論《雙城記》中的自我犧牲與復(fù)活學(xué)位論文

Self-sacrificeandResurrectioninATaleofTwoCities摘要作為19世紀(jì)最偉大的小說(shuō)家，查爾斯·狄更斯的宗教思想非常深邃。從本質(zhì)上來(lái)講，其風(fēng)靡中國(guó)數(shù)十載的經(jīng)典巨作《雙城記》是一部宗教色彩極為濃厚的小說(shuō)。本文作者嘗試從基督教救贖思想的視角去分析《雙城記》中“自我犧牲”和“復(fù)活”的重要主題，希望能幫助中國(guó)讀者進(jìn)一步理解狄更斯小說(shuō)創(chuàng)作及其對(duì)基督教的認(rèn)識(shí)。關(guān)鍵詞：查爾斯·狄更斯；《雙城記》；自我犧牲；復(fù)活；基督教TableofContentsAbstract i中文摘要 iiTOC\o"1-3"\u1.Introduction 12.Self-sacrificeinATaleofTwocities 22.1TheChristianbeliefinself-sacrifice 22.2Personalself-sacrifice 22.2.1Thesacrificeoflife 22.2.2Thesacrificeofwill 32.3Societalself-sacrifice 43.ResurrectioninATaleofTwocities 63.1TheChristianfaithinresurrection 63.2Personalresurrection 63.2.1Therenascenceofearthlylife 63.2.2Theresurrectionofsoul 73.3Societalresurrection 84.TheSignificanceofSelf-sacrificeandResurrectioninATaleofTwocities 94.1Therelationshipbetweenself-sacrificeandresurrection 94.2TheimportanceofCharlesDickens'sChristianbelief 95.Conclusion 11Bibliography 12Acknowledgements 131.IntroductionCharlesDickens(1812-1870)isoneofthemostpopularEnglishnovelistsofthe\o"Victorianera"Victorianeraandhispopularityhasneverfaded.Enteringtheworldoftheworkingclassatanearlyage,hewitnessedtheevilofthetime.ThelandofBritaingroansundertheoppressionofCapitalism.CharlesDickensisbestknownforthecharactershecreated,andmanyofhisworksshowadeepconcernfor\o"Reformmovement"socialreform,forinstance,\o"OliverTwist"OliverTwist,\o"NicholasNickleby"NicholasNickleby,,\o"BleakHouse"BleakHouse,\o"HardTimes"HardTimes,and\o"OurMutualFriend"OurMutualFriend.ATaleofTwoCitiesdepictstheconflictbetweentheFrenchpeasantryandthe\o"France"French\o"Aristocracy(government)"aristocracyintheyearsbeforeandduringtheFrenchRevolution.HavingbeenthrowntotheBastillebytheEvrémondesandsufferedexcruciatingpainbothphysicallyandmentally,DoctorManettewasfinallyrescuedandgraduallyrecoveredfromamentiaunderthecareofhisdaughterLucie.Yearslater,theheritoroftheEvrémondes,aliasCharlesDarnay,renouncedhistitleandpropertytoteachinLondon,wherehemarriedLucie.ButaftertheoutbreakoftheFrenchRevolution,hewasimprisonedandsentencedtodeathinParis,atanattempttofreehisincarceratedservant.Intheend,SidneyCarton,whohadanimmenseloveforLucieandastrongfacialresemblancetoDarnay,savedthelatterbysacrificinghisownlifeattheGuillotine.WithmorefrequentSino-Westernculturalexchanges,thedeepreligiousthoughtsofCharlesDickensexpressedinATaleofTwoCitiesgraduallybecomethefocusofChinesescholars.ChenCui-ping(2005)exploresthecharacteristicsbetweenDr．ManetteandMadameDefargefromtheChristianpoint,whileZhouHui-mei(2008)emphasizesthebenevolentspiritofthenovel,whichalsocomesfromChristianity.Abroad,RuthGlancy(1991)believesthatATaleofTwoCitiesismoredeeplyinfluencedbyChristianitythananyothernovelbyCharlesDickens.Inhisopinion,theoppressioninflicteduponChristianitybytherevolutionariesisresponsibleforthetragedyofmanyinthenovel.However,mostoftheirfocusesareonfaith,hopeandcharity,thethreevirtuesofChristianity,whilenotenoughattentionhasbeenpaidtoresurrection,thecorepartofChristianbelief.Infact,self-sacrificeandresurrection,thetwointegralpartsinGod’sredemption,aretwooftheimportantthemesofthenovel.ThisdissertationaimstoshowhowCharlesDickensreflectsthethemesofself-sacrificeandresurrectioninATaleofTwoCities,andtheauthor’srelevantthoughtsaboutredemption.PerhapsitcouldrenewourunderstandingofCharlesDickens’snovels.Thedissertationconsistsoffiveparts.PartOneisanintroductiontoCharlesDickensandATaleofTwoCities,theChristianbeliefsinself-sacrificeandresurrection,theresearchbackground,aswellasthereasonsandpurposeofstudyingATaleofTwoCitiesfromtheperspectivesofreligion.PartTwoisadetailedanalysisonhowthethemeofself-sacrificeisreflectedinATaleofTwoCities.Partthreefocusesontheanalysisofresurrectioninthenovel.Partfourillustratesthesignificanceofthetwothemes.Partfiveistheconclusionofthedissertation.2．Self-sacrificeinATaleofTwoCitiesSelf-sacrificeisoneoftheimportantthemesinATaleofTwoCities.CharlesDickensbelievesthatthissupremedeedshouldbeperformedbythecharactersoutofloveandcharity.Inthisnovel,self-sacrificecanbeclassifiedintotwotypes.Thefirsttypeispersonalself-sacrifice,andthesecondtypeissocietalself-sacrifice.2.1TheChristianBeliefinSelf-sacrificeAccordingtotheBible,whentheancestorsofhumanbeingssinnedagainstGodandwasexpelledfromtheGardenofEden,theybegantheirexileforthousandsofgenerations.Gradually,theypervertedandforgottheirCreator.Sinswereprevalentthroughouttheworld.Asweknow,theTrinityinChristianityreferstotheunionoftheFather,theSonandtheHolySpirit.UnlikeAllahintheKoran,whoforeverrulestheworldintheremoteanduntouchableHeaven,JesusChrist,theSonoftheAlmightyhimselfcamedownonEarthtoredeemthehumans.Thatisknowntobe“TheWordbecamefleshandmadehisdwellingamongus.”(John1:14).However,Jesusdidn’tchooseacomfortablelifeinsidetheroyalpalacelikehisancestorKingDavid.HebecamethesonofapoorcarpenternamedJoseph,andfinallysacrificedhislifeontheCross.Whatherevealstousisthatself-sacrificeisnecessarytogainthenarrowpathtoHeaven.2.2PersonalSelf-sacrificeInATaleofTwoCities,personalself-sacrificecouldalsobesubdividedintotwotypes,oneofwhichconcernsthesacrificeofthecharacters’life,whiletheotherconcernsthesacrificeoftheirwishes.2.2.1TheSacrificeofLifeSydneyCartonisprobablythemostimportantcharacterinATaleofTwoCities.Atfirst,heisnomorethanalazyattorneywhoindulgeshimselfinalcoholandclaimstobethe“idlestandmostunpromisingofmen”.CharlesDickenssuccessfullygivesusafalseimpressionthatCartonisnomorethanafoiltoothercharacters.However,fromthebottomofhisheart,theinsolentattorneylovesLuciemorethanhimself.It’sthesenseofinferioritythatclingstohimanddelayshiscourtship.Intheend,CartonprofesseshislovetoLuciebeforeherwedding.Thiseventisacrucialcatalystforhistransition.Heembarksonthejourneyofhisfutureself-sacrifice,whichisdoneoutofpurelove.Infact,it’sLucie’skindnessthatredeemshimfromdespairandgiveshimanewlife.InhisSermonontheMount,JesusChristtaughtthepeoplearoundhim,“Youarethesaltoftheearth,butifthesalthaslostitstaste,howshallitssaltinessberestored?Itisnolongergoodforanythingexcepttobethrownoutandtrampledunderpeople’sfeet.Youarethelightoftheworld.Acitysetonahillcannotbehidden.Nordopeoplelightalampandputitunderabasket,butonthestand,anditgiveslighttoallinthehouse.Inthesameway,letyourlightshinebeforeothers,sothattheymayseeyourgoodworksandgiveglorytoyourFartherwhoisinheaven”(Matthew5:13-16).InchoosingtosufferattheGuillotineforDarnay,towhomhebearsastrikingfacialresemblance,SydneyCartonensureshisspiritualrebirthandbecomesthesaltandlightoftheworld.WuMin(2004:125)statesthatSydneyCartonisdestinedtodie，whichmeansit’sCharlesDickenswhosendshimtotheGuillotine,andnothingcouldbetterreflectshisChristianthoughts.Theauthor,broughtupasaChristian,isdeeplyinfluencedbythenotionofredemption.HebelievesthatitisonlythroughsuchsacrificethatCartoncouldberedeemed.JackLindsay(1972:57)believesthatthethemeofthesacrificialdeathnotonlyendsthecompulsionandtransformsviolenceintoitsopposite,butalsoendsthewholeviciouscircleofthecurse.Therefore,it’sinevitableandnecessaryforCartontoperformthissupremedeedforDarnayandtheManettes.2.2.2TheSacrificeofWillWhilemanypeoplearedeeplymovedbySidneyCarton’sself-sacrificeattheGuillotine,theyseldompayanyheedtoanothertypeofself-sacrifice,whichconcernsthesacrificeofthecharacters’will.Asamatteroffact,therearenumerousexamplesaboutsuchsacrifices.DoctorManetteisagreatherointhisrespect.Hesuffersgreatmentaltortureandrelapsesintohisoldhabitofshoemakingforninedaysandnightswhenhisdaughter’ssuitorhappenstobetheheritorofhisfoe.Buthedecidestolovehispersecutorandsacrificehisownwillbyconsentingtotheirmarriage.Infact,suchloveandsacrificecomefromChristianity.Jesusoncesaid,“Loveyourenemiesandprayforthosewhopersecuteyou,sothatyoumaybesonsofyourFatherwhoisinheaven.Forhemakeshissunriseontheevilandonthegood,andsendsrainonthejustandontheunjust.Forifyoulovethosewholoveyou,whatrewarddoyouhave?Donoteventhetaxcollectorsdothesame?Youthereforemustbeperfect,asyourheavenlyFatherisperfect”(Matthew5:44-48).Thedoctordrinksthecupofbitternessandsuffersexcruciatingpaininwardly.ButasSorenKierkeggard(1999:58)observes,“Bydefeatingitsinnerrival,thatis,thepossibilityofunhappiness,faithhasdefeatedtheworld.”DoctorManette’sfaithfinallyhelpshimselfrecoverfromthebitternessoftheworld.CharlesDarnayisanotherexample.HesacrificeshiswillbyrenouncinghistitleandriskinghislifetosavehisformerservantGabelle.Originally,DarnayisaFrencharistocrat.HisuncletheMarquisEvrémondeisacrueloppressor,who,whenaccidentlykillingaplebeianchild,showsnosympathy,butarguesthatitisbetterforthepoorlittleplaythingtodieso,thantolive.Thisshowsthatheactswithutterdisregardforhumanlife.ButCharlesDarnayhatesthearistocratsandsympathizeswiththeoppressed.Undertheteachingofhismother,heknowswellthatifhefollowsthewaysetbyhisfatheranduncle,hewillhavetopayfortheirsins.Hehasdecidedtolove,justasthegreatapostlePaulsaid,“ThereforebeimitatorsofGod,asbelovedchildren.Andwalkinlove，asChristlovedusandgavehimselfupforus,afragrantofferingandsacrificetoGod”(Ephesians5:1-2).However,manywriterscriticizeDickens’scharactersinthisnovelbypointingouttheirlackofdepth.Intheiropinion,CharlesDarnaylacksthecomplexitythatmakesliterarycharacterslookreal.ThereisnodoubtthatCharlesDarnayistooperfecttobe“complex”,butperhaps,whatDickenswantstoshowisanalmostidealChristianwhohaslearnttosacrificehisownwillfromtheverybeginning.Byrenouncinghistitle,CharlesDarnayhastakenadecisivestepawayfromhisowngroupofoppressors,andintotheworldofthelowerclass.Intoday’ssecularsociety,suchactionsareconsideredsillybytheothers.Butatthattime,peoplegenerallybelievedthat“itiseasierforacameltogothroughtheeyeofaneedlethanforarichpersontoenterthekingdomofGod”(Matthew19:24).Therefore