"At first there were times, though she was perfectly happy young wife, when her work would slowly fall from her hands, and her eyes would be dimmed. For, there was something coming in the echoes, something light, afar off, and scarcely audible yet, that stirred her heart too much. Fluttering hopes and doubts- hopes, of a love as yet unknown to her; doubts of her remaining on earth, to enjoy that new delight- divided her breast."(Dickens.218.)
Excerpt from, "A Tale Of Two Cities," describing Lucie Manette.
Wow, I literally was taken back by this beautiful writing. What a tragic concoction of emotions this young wife is having to deal with! Clearly she is haunted by her past, and the obvious signs of depression (suicidal thoughts) are described so delicately and soft by Dickens, it was very easy for me to feel for Lucie. It states she has doubts of remaining on earth, leading me to believe that she's deeply depressed and even fantasizing about what death would be like. And honestly, how romantic, he calls her hopes for a love she has not yet found "fluttering" as if unsure that she even knows what she is hopeful for. When I read that she had a baby girl (of course a miniature Lucie), I felt joy for her that she had something good in her life, then I was so sad for her on the next page when I discovered that although she did have one healthy child, her young boy died after stating that he was sorry to leave but that he was being "called". Really, what a horrific experience that must have been, especially for such a delicate, sweet young woman like Lucie.
Maybe it was the childhood death that got to me, but I found myself very distraught after reading this and I give full credit to Dicken's writing. Realistically, although I find a conventional love story to be the best, the untraditional tales of depression and tragedy, written in such a light and empathetic way, can be just as sappy and emotional for a romantic such as myself.
