A tale of two cities

Dr. Alexander Manette is a Parisian doctor who was imprisoned in the Bastille for eighteen years, he is a loving father to Lucie Manette.Dr. Manette's major function is to set the plot of A Tale of Two Cities in motion, but some critics consider his sane and insane personalities to represent the Victorian literary fascination with duality. His dual personas also illustrate the social split taking place in France during the "Terror," and the differences between Paris and London, the two cities of the title. Some critics also suggest that Manette's character reflects the author's own personality.