The revelation of the Doctor's secret is the climax of A Tale of Two Cities: The main plot of the book has led up to the discovery of who imprisoned him and why, and the disclosure of that information results in Darnay's death sentence and the subsequent events that will conclude the story.
Doctor Manette's narrative contains images and themes that have recurred throughout the novel. Most obvious is the image of doubleness, shown in the form of the twin Evrémonde brothers. Both men are evil, and each brother's ruthlessness seems to strengthen the other's. Through the vicious Evrémondes, Dickens makes a statement regarding the nature of violence and cruelty. Just as evil reflects evil in the two brothers, their murderous treatment of the peasant family eventually reflects back upon Darnay, the Evrémonde heir, as the French citizens demand his death. Darnay's mother recognizes the likelihood of Darnay becoming a victim of his father's sins when she tells the Doctor, "If no other innocent atonement is made for this, it will one day be required of him."Thirty-six years later, the death sentence has realized her premonition.
