During the French Revolution there were many stories of tragedy. One of the stories of tremendous tragedy that was written about the French Revolution is called, A Tale of Two Cities. This is a touching story that ends in the amazing sacrifice of a man for his friend. The name of the man who sacrificed himself is Sydney Carton, and the man he saves was called Charles Draney. Each man was innocent, so should Sidney Carton have lied to the revolutionaries and sacrificed himself to save Charles Draney from execution? Sydney Carton should have given his life for Charles Draney and lied to revolutionaries. He should have done this for several reasons. First, Sydney Carton had less to lose then Charles Draney. Second, it was right to lie to the …show more content…
Sydney Carton had spent his life in carousing and getting drunk, he is referred to in the book as, “The idlest and most unpromising of men (Dickens 65)”, he had no family and the only people who really cared for him were Charles Draney and his family. Also, Sydney Carton had no one who relied on him for support. However, Charles Draney had a family who relied on him to support them, and that loved him and would be stricken by his loss. Also, if Sidney Carton had not died for Charles Draney it is unlikely that he would have changed his life any, especially because he would have felt guilty at not helping Charles Draney and by extension not helping Lucy his wife. Thus, if Sydney Carton had lived he would not have been an influence for good but by dyeing he saved Charles Draney who was more capable of being an influence for good then Sydney Carton …show more content…
Sidney Carton had lethargically given up hope that he could make anything out of his life and so he became a drunk. Sacrificing himself for Charles Draney, gave Sydney Carton the chance to do a tremendous deed. Also by sacrificing himself for Charles Draney Sidney Catron made sure that he would be remembered for his final good deed and not for the mess that he had made out of his life. Clearly, by sacrificing himself for Charles Draney, Sidney Carton was able to overcome his past and do a good deed which he would be remembered for. As he says at the end of the book, “It is a far far better thing that I do then I have ever done before. (Dickens 293)
... Carton states earlier in the novel that he is willing to give up his life not only for Lucie herself, but for those who she loves the most. Towards the end of the novel, exactly that happens with Carton replacing himself for Lucie’s husband, Charles Darnay. By mentioning to Lucie that he is willing to sacrifice himself for Lucie is a very humble gesture by Carton, brings the book full circle, and is additional proof that Carton symbolizes a Christ-figure. This passage carries a lot of literary weight because throughout the novel, Sydney looks down on himself. Sydney does not believe he is smart or worthy of anything good. He does most of the work but rarely takes the credit and a great deal of selflessness can be seen upon Sydney Carton. Duality plays an important and similar role in developing the symbolism. The book takes place in two places: England and France.
The era surrounding the French Revolution was a horrifically bloody and violent period of history – the best of times and the worst of times. The violence enacted by the citizens of French on their fellow countrymen set a gruesome scene in the cities and country sides of France. Charles Dickens uses a palate of storm, wine, and blood imagery in A Tale of Two Cities to paint exactly how tremendously brutal this period of time was.
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.
Carton was a very shy and introverted person his whole life, and never told Lucie about his feelings for her, until he one day after finally working up the courage, admitting, “If you will hear me through a very little more, all you can ever do for me is done. I wish you to know that you have been the last dream of my soul.” (Dickens 115) He loves her, but does not want her to love him back, saying he isn’t deserving of her affection. He has even tried to get closer to her husband, Darnay, stating, “Mr. Darnay, I wish we might be friends,” (Dickens 159) but to no avail. However, after Darnay’s third trial where he is declared guilty and will be put to death, Carton sacrifices himself to let Lucie and Darnay live a happy life together with their daughter. Carton is an excellent example of sacrificing for love, because he pays the biggest price by ultimately giving his life.
Sydney Carton, being one of the most dynamic characters in A Tale of Two Cities, proves his charisma by devoting himself to help Charles Darnay avoid his execution and live on with the Manette Family alongside Lucie Manette, his wife. Carton’s intuitive plan to rescue Charles Darnay from La Force shows his true character, especially since he knows he will inevitably recieve execution by the guillotine. Sydney Carton lives a very monotonous and uneventful life, additionally criticizing himself that he has wasted his time doing absolutely nothing. To clarify his personality, Sydney Carton indeed cares for no man, and “no man on earth cares for [him]”. This idea that Sydney Carton cares for no man notably points out that he is indeed a very sickly
Imprisonment is against human nature since God bestowed upon every person the gift of free will in order that they might choose where to go and how to live. Physical prisons are almost always the resulting mental image: dark dank cells where only people accused of severe crime go. Prisons, however, also exist mentally, as a result of the prisoner’s own sin locking the mind away from the unbinding relief freedom provides. The Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens is a superb demonstration of prisons both mental and physical and how they affect the personality and choices of the characters. Three such characters under imprisonment in this classic tale situated during the French Revolution include Dr. Manette, Madame Defarge, and Sydney Carton.
Similar to a mother with her child, many characters in Charles Dickens’s novel A Tale of Two Cities sacrifice themselves in the name of love. This novel takes place during the French revolution in Europe. It starts off when a young business man named Jarvis Lorry receives a letter about a man named Dr. Manette, whom everyone thought dead for eighteen years. This story reveals through a story of imprisonment and love, that an upper class family known as the Evremonds becomes responsible for Dr. Manette’s imprisonment. Meanwhile, Dr. Manette’s daughter Lucie marries the descendant of the Evremonds, Charles Darnay. When Darnay becomes a prisoner on the death list, a man named Sydney Carton dies for him. Throughout the revolution, sacrifice becomes the only option left to save somebody that these characters’ care about deeply. The acts of Sydney Carton, Dr. Manette, and Madame Defarge show how much self-sacrifice plays a part in this novel.
Carton changes Charles Darnay’s fate twice in this novel. The first time is when he saves Charles from his death sentence in Charles’ very first trial of the book. The second time is when he takes Charles’ place at the Guillotine. Carton is able to prove to both the jury and the witness at Darnay’s first trial that the man they believed to be Charles Darnay could have easily been a man that simply looked like Charles, much like Carton does: “’Look upon that gentleman, my learned friend over there,’ pointing to him who had tossed the paper over, ‘and then look well upon the prisoner. How say you? Are they very like each other?’ Allowing for my learned friend’s appearance being careless and slovenly debauched, they were sufficiently like each other…” (Dickens 55). Later on, Carton takes Darnay’s place at the Guillotine, giving him the ability to return to his life and be happy with his family. After Carton switches places with Charles, and as he stands in line to go to the Guillotine, he sees a small seamstress. She recognizes him, at first, as Charles from their time at La Force, but she soon realizes it is not Charles and asks, “’Are you dying for him?’ she whispered. ‘And his wife and child. Hush! Yes,’” (Dickens 276). Carton does this great deed because he knows that Charles’ life was greatly valued by his family and Sydney felt that was more important than his own life. Darnay’s life almost ended but that was changed at the last moment by Carton who came in and changed both Charles’ and his own
Carton loves Lucie, but she chooses Darnay over him. Darnay was thrown into prison, and Carton could have gone after Lucie because he becomes so close to her family, but he chooses not too. Instead he sacrifices his life for Darnay's freedom, as he wanted to make Lucie happy. In the book, Sydney Carton exclaims, "For you, and for any dear to you, I would do anything. If my career were of that better kind that there was any opportunity or capacity of sacrifice in it, I would embrace any sacrifice for you and for those dear to you" (193). Carton is a strong character as he is willing to sacrifice himself for Lucie’s benefit. Carton’s decision to replace Darnay at the end of the story also displays his character development. This is true because being selfless is not something Carton would do earlier on in the book due to his lack of confidence. Carton’s sacrifice gives his life purpose and is an act of heroism. Carton’s life was at a point of no return, but the courage and bravery he has rooted in his love for Lucie, exhibits his resurrection and meaning of his
He makes his determination known well before the danger of the revolution overtakes the family when he says to Lucie: "If my career were of that better kind that there was any opportunity or capacity of sacrifice in it, I would embrace any sacrifice for you and for those dear to you" (Dickens 152). Mr. Carton was, at a young age, a promising and brilliant child. However, the death of his parents quickly shattered his life. Dickens describe him as a, “man of good abilities and good emotions” but was “incapable of his own help and happiness” (92). Though much of his brilliance had continued with him onto adulthood, he had become a drunkard who describes himself as person who, “cares for no man on earth and no man care for” (85). However, after revealing his love for Lucie, he is determined to protect her and the ones she love. He declared to Lucie that he was a man who would,” give his life to keep a life you loved besides you.” (155). In the last few moments of his life, he again said the same words to Lucie. Sydney Carton offers the gift of a lifetime, by sacrificing his life, and in turn, has guaranteed the survival of many. With his heroic actions, Sydney Catron elucidates that with every sacrifice made; the kind gesture is rewarded in some
...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.
