The first hint we have of Jerry Cruncher's night-time
activities as a Ressurection Man, or a body snatcher who digs up recently buried bodies
and sells them illegally to those interested in medical research, actually comes in the
second chapter of Book I of this excellent novel. Having delivered the rather curious
message, "RECALLED TO LIFE," Jerry Cruncher is left to muse the meaning of this
enigmatic phrase at the end of the chapter. Note what Jerry says to himself as he
returns back to his home:
"Recalled to life." That's a blazing strange
message. Much of that wouldn't do for you, Jerry! I say, Jerry! You'd be in a blazing
bad way, if recalling to life was to come into fashion,
Jerry!
Of course, it is only
later that we discover the significance of this quote, but it does serve to reinforce
the way in which various characters and various secrets are "recalled to life"
throughout the novel and how important this is for the plot. Obviously, it is Dr.
Manette who is recalled to life, but in addition, Charles Darnay finds that his own past
as an Evermonde is recalled to life, with tragic results. In addition, Jerry Cruncher's
own secret is revealed as an important proof to enable Sydney Carton to gain an
advantage over the English informer who turns out to be Mrs. Pross's son, Solomon. Just
as Jerry specialises in unearthing bodies or skeletons that were thought to be well and
truly buried, so the novel itself unearths various characters, identities and secrets
that were thought to be buried. Recalled to life is thus a key theme throughout the
novel, and Jerry Cruncher's illicit activity serves as a kind of metaphor for its
importance.
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