,therichhavetogothroughmuchbitterstruggleandmakemoresacrifices,soastogainthepromisedland.However,whatCharlesDarnayworthourpraisemostishisbraveryinrescuingGabelle.AlthoughintumultuousFrance,allexpatriatescanbeputtodeath,Darnaystillhurriesbacktohismotherland.Hisfaith,hope,andcharitymakehisJarvisLorry,whoservesatTellson’sBankformostofhislife,isalsoaheroofself-sacrifice.Probably,heremainsabachelorthroughouthislifejustforhisstrongprofessionaldedication,whichkeepshimbusy.Butheisstillquitedifferentfromthosemodernworkaholics’,mostofwhomworkfornothingbutmoney.HeworkshardbecauseofhisloyaltytotheBank.Sowemayalsosaythathisbachelorshipisakindofself-sacrifice.Asisknown,beforethe19thCentury,Europewasstilldeeplyreligious,despitetheincreasinglythrivingAtheismintheContinent.InCatholicFrance,almostallthetradeshadtheirownpatronsaints.MeanwhileinProtestantBritain,thebusinesspeoplewerestronglyinfluencedbyChristianmorality,andwereexpectedtobeloyaltotheirwork,andmadesomenecessarysacrifices.It’sclearthatJarvisLorrywasoneofthem.ButafterthedeclineofChristianityinthemid19thCentury,thetraditionalreligiousvaluesbegantolosetheirappeal.Churchattendancewasdecreasingbecausepeopleweretiredofsermons.Utilitarianism,widelyacceptedandpracticedbyall,putalmosteverythingtotestwithitscriterion,thatis,theextenttowhichitcouldpromotethematerialhappiness.Thus,self-sacrificeisnolongerappreciatedbybusinesspeople,whograduallybecamecunninganddishonestprofiteers.ItisevidentthatsuchphenomenonhasraisedCharlesDickens’sconcern.Forhim,the18thCenturyJarvisLorry,insteadofthe19thCenturyMr.GradgrindinHardTimes,isamodelofhonestbusinessmen,whoknowsthevalueofself-sacrifice.Besides,thoughbusiness-oriented,JarvisLorrydoesnotbehavelikeamercenarymachine.Onthecontrary,thiskind-heartedoldbacheloristrustworthytoallhisfriendsandriskshislifemanytimestohelptheManettes.Inaword,heisaperfectChristianbusinessmanwhoknowstosacrificebothforhisworkandforhisfriend.InATaleofTwoCities,manycharactershavesacrificedtheirwill.Intheattempttorisktheirlivesinordertohelporrescueothers,alltheChristianspiritsembodiedinthemarefullyshown.2.3SocietalSelf-sacrificeInATaleofTwoCities,self-sacrificebecomessocietalwhenthetyrannicalrevolutionariesfirmlybelievethatanewFrenchRepublicwhichstandsforLiberty,EqualityandFraternitycanonlysurviveatbloodycost.Forthem,thecitizens’personallovesshouldbesacrificedforthebenefitofFrance.Thenpeoplebegantotakedelightinindictingoneanotheronthechargeoftreason.Withtheomnipresenceofspiesandguillotines,historyprovesthatsuchsacrificeshavemadeFrancealandofterror.TheconvictionoftherevolutionariesisclearlyshownwhenMadameDefarge,thecruelavengerwholeadsthestormoftheBastille,criticizesherhusbandforhispersonaldevotiontoDoctorManette,andwarnshimofthenecessityofbeingrelentlessagainsteveryonewhoisdisloyaltothenew-bornRepublic.Similarly,whenDarnayisagaintheprisoneroftheRepublic,theguardswhoarresthimtellsDoctorManette,“IftheRepublicdemandssacrificefromyou,withoutdoubtyouasagoodpatriotwillbehappytomakethem.TheRepublicgoesbeforeall.ThePeopleissupreme”（256）.Thenwhenthereasonofthedoctor’simprisonmentisrevealed,thecourtrulesthatDarnayshoulddiefortheatrociouscrimescommittedbyhisfatheranduncle.Suchisthe“sacrifice”advocatedbytherevolutionariestoattainthegoalofconstructingabetterFrenchsociety.BeingcompletelydevoidofChristianlove,itonlymakestheoppressedtheoppressors.ZhouHui-mei(2008:44)observesthatwhenMadameDefargebecomesarelentlessavengerandabrutalkiller,andtherevolutionarieswho“answerviolencewithviolence”shownoChristiancharity,theauthor’ssympathybecomesangerandnegation.ItiscertainthatCharlesDickensobjectstosuchsacrifice.Inhisopinion,self-sacrificeshouldbedoneoutofcharity,justlikethedeedsofSydneyCarton,DoctorManetteandCharlesDarnay.ItisonlyundertheguidanceofChristianfraternitythattheRepubliccanredeemitself,andmakeatrulyharmonioussociety.Butsadly,Christianitywasthenregardedastheaccompliceofthearistocrats.AttheacmeoftheRevolution,manymonasteriesareconfiscated,andpriestssentencedtocapitalpunishment.WhatshouldbenotedhereisthattheRepublicpersecutesnotonlytheChristianChurch,butalsotheChristianvalues.WhenCartonwandersintoavillagechurch,hefindsitvacantwithoutanydevoteeliftingtheirprayersuptoGod.SuchperversionoftheFrenchismainlycausedbytheprohibitionofChurchattendance,thoughatthesametime,aggravatedbythevillainyofthepriests.RuthGlancy(1991:117)statesthat“ATaleofTwoCitiesisperhapsDickens’smostChristiannovel,andheemphasizestheperversionofChristianitythattookplaceduringtheRevolutiontodemonstratethe‘frightfulmoraldisorder,bornofunspeakablesuffering,intolerableoppression,andheartlessindifference’thatmarkedtheTerror.”Therevolutionariesproposeakindofsocietalself-sacrificewithoutChristianity.ButforCharlesDickens,withouttheChristianfaith,therewillbenohopeandcharity,whichinturn,makeself-sacrificenomorethanameansofkillinginnocentpeople.3.ResurrectioninATaleofTwoCitiesAsanotherimportantthemeinATaleofTwoCities,resurrection，thecorepartoftheChristianbelief，alsohasgreatinfluenceonEnglishliterature.Inthisnovel,resurrectioncanbeclassifiedintotwotypes.Thefirsttypeispersonalresurrection,andthesecondtypeissocietalresurrection.3.1TheChristianFaithinResurrectionAfterJesusChristwascrucifiedforthesinsofhumansontheCross,anddiedatthehandsofthePagans,hewasburiedanddescendedintothedead.However,onthethirdday,heroseagain,andcontinuedtodwellamonghisdisciplesforfortydays,duringwhichtimeheperformednumerousmiracles,andconvertedmanysinners.Afterthat,heascendedintoHeavenandwasseatedattherighthandoftheFatherAlmighty.Hewastocomeagaintojudgethelivingandthedead.Unlikemanyotherreligiousleaders,whoarevulnerablebeforeHadesandlefttheirrottencorpseformentoworship,JesusisbelievedbyChristianstohaverevealedhisidentityasGodhimeselfindefeatingdeaththroughresurrection.“Andthisisthewillofhimwhosentme,thatIshouldlosenothingofallthathehasgivenme,butraiseituponthelastday.ForthisisthewillofmyFather,thateveryonewholooksontheSonandbelievesinhimshouldhaveeternallife,andIwillraisehimuponthelastday”(John6:39-50).Theabovewordsclearlyshowthepurposeofhisresurrection.3.2PersonalResurrectionInATaleofTwoCities,personalresurrectioncouldalsobesubdividedintotwotypes,oneofwhichconcernstherenascenceofearthlylife,whiletheotherconcernstheresurrectionofsoul.3.2.1TheRenascenceofEarthlyLifeDoctorManetteisprobablythemostconspicuousfigureinthisrespect.Intheabyssofagony,whichiscausedbythelong-timeimprisonmentattheBastille,hehasalreadyexperiencedakindofdeath.TheaboveisfullyshowninVolumetheFirst,ChapterThree,whereCharlesDickensdepictsanimagineddialoguebetweenJarvisLorryandthespecterofthedoctor.Fortunately,thedoctorisrescuedbyhisfriendsfromtheBastille,andisfinallytransformedfromaninsensateinmatewhoknowsnothingbutcobblingshoesintoanormalman.HistransformationislargelyduetothecareofhisdaughterLucie,whoseloveandtendernesshaveredeemedhimfromdarknessandgivehimanewlife.ButitisonlyafterthedoctorsacrificeshiswillbygrantingLucie’smarriagethathegainshiscompleteearthlyrenascence.AlthoughLovecandowonders,itisbelievedbyChristiansthatwithouttheloveofGod,interpersonallovewillbecomesentimentalandanemic,becauseGod’sloveisthesourceofallhumancharitiesandanamazinggraceoffaithandhopeforhispeople.ForCharlesDarnay,imprisonmentishisdeathandSydneyCartonishisresurrection.In1780,neithertheManettesnorthelawyerMr.StryverisabletoclearDarnayoftreasonagainstBritain.However,thealmostgood-for-nothingCartonacquitshimbyhelpingthelawyerpointouttheamazingfacialresemblancebetweenhimandDarnay.ThisisDarnay’sfirstresurrection,whichisfollowedbyyearsofconnubialhappinesswithLucie.HissecondresurrectionisalsoconnectedwithCarton.Whenimprisonedandsentencedtodeathbytherevengefulrevolutionaries,Darnayisforsakenbyhope.But“GodwillransommysoulfromthepowerofSheol,forhewillreceiveme”(Psalms49:15).Perhaps,fortheomniscientandomnipresentcreatorofUniverse,nothingisimpossible.Therefore,theonlythinghecandoistowaitfortheboundlessmercyoftheAlmighty,whichdoescomeatlast.GodsendshisbelovedCartontosufferattheGuillotineforDarnay,andthelatterregainshisfreedom.HereCharlesDickensshowsthatCarton’sredemptionisnotonlyforDarnay,butalsoforalltheothercharacters,justastheredemptionofJesusChristis“onceforall”.ItistruethatDoctorManette,LucieManette,JarvisLorry,MissProssallresurrectandbeginsanewandpeacefullifewithDarnay.3.2.2TheResurrectionofSoulTheendofATaleofTwoCitiesshowsCharlesDickens’sChristianphilosophyaboutlifeandresurrection.Inhisopinion,resurrectionismorethantherenascenceofearthlylife.Whathevaluesmostistheresurrectionofsoul.SydneyCartondiesforotherpeople’shappinessattheGuillotine,buthislifeisnotendedbydeath.InVolumetheThird,ChapterNine,herepeatedlyprays,“Iamtheresurrectionandthelife,saiththeLord:hethatbelievethinme,thoughheweredead,yetshallhelive:andwhoseoeverlivethandbelievethinme,shallneverdie.”HebelievestheLord,andtheLordcomfortshim.TherewardofJesusChrist,theLambofGodisresurrection.Itishisfaiththatdelivershimfromtheterrorofdeath.SorenKierkeggard(1999:53)believesthatifarealChristianfacesdarknessatthemomentofdeath,heshouldknowthatitiscausedbythesunlightofhappiness,whichistoostrong.Thepoweroffaithinresurrectionisunimaginable.Forthousandsofyears,theChristianchurcheskeepemphasizingitsimportance.“Soisitwiththeresurrectionofthedead.Whatissownisperishable,whatisraisedisimperishable.Itissownindishonor,itisraisedinglory.Itissowninweakness;itisraisedinpower.Itissownanaturalbody;itisraisedaspiritualbody.Ifthereisanaturalbody,thereisalsoaspiritualbody.Thusitiswritten,‘ThefirstmanAdambecamealivingbeing’,thelastAdambecamealife-givingspirit.Butitisnotthespiritualthatisfirstbutthenatural,andthenthespiritual.Thefirstmanwasfromtheearth,amanofdust;thesecondmanisfromheaven.”