Dickens’ (post 5) “Tale of Two Cities” (post 3): Dr. Manette has a relapse of his multiple personality, but there is still no reason for him to have multiple personality.

Years after Dr. Manette’s release from prison, during which time he has functioned normally as a physician, his daughter, with his approval, has just married Darnay.

However, something said to him by Darnay seems to be the precipitant of a switch back to his prison shoemaker, alternate personality.

“The door of [Dr. Manette’s] room opened, and he came out with Charles Darnay. He was so deadly pale—which had not been the case when they went in together—that no vestige of color was to be seen in his face…

“…it was the old scared look…his absent manner…

“…‘O me! All is lost!’ cried [Miss Pross], wringing her hands…‘He doesn’t know me, and is making shoes!’…(1, pp. 199-200)

After nine days, Dr. Manette switches back to his regular personality, with no memory—a typical multiple personality memory gap—for those nine days.

There is still no explanation in the novel for why Dr. Manette has been given multiple personality, per se, rather than, for example, recurrent depression, posttraumatic flashbacks, or feelings of revenge. Multiple personality, which has a childhood onset, is not something that an adult would get from imprisonment.

1. Charles Dickens. A Tale of Two Cities. New York, Signet Classics, 2007.