Lucie Manette

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Lucie Manette is a fictional character in Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities.

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Born in the year 1758, Lucie is the daughter of Doctor Alexandre Manette, the wife of Charles Darnay and the love interest of Sydney Carton. Lucie Manette has golden blonde hair and is the "Golden Thread," of the title of the second book of that name. She is a good person, who only inadvertently testifies against Charles Darnay during his first trial and understands Sydney Carton's struggle with life. Although evidence of her goodness is found throughout the novel, Lucie is often criticized for her lack of depth, and most readers find her to be a two-dimensional character. Her main three emotions in the entire novel are caring, sympathy, and sadness, but she also expresses deep devotion and bravery when it is needed most. Her goodness is the inspiration for Carton's sacrifice of himself; out of love for her, he loses his life to the guillotine in order to preserve her life with Darnay, and Carton thus gives immeasurable meaning to what he'd always considered his wasted life.