(1Corinthians15:42-47).TheabovewordsarethefittesttodescribeCarton’sdeathandresurrection.Heenjoysthegloryofhisspiritualrebirthintheheartsofthosewhohehasdiedtosave.Ashehimselfsaysattheendofthenovel,“Itisafar,farbetterthingthatIdo,thanIhaveeverdone;itisafar,farbetterrestthatIgotothanIhaveeverknown”（331）.However,Shawsuggests,“…h(huán)is(Carton’s)thoughtsrunonreligion:‘IamtheResurrectionandthelife,’Buthisimpressionsareallofdeath:thedaycomescoldly,‘lookinglikeadeadfaceoutofthesky,’whileontheriver‘a(chǎn)tradingboat,withasailofthesoftenedcolorofadeadleaf,thenglidedintohisview,floatedbyhim,anddiedaway’…Atanyrate,he(Carton)thinksofhimselfasgoingtowardsrest,nottowardsresurrection”(quotedinJohnGross,1962:191).Theabovewordsarenotenoughtoprovehisopinion.ItistruethatCartonisgoingto“rest”,butperhapsShawhasfailedtorealizethat“rest”isastateofpreparationforresurrection.Asisknown,Jesushasstayedamongthedeadforthreedaysbeforeheisraisedagain,andthisperiodishis“rest”.SowhatmostpossibleisthatCarton’simpressionsofdeathdonotmeantheendoflife,buthispreparationofspiritualrebirth,sinceChristiansbelievethatlifeisachievedthroughdeath.3.3SocietalResurrectionInthelastchapterofATaleofTwoCities,SydneyCartonenvisions,“Iseeabeautifulcityandabrilliantpeoplerisingfromthisabyss,and,intheirstrugglestobetrulyfree,intheirtriumphsanddefeats,throughlongyearstocome,Iseetheevilofthistimeandoftheprevioustimeofwhichthisisthenaturalbirth,graduallymakingexpiationforitselfandwearingout…”（331）.ThroughtheprophecyofCarton,theauthorhasmadethethemeofresurrectionsocietal.K.J.Fielding(1965:199)statesthat“(Inthenovel)Eveninthedarkestscenesthereisthesteadysuggestionofabrightfuture…”.WhenenslavedbytheBabyloniansbecauseoftheirsinsagainstGod,theJewsgraduallyrepented,andgainedHispromiseoftherebirthofIsrael.Similarly,DickensbelievesthatthoughtheshadowoftherevengefulRevolutionhasmadeFrancealandofdeathandterror,thehopeforfuturesocietalregenerationisnotquenched.Torealizeit,self-sacrificesoutofloveandcharityareindispensable.4.TheSignificanceofSelf-sacrificeandResurrectioninATaleofTwoCitiesByshowingthecloseinterrelationshipbetweenthetwothemesofself-sacrificeandresurrectioninATaleofTwoCities,CharlesDickenshasexpressedhisattitudestowardsChristianity.4.1TheRelationshipbetweenSelf-sacrificeandResurrectionAstwostepsinGod’sredemption,self-sacrificeandresurrectionarecloselyrelatedtoeachotherthroughloveinATaleofTwoCities.AsJackLindsay(1972:54)pointsout,“Theoldmustdieforthenewtobeborn;mancannotattainregenerationwithoutacceptingitssacrificialaspect.”SinceCharlesDickensbelievesthatresurrectionisachievedthroughself-sacrifice,helinksthefatesofthemaincharactersinthenovelwiththeredemptionoflove.ForChristians,theloveofGodistheFirstCauseofallhumancharities.Similarly,DickensmakestheloveofLuciethefirstcauseinthisnovel,whichaccountsforherimpeccability.Sothethreadofthenovelcouldbecondensedasfollows:redeemedbytheloveofLucie,CartonsacrificeshislifeforDarnayandgainshisresurrection.Thissentenceshowsusthesignificanceofthetwothemes.Indeed,withouttheloveofLucie,Cartoncannotberedeemedfromtheabyssofagony,tosaynothingofhisfutureself-sacrifice.Andwithouthisself-sacrifice,Cartoncannotgainhisownspiritualrebirth.Onthecontrary,iftherevolutionarieslearntolove,theywillknowthesignificanc