot, strive for revenge against the aristocracy. They gain this revenge by storming the Bastille. Very harsh are the conversations between Ernest and Theresa Defarge. Mrs. Defarge, because they cruelly treated her family years ago, wants revenge on the Evremonde family and all associated with them, including Charles Darnay and, therefore his wife, Lucie. S!
             he sets out to kill Lucie but ends up being shot and killed with her own gun. Although she only shot the gun in self-defense, all cruel acts must be compensated for, and therefore, it happens that Miss Pross loses her hearing due to the bang of the gunshot. The point that you must be careful of what you write is expressed when Dr. Manette unknowingly becomes Charles Darney's third accuser because he had at one time denounced the entire Evremonde family in an entry in his journal during one of his numerous days in prison. The Defarges get reve...