People without families often associate with and after time, integrate themselves into other families. In Charles Dickens’ A. Tale of Two Cities, Mr. Lorry, an aging banker, and Miss Pross, a spinster governess, spend time with the Manette family and eventually become a part of the family. Mr. Lorry becomes close friends with the Manettes after reuniting Lucie, a member of the Manette family, with Dr. Manette, her father who unjustly spent 18 years locked in the Bastille. Miss Pross, who took care of Lucie while her father was locked up, continues to take care of the family even after Mr. Lorry reunites father and daughter.
Mr. Lorry and Miss Pross both undervalue their effect on others and see themselves as functional tools, yet both are invaluable aspects of the Manette family because of the emotional support and protection they provide for Lucie and Dr. Manette. Mr. Lorry and Miss Pross diminish their own importance to the Manettes because they put too much emphasis on what they do for the Manettes and not enough on their impact on the family. In their first conversation, Jarvis Lorry explains to a young Lucie his position in the world.
Mr. Lorry tries his best to remove himself emotionally from situations. He does not address his feelings and treats everything, even personal matters, like business. He sees himself as a useful device, which makes him focus only on his job and not on the impact he has created through it. In contrast to his thoughts, when Dr. Manette falls ill and begins to make shoes, Mr. Lorry must choose between the Manette family and Tellson’s Bank. Though he does not recognize it, Mr. Lorry’s actions reveals that he impacts the Manette family in a positive way. By choosing to stay, Mr. Lorry roves that the needs of the Manette family take priority over even Tellson’s Bank, which he claims working for is his purpose.
His actions also shows that he is wrong about himself and that he cares about the Manette family, even though he tries not to become emotionally attached to anything. As Miss Pross and Mr. Lorry wait for Lucie and Dr. Manette to return home, Miss Pross reveals some of her insecurities about her relationship with Lucie. Annoyed by Lucie’s suitors, Miss Pross fears that Lucie will not need her once Lucie marries. Miss Pross believes that her relationship with Lucie is dependent on what she does for Lucie.
It is obvious that Miss Pross is indispensable to Lucie, not only because of what Miss Pross does for her, but because of their long, loving relationship. Still, Miss Pross’s belief that she is dispensable leads her to place Lucie’s needs over her own. By undervaluing themselves, Mr. Lorry and Miss Pross place the needs of the Manettes’ above their own needs like real family members should. Mr. Lorry and Miss Pross become parts of the Manette family through taking care of and advising the family not like tools would, but like a mother or grandfather would.
Once, after Lucie and Dr. Manette return home from a trip. Miss Pross and Lucie are like a mother and daughter. The way Miss Pross even touches Lucie’s hair shows that she loves and is proud to have raised Lu ucie, just like a mother. That maternal love allows Miss Pross to cater to Lucie’s smallest needs like no one else does. Mr. Lorry treats Lucie like a granddaughter, and to prevent her from being exposed to a French mob who have just murdered many, he urges her. Mr. Lorry’s paternal instinct towards Lucie kicks in when she is in danger.
Mr. Lorry does not want Lucie to see the murderous peasants because he wants to protect her innocence. Mr. Lorry has seen what trauma does to Dr. Manette and does not want to see Lucie undergo the same ordeal. Lucie is not the only one Mr. Lorry and Miss Pross care about. When Dr. Manette relapses and starts making shoes again, Mr. Lorry and Miss Pross try to end his flashbacks once and for all. It pains Mr. Lorry and Miss Pross to destroy the bench because it is a crutch for Dr. Manette.
While the bench helps once Dr. Manette has relapsed, it also makes it easier for Dr. Manette to relapse. Love allows them to destroy the bench, in an attempt to heal Dr. Manette, even though they know it will put him through some short-term pain. Mr. Lorry and Miss Pross act like loving family members proving family members do not always have to be blood relatives, Mr. Lorry and Miss Pross are ready to do anything, even risk their lives, for the Manettes and their loyalty proves that they deserve their places in the Manette family.
Mr. Lorry helps lead the Manettes on the dangerous journey out of France and when they are approached and questioned by guards. Mr. Lorry had his own papers to return to England and did not need to travel with the Manettes. By traveling with the Manettes and answering questions posed by French guards, Mr. Lorry puts himself in grave danger. Mr. Lorry, however, is willing to put his life on the line, to save the Manettes from further scrutiny and help return them to safety. When Miss Pross meets Madame Defarge, the woman trying to condemn the Manettes, she declares.
Miss Pross decides in an instant that her life is worth less than even the chance that Lucie will get hurt. The extent of Miss Pross’s love transcends even her life. Her maternal love towards Lucie allows her to sacrifice herself, just like a mother. The protection given by Mr. Lorry and Miss Pross help keep the family alive and together, making them vital aspects of the Manette family Mr. Lorry and Miss Pross enrich the lives of others and are enriched in return. They, an aging banker and a spinster governess, are deemed unimportant by society yet have a huge impact on the Manette family.
Neither society nor Mr. Lorry and Miss Pross recognize how big their contributions to the Manette family are. Society’s view of Mr. Lorry and Miss Pross as insignificant soon diffuses onto them, making them also think that they are unimportant. Mr. Lorry and Miss Pross try hard to serve the Manettes well and become recognized as part of the family. People without families often try to integrate into new ones because families see the value and importance of their members, even if no one else can.