Analysis of A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

986 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Analysis the structure of the tales of two cities by charles dickens

“A Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens is an artfully crafted tale that unabashedly tells the story of the injustice, the horror and the madness of the French Revolution. More than this, it is a story of one man’s redemption, one man who Dickens vividly portrays as being “a nobody”. This nobody had thrown away his life. “A Tale of Two Cities” is the tale of Sydney Carton and his full circle redemption.

The first impression we get of Sydney Carton is not a pleasant one. “[Sydney Carton] sat leaning back, with his torn gown half off him, his untidy wig put on just as it happened to light on his head after removal, his hands in his pockets, and his eyes on the ceiling as they had been all day. Something especially reckless in his demeanor…gave him a disreputable look.” (p. 57) From this description we get the impression that Carton is a slacker and that he doesn’t care about appearances. We also learn that he is a drunk. “ ‘You have had your bottle, I perceive, Sydney.’ ‘Two tonight, I think.’ ” (p.66) Sydney is trying to find the answers for his problems in the wrong places and he has begun to give up hope. “ He resorted to his pint of wine for consolation, drank it all in a few minutes and fell asleep on his arms, with his hair straggling over the table, and a long winding-sheet in the candle dripping down upon him.” (p. 64) Sydney Carton is in bad shape. He is an alcoholic, he is depressed and he has nothing going for him.

Before a chick is born, it must first break free of the shell that encases it. It only begins to chip once it realizes that breaking free is the only way to start a new life. In the same way Carton begins to take a serious look at who he is and what he has become. “ ‘Do you particularly like the m...

... middle of paper ...

...ounters a young, frightened seamstress. Carton takes her hand and commands her to never take her eyes off him. “ ‘ Keep your eyes on me, dear child, and mind no other object.’ ” (p. 291) Sydney Carton, had always been the follower, but now, he takes the lead in his own life. Amidst the chaos and the confusion of the crowd, Sydney Carton whispers his final words. “ ‘It is a far, far better thing that I do, then I have ever done, it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.” (p. 293)

As the chick chips its shell to its final breaking free, Sydney Carton begins the journey of redemption and completely transforms himself. Carton ascends to the plane of heroism, using his death to save the lives of others. His own life thus gains meaning and value. “A Tale of Two Cities” is truly the tale of the miraculous redemption of one, ordinary “nobody.”

Show More
Related

  • Tale Of Two Cities Sacrifice Essay

    723 Words  | 2 Pages

    The novel A Tale of Two Cities was written by Charles Dickens and takes place in England and France during the late eighteenth century. Despite the horrors of the guillotine, gestures of humanity were shown, especially through Sydney Carton when he sacrificed himself for Charles Darnay. In A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens exemplifies the natural goodness of the characters Charles Darnay, Dr. Manette, and Sydney Carton in Book 2, Chapter 18, Book 3, Chapter 15, by showing many acts of sacrifice. Doctor Manette has been a victim of sacrifice for the better. When Darnay reveals his past as an aristocrat, Dr. Manette's mental stability wavers because he is reminded of his past in the Bastille.

    Read More

  • Charater of Sydney Carton in A Tale of Two Cities

    509 Words  | 2 Pages

    Sydney Carton, one of the main characters of the book, A Tale of Two Cities, is a drunken lawyer who works with Stryver on the trial of Charles Darnay.he doesnt care about anything. At first this man seems as if he is a lazy, good for nothing, alcoholic. he tells Lucie Manette he doesn't believe that his life is worth anything and feels as if it is pointless to even live anymore. When you first meet him during the court scene it looks as if he just rolled out of bed and was dragged to the courtroom. This one man sat leaning back, with his torn gown half off him, his untidy wig put on just sat it had happened to light on his head after it's removal, his hands in his pockets, and his eyes on the ceiling as they had been all day. Something especially reckless in his demeanor not only gave him a disreputable look, but so diminished the strong resemblance he undoubtedly bore to the prisoner. However after he meets Lucie he falls madly in love for her. This marks a period of change for Sydney Carton. But he then knows that Charles Darnay is going to be married to her. He sill believes that his life is worthless but it seems as if he's a bit more willing to work and to do things for other people.

    Read More

  • A comparative study of Sydney Carton in Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities

    1248 Words  | 3 Pages

    the personality can be intense. Dickens introduces Sydney Carton to us immediately after a trial, speaking to his client. It is at this point that we get a glimpse of the character of Carton, "…who smelled of port wine, and did not appear to be quite sober…" (Dickens, 100). Carton is so disillusioned with his own life, that he can’t even like his client [who looks like him],

    Read More

  • A Tale of Two Cities - Breaking Gender Stereotypes and Stereotyping

    843 Words  | 2 Pages

    Some men in A Tale of Two Cities contrast greatly.  Sydney Carton is a drunk who works for an unappreciative lawyer.  He has no family; he is "a disappointed drudge who cares for no man on earth, and no man cares for him" (75).  He is referred to as "the Jackal" who is necessary in society, but not welcomed or wanted (77).  Sydney loves Lucie Manette, but he is not ...

