A Tale Of Two Cities Character Analysis

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The second character Dickens uses to display the need for sacrifice is Charles Darnay. Charles Darnay is an upper-class Frenchman that moves to London to make a life for himself and rid himself of the St. Evremonde name. He fled from France because he knew his family had committed a crime and he did not want to be associated with the wrongdoing. In the article “Untitled” it says that Darnay was part of something powerful and frightful, but he has no power in his family (54). So, his plan is to make a way for himself in London. Dickens says, “More months, to the number of twelve, had come and gone, and Mr. Charles Darnay was established in England as a higher teacher of the French language who was conversant with French literature” (122). Charles
Sydney Carton cares more about the people he loves than himself; especially the woman he loves. Carton is a kind man, just not to himself. He has given up on trying to create a better life and refuses to believe in himself. Dickens introduces Carton at Charles Darnay’s first hearing. He shows up drunk, which surprised no one and in turn explains exactly how Sydney Carton acts (Dickens 71). The characteristics of Carton are one reason why his sacrifice is so outstanding in the novel. Dickens build Carton as a drunk and depressed character to create his magnificent sacrifice, because if he was anything other than that, the theme would not be as evident. Simon Petch says in the article “The Business of the Barrister in A Tale of Two Cites” that Sydney Carton was the center of the emotion aspect in the novel (27). Without Carton, Dickens would have a difficult time trying to present the theme of the need for
Carton accepts their marriage and continues to love Lucie behind the scenes. When Darnay travels to France and is imprisoned, Carton hears and goes to France to help Lucie. He knows her heart is breaking and he must help her in some way. At first, he does not tell Lucie he is in France because he did not want her to know. Dickens has Carton put in this much effort to show how significant his sacrifice is. Carton is constantly being compared to Darnay, they both have dark hair and big eyes, Carton already saved Darnay once because of their looks. Daniel Stout says that it has been like a shared roll between Darnay and Carton because of appearance. Carton being the sad man, while Darnay is the successful man (24). Carton knew the two looked alike, so he decided he could switch places with Darnay and no one would notice. He visits Darnay and sneaks him out while he stays and takes his place at the guillotine. Dickens made these two characters so much alike so that this sacrifice could happen. He made Carton like a shadow of Darnay, which leads to the largest sacrifice in the novel. Sydney Carton gives Lucie her love and her happiness in place of his death. Carton told Lucie that he would not be better, therefore he let the better man live and gave his life for Lucie. His last words are this, “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

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