Tale of Two Cities characters

First appears in chapter 2

A trusted employee of Tellson's Bank who travels from London to France on a confidential mission. Methodical and habitually describing himself as a man of business, he nevertheless feels a strong personal responsibility toward the people placed in his care.

First appears in chapter 4

A young Englishwoman summoned to meet Jarvis Lorry at Dover. She has grown up believing both parents dead and learns that her French father has instead been found alive after a long, unexplained imprisonment.

Also known as Doctor Manette

First appears in chapter 6

Lucie's father, a French physician recently released after eighteen years in the Bastille. When first seen he is physically diminished, uncertain of his identity, and absorbed in making shoes, a prison habit that shields him from painful awareness of his past.

First appears in chapter 5

A wine-shop keeper in the Paris district of Saint Antoine and a former servant of Doctor Manette. He shelters the newly released prisoner while also maintaining ties with men who quietly observe the injustices around them.

First appears in chapter 5

Defarge's composed and watchful wife, who sits in the wine shop knitting while attending closely to visitors and neighborhood events. Her reserve and discipline make her seem more formidable than her outwardly ordinary occupation suggests.

First appears in chapter 8

A French émigré tried in London for treason after repeated journeys between France and England. He behaves with dignity during the proceedings and bears a striking physical resemblance to Sydney Carton.

First appears in chapter 9

A brilliant but dissolute English barrister who assists in Charles Darnay's defense. His close resemblance to the prisoner helps create reasonable doubt, though Carton treats his own ability as wasted and regards himself with bitter contempt.

Also known as Miss Pross

First appears in chapter 12

Lucie Manette's fiercely loyal English companion and housekeeper. Blunt, protective, and devoted, she regards Lucie's welfare as her highest concern and distrusts the many admirers drawn to the household.

First appears in chapter 13

A powerful French aristocrat whose carriage kills a child in a crowded Paris street. He treats the death as an inconvenience and represents a ruling class insulated from the suffering and anger of the people around it.

Also known as Jerry Cruncher

First appears in chapter 2

A messenger and porter employed by Tellson's Bank. Gruff, suspicious, and prone to complaining about his wife's prayers, he supplements his daytime work with a secretive nighttime occupation.

First appears in chapter 9

A polished government informant who testifies against Charles Darnay at his London trial. His claims rest on his own questionable conduct and connections, making him a useful but untrustworthy instrument of authority.

First appears in chapter 14

A rough-edged road mender from the country near the Evrémonde estate. He becomes involved with the revolutionary network after witnessing events that deepen local hatred of the aristocracy.