A Tale of Two Cities · Chapter
IV: The Preparation explained
Mr.
What happens
Mr. Lorry meets Lucie Manette in Dover to reveal that her father, Dr. Manette, is alive and has been found in Paris. He explains the circumstances of his disappearance and imprisonment, and the need for secrecy. Lucie is overcome with emotion and faints, and is tended to by Miss Pross, who accompanies her.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
In this chapter, the emotional and psychological peak occurs as Lucie, the story’s emotional anchor, hears the…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Resurrection and Renewal
The revelation that Dr. Manette is 'recalled to life' after being thought dead for 18 years embodies the theme of resurrection and the possibility of renewal.
- Love and Family
Lucie's emotional response and her journey to reunite with her father highlight the bonds of family and the power of love to restore.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Jarvis Lorry
Delivers the news of Dr. Manette's survival to Lucie, struggles with the emotional weight of the revelation.
- Lucie Manette
Learns that her father is alive and is overwhelmed, fainting from the shock.
- Miss Pross
Rushes to Lucie's aid, scolds Mr. Lorry, and cares for Lucie with great devotion.
Key passages
“I am going to see his Ghost! It will be his Ghost—not him!”
Lucie expresses her fear that the father she is about to meet will be a mere shadow of the man he once was.
Highlights the emotional shock and the theme of resurrection.
“Recalled to Life”
The secret code phrase used by Mr. Lorry to refer to Dr. Manette's discovery, implying a return from the dead.
Central to the theme of resurrection and the mystery of the plot.