    Read More

  • Resurrection: Giving Meaning to Life

    843 Words  | 2 Pages

    Rebirth, a prominent idea in Christianity and Western thought, is often associated with rejuvenation and second chances. The idea of a second birth is both a baptism and a change in identity— all of which figure prominently in Charles Dickens’s novel, A Tale of Two Cities. Two characters, Dr. Manette and Sydney Carton, both go through the process of rebirth and a change of identity. The process of birth is in nature a responsibility of the female, in both Dr. Manette’s case and Sydney Carton’s they are reborn through the actions they do for Lucie— whose name is telling in itself, meaning light/daylight all symbolic of something new/God the light and the way. Resurrection is a reoccurring theme which can be seen through the actions of Dr. Manette and Sydney Carton.

    Read More

  • Sydney Carton Quotes

    1498 Words  | 3 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Resurrection in A Tale of Two Cities

    1152 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... 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.

    Read More

  • Christianity in a Tale of Two Cities

    1696 Words  | 4 Pages

    Dickens responded to this "dog-eat-dog" social climate by writing A Tale of Two Cities as a vehicle to reform society. He intends to fortify Christian values within English culture, such as self-sacrifice and kindness, in a time when he feels these values are threatened and sometimes completely overlooked. In this essay, I will show how Dickens interweaves his moral agenda of Christian values into the novel by using contrasts, symbols, and the motif of doubles as well as the evolution of Sydney Carton into a Christ-like figure with the goal of inspiring the reader to the point of evolving into an ethically "good" human being.

    Read More

  • A Tale Of Two Cities

    2254 Words  | 5 Pages

    ...ppiness to everyone around him, to Lucy Darnay, Charles Darnay, young Lucy (their daughter) and to Dr. Manette. Carton believed that it was the best thing to do, he believed that by making his loved one happy, he would be loved, he would be satisfied and he would be respected. "It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done. It is a far, far better rest that I go to, than I have ever known" said Carton (page 466). Sydney Carton had courage; he had physical courage and moral courage. He truly loved Lucy. He understood the real meaning of love. He died for it, for love.

    Read More

  • Ambiguous Characters In A Tale Of Two Cities

    642 Words  | 2 Pages

    He is known as the drunken person who does not have his life together and he is lazy and does not care about anything. What makes him ambiguous is the fact that even though he is this careless man he also has a side to him that has a kind heart. After he meet Lucie is when he began to realize how people see him and his love for her transformed him into a good person. This transformation leads him to saving Charles Darnay’s life by poisoning and switching clothes with him and dying in place of Charles to show his abundant love for Lucie Manette. In the end, after Sydney is killed. Charles Dickens writes, “it is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done: it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known” (Dickens 382) to summarize what he thinks Sydney Carton would have said before he died. To show that Sydney has done something he feels pride in and that there was a purpose to his

    Read More

  • The Dynamic Sydney Carton in A Tale of Two Cities

    461 Words  | 1 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities

    617 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • "Recalled to Life" in A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

    758 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...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.

    Read More

  • Psychoanalysis of Sydney Carton

    1045 Words  | 3 Pages

    Sydney Carton is introduced as a pessimistic introvert who struggles with his id and superego. Although Carton’s past is never revealed in the novel, a traumatic event clearly haunts Carton and prevents him from leading a pleasant life. According to Sigmund Freud, “the memories and emotions associated with trauma” are stored in the subconscious mind because an individual cannot bear to look at these memories (Dever 202). One part of the subconscious mind is the id, or “basic desires”, of a human being (Baker 4). Carton desires to drink as a way to detach from his past, and because of his lack of emotional strength, he allows his id to take over and Carton becomes an alcoholic. Based on Carl Jung’s ideas, Carton is considered an introvert because he is described as the “idlest” of all men and is viewed by society as a worthless drunk (Dickens 91). This displays Carton’s struggle with another element of the subcon...

    Read More

  • Moral and Immoral Conversions in A Tale of Two Cities

    1274 Words  | 3 Pages

    The character who goes through moral conversion to the greatest extent is Sydney Carton. Sydney is a frustrated alcoholic who does not really seem to care too much about life, because life for him has not been too good. His moral conversion begins the first time his eyes see Lucie Manette, the beautiful young daughter of Dr. Alexander Manette. This occurs during the first trial of Charles

    Read More

More about Analysis of A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

Open Document