Tale of Two Cities: Revolution & Evolution
Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens, is a famous novel of the Victorian era about the good and evil human nature of the aristocracy and peasantry, and struggles against forms of imprisonment during the French Revolution. In Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens develops the characters of Doctor Manette, Charles Darnay, and Sydney Carton to struggle against a form of imprisonment, allowing them to transform. Transform is defined as a change in composition, appearance, or condition. Doctor Manette was literally imprisoned in jail for eighteen years and Charles Darnay is figuratively imprisoned in the evil of aristocracy rather than being seen as a good-natured aristocrat. Sydney Carton too is imprisoned
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He feels he leads a worthless life and works for Mr. Stryver. “At length the jackal had got together a compact repast for the lion, and proceeded to offer it to him… ‘Sadly, sadly, the sun rose; it rose upon no sadder sight than the man of good abilities and good emotions, incapable of their directed exercise, incapable of his own help and his own happiness, sensible of the blight on him, and resigning himself to let it eat him away.” (94-95, A Tale of Two Cities) The jackal is analogous to Sydney Carton who is lazy and incapable of his own happiness like a jackal who is lazy and timid. Moreover, he has a wounded heart because he lacks happiness in his life, allowing to be eaten away. When Sydney meets Lucie, he falls in love with her. This is evident later in the book, as he struggles against the imprisonment of his wounded heart so that he can make Lucie happy. “Before I go,’ he said, and paused- ‘I may kiss her?’... ‘that she heard him say, ‘A life you love.” ( 339, A Tale of Two Cities) Sydney’s love for Lucie allows him to break free from his wounded heart as she is known for bringing out the best in others around her. Lucie brings out the best in Sydney when he decides to help her when she is in shock after hearing that Charles is being sent to prison awaiting his execution. “... something to save papa! O, look at her, dear Carton! Can you, of all the people who love her, bear to see her so?” ( 339, A Tale of Two Cities) Little Lucie, Lucie’s daughter, asks Sydney if he can do something so Lucie doesn’t have to endure Charles’ execution. Sydney Carton transforms as he struggles against his wounded heart to save Charles Darnay’s life and make Lucie happy. “... and a cautionary finger on his lip, Sydney Carton. There was something so bright and remarkable in his look… ‘Draw on these boots of mine. Put your hands to them; put your will to them. Quick!’” Sydney Carton is the hero of
Both Sydney Carton and Dr. Manette made sacrifices for Lucie's happiness because of their love for her. Similarly, Darnay sacrificed himself for Gabelle due to his sense of familial love towards him.
He lets Dr. Manette know his true identity and that he is the nephew to the Marquis St. Evremonde. In Book The Third, Sydney Carton makes an astonishing sacrifice for the sake of principle when he fulfills his promise to Lucie Manette, his true love, that he will one day sacrifice himself for the person whom Lucie loves. All of the above sacrifices were made with the intention of keeping morals and principles high in human life. Whether it is your life or your feelings towards someone, we have learned that it is always better to give for the greater cause. Works Cited Dickens, Charles.
A trait in every romantic hero is a big ego. Sydney is known for self-hatred, and we discussed it in the previous section, so we can cross that out. Some common traits of a romantic hero (arrogant, rebel, mysterious, and secret past) are completely off. We know that he isn't a rebel, since he fought against, and was ultimately killed by the resistance. And we know that he isn't mysterious because, although he does it cryptically, he occasionally shares his feelings. Right before he dies, he writes this letter, “Dear Lucie, When you read this letter, I won’t be breathing anymore, my soul will be flying peacefully in the air, and my heart will be an angel and always protect you...Charles Darnay is perfectly a great man full of kindness for you. I’m a loser in my heart... I’m a drunkard, and I will do everything as a drunkard... However, this is the time, the time for the last word, the time for my love, and the time to say good bye. Adieu, my dearest love. The man who will always sacrifice for you, Sydney Carton” This quote shows the feelings he has, and how, though hesitantly and difficult, he does eventually share his thoughts. This evidence also shows his lack of ego when he calls himself a loser and a
This quote shows that Carton wishes he had been a better person, and knows that he could have been as successful as Darnay if only he had applied himself to his job or found love. Sydney Carton is a man deep in self-doubt and self-hatred. He is an alcoholic who is often moody and depressed (Moss and Wilson). Carton has an extremely low opinion of himself, and has no happiness or love in his life. Carton’s sacrifice ultimately purifies him, and saves him from his own self-loathing. Though Carton’s strength comes from his love for Lucie, his apathy for his life does as well; “he is a brooding individual, socially outcast, and both driven and tormented by an impossible love.” (Gonzalez-Posse 346) This quote shows Carton’s unattainable need to
... by his daughter and he is returned to sanity. Sydney Carton's life is changed from despair to honor. Because of the great change in Carton, Darnay's life is spared. The power of love and determination is clearly exemplified by the resurrection of Dr. Alexander Manette, Sydney Carton, and Charles Darnay.