Throughout A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens illuminates the Biblical words, “I am the resurrection and the life” through his characters, particularly Sydney Carton. In the beginning of the novel, Charles Dickens introduces Sydney Carton as an Englishman wandering for a purpose in life; however, over the course of events, Dickens unveils Carton’s significant role in Charles Darnay’s last imprisonment and ultimately resurrects a new meaning in Carton when Carton sacrifices himself at the guillotine in the end. After Charles Darnay evades execution at his first trial, Sydney Carton meets Mr. Stryver at Mr. Stryver’s apartment. There, Carton explains to Mr. Stryver he has been drinking because “[he is] a disappointed drudge… [who] cares for no man on earth, and no man on earth cares for [him]”
Had Dickens portrayed Carton as a blatantly good man with a clear life plan, there would be no character development and a very important aspect of the book would disappear. Through Carton starting off the way he did, it was more important when we found out he had feelings for Lucie and him going to save Darnay became more significant and unexpected. Had Sydney been a clearly good character, he may not have even saved Darnay because the opportunity may not have arrived because everything would have been changed drastically with Sydney being different. Through saving Darnay “...the former "jackal" glimpses a better world rising out of the ashes of revolution, and long life for Lucie and her family- made possible by his sacrifice.” (Morrice) Sydney is able to fulfil his goal of having his name be important and having people associate it with good things through his sacrifice. He makes so many things possible for the Darnays and he says he can see “that child… winning his way up in that path of life which was once mine.” (390) Sydney being a morally ambiguous character makes him a more realistic character and people can sympathize with him more, making his sacrifice have an even greater impact.
The novel A Tale Of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, takes place in one of history’s most influential era’s - the French Revolution. Dickens perfectly captures this period whilst creating a memorable storyline with themes of love, revenge, resurrection and much more. Sydney Carton – a main character in this text who spends his nights doing the lawyer’s Mr. Stryver’s legal work while intoxicated, falls in love with Lucie Manette – the daughter of a French doctor, but realizes that Lucie would never be able to love a man like himself. One of the many qualities Carton possesses is honor. Honor is placing others before yourself, being courteous, and overcoming demanding obstacles. Carton is honorable because he puts others before himself, cares for
One of the first major coincidences in A Tale of Two Cities was Sydney Carton and Charles Darnay's physical resemblance. Their physical similarity is shown when Dickens writes, “ “Something especially reckless in his demeanour, not only gave him a disreputable look, but so diminished the strong resemblance he undoubtedly bore to the prisoner, that many of the lookers-on, taking note of him now, said to one another they would hardly have thought the two were so alike (Dickens 73).” Their resemblance saves Darnay' life at one point. In the beginning of the book, Sydney uses his appearance to help acquit Darnay on charges of treason. After the trial, it is revealed that Carton is envious of Darnay because he feels that he could have been just as successful as Darnay if he had just had a different attitude. Dickens may have used the physical resemblance to show that all Carton did need was an attitude change and he could be just like Darnay, since he already looked like him. In ...