Tale Of Two Cities Sacrifice

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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)

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