... golden hair, to this place…and I hear him tell the child my story, with a tender and faltering voice” (364). Carton remembers the body he is giving up, but the mind was stronger than the body, and that strength took Catron to a hero’s death. The jackal died for the lion, the mind perished for the body, Sydney Carton was no more to give Charles Darnay a chance at life.
In similar fashion Sydney Carton laid down his life to save the life of others, of Charles Darnay and in turn, better lives for both Lucie and Little Lucie, keeping his promise. The sacrifice Sydney Carton made for Lucie and her family is similar to the sacrifice of Joan of Arc, both were very commendable and
		The theme was very well presented, by the development of Sydney Carton’s character. He sacrificed his life to make others happy. He sacrificed his life in the name of love. Sydney Carton was indeed a hero.
At the beginning of the novel, Sydney Carton presents himself as a drunken attorney. When Carton converses with Charles Darnay, Dickens presents Carton as a drunk, "Carton, who smelt of port wine, and did not appear to be quite sober" (89). Carton appears constantly drunk at the beginning of the novel. Also, Carton has no sense of self-worth. When Carton drinks at the Bar with Mr. Stryver, Stryver describes him as, "[Y]our way is, and always was, a lame way. You summon no energy and purpose" (95). Dickens, also describes Carton as, "Sydney Carton, idlest and most unpromising of men" (92). As most people believe, Carton feels that he himself has no purpose. He agrees with the way other people feel about him and takes no initiative.
He was first described at Darnay’s trial as slouching and not paying attention. He is seen as a drunk who has many personal issues. Carton feels that there is no hope for him, and that his life will never improve. He has much more potential and could be so much more in life, yet he chooses to remain in the shadow of others. Sydney has a dramatic life and is an alcoholic who sees nothing positive in himself.
...he will do anything for her, even die for someone she loves. Lucie recalls Sydney by opening him up to doing something with his life. He later uses this new mindset to save Charles’s life. After Sydney is inspired to make something of his life he vows to do something good. To do this, he dies for Charles Darnay to show his love for Lucie. This is how Sydney Carton is recalled to life.
Lastly and most importantly would be Lucie’s elaborate expression of sentimentality in her constant fainting at the least sign of distress. However unbearable it might have seemed, the reader could not fully appreciate the significance of her character and why she was loved by so many equally sentimental; characters in the novel. When Lucie early on testifies at Darnay’s trial in the English court, she says, “He was kind, and good, and useful to my father. I hope,” and here she bursts into tears, “ I may not repay him by doing him harm here today.” Her deep sensitivity and generous nature shines through. And remember, when Lucie stands forlornly and devotedly at a place near the Paris prison in order for her husband, Darnay, to glimpse her and their child, it is clear that Dickens wanted to portray her as a loving, faithful, and sympathetic person.
My favorite scene in A Tale of Two Cities is one of the last scenes, when Sydney Carton is about to go to the guillotine. It takes place in Paris, near a prison, and many people have gathered to watch french aristocrats be beheaded. The atmosphere is tense and chaotic; Sydney, however, remains calm, even though he is about to be killed. Sydney is holding the hand of a young girl who is given no name other than a "poor little seamstress". Sydney and the seamstress, who are both being wrongfully killed, comfort each other just before they reach the guillotine, and they seem to have an instant romantic connection with each other. I loved this scene because it showed that Sydney Carton had finally found someone who could love him, as he could love them, but it saddened me that he had found her just before their deaths.
Charles Dickens’s voice varies from being sympathetic with the revolutionaries, to a feeling of discord with their method of revolting. A Tale of Two Cities revolves around the French revolution and the tension in England. Dickens gives the tale of a family caught in the conflict between the French aristocracy and radicals. In the course of the book, the family handles extreme difficulty and obscurity. Dickens’s neutrality, though sometimes wavering from side to side, is apparent throughout each book in the novel.
A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens, is a story set in the year 1775 and through the turbulent time of the French Revolution. It is of people living in love and betrayal, murder and joy, peril and safety, hate and fondness, misery and happiness, gentle actions and ferocious crowds. The novel surrounds a drunken man, Sydney Carton, who performs a heroic deed for his beloved, Lucie Manette, while Monsieur and Madame Defarge, ruthless revolutionaries, seek revenge against the nobles of France. Research suggests that through Dickens’ portrayal of the revolutionaries and nobles of the war, he gives accurate insight to the era of the Revolution.