A Tale of Two Cities

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Free A Tale of Two Cities Essays - Sydney Carton and Charles Darney

Sydney Carton and Charles Darney were alike in certain ways but completely different in other ways. Some of their characteristics were very similar while others were unlike. Carton was an attorney’s assistant who lived in Paris while Darney was a teacher who lived in London. They both had intangibles about them that you just couldn’t put your finger on. These similarities and differences helped develop Dickens’s theme.

Though there were some similarities between Sydney and Charles there were not that many. The few there were in the book helped Build symmetry. These two people both had a love for lucie though carton had a hard time expressing it. These two people had a stunning resemblance in their physical features. This helped acquit Darney the first time as carton pointed out their resemblance a said no one could tell them apart. This also helped at the end of the story. These two people are both very smart, even though they don’t know it at times. They come up with brilliant ideas between them. These two people may look similar and have a few similar qualities they have many more differences.

The differences between Carton and Darney were overwhelming. While Carton was a disheveled, insolent, indifferent and rude man, Darney was a handsome, gentle successful, responsible human being. When carton sees Darney he realizes what he could have done with his life. Carton realizes he is not good enough for lucie. Darney is rather flat and predictable, while Carton is exciting throughout the book. Though Carton is less likeable, he is witty, entertaining and has many levels. In the end, while Darney stays a very respectable person, Carton digs himself out of dismal, indifferent existence to become the hero of this novel. These differences between Charles and Sydney supported his themes of resurrection and revolution.

The way Dickens’s used symmetry to develop was quite interesting. He showed that two things can be similar, but never exactly alike. He used the symmetry to show revolution, as carton and Darney became more alike as the story went along. Dickens’s used it also to develop resurrection. The symmetry symbolized resurrection, as Carton resurrected Darney two times. The first was in the trial as he convinced the jury not to kill him and proved he was innocent. The second was when he took Darney's place at the execution because he realized Darney had everything and he had nothing.

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