Sydney Carton in Charles Dickens’ "A Tale of Two Cities"

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Sydney Carton is the most memorable character in Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, a story of redemption, resurrection, self-sacrifice change and love, all of these words have to do with the extreme transformation of. Sydney Carton had such great love for Lucie Mannette that evolves from a depressed loaner that can only attempt to substitute happiness with alcoholic indulgence to a loyal caring friend who makes the ultimate sacrifice for the ones he loves.

In the beginning, Sydney Carton’s the character that everyone looks down upon. He is depression, hate and self-loathing personified. His total carelessness overshadows anything else about him, especially when his first impression is given. Sydney is introduced when Charles Darnay is at trial for treason. Stryver and Sydney are defending Charles Darnay in the case (if that’s what it can be called do to its unfairness, defendants were almost always found guilty). This is where Darnay meets Lucie for the first time since their encounter on the boat where their (Charles’s and Lucie’s) epoch of romance begins. It is at the court where it is realized that Darnay and Carton look alike as described:

“Something especially reckless in his demeanor not only gave him a disputable look, but so diminished the strong resemblance he undoubtedly bore to the prisoner (which his momentary earnestness, when they were compared together, had strenghthened), that many of the lookers-on, taking note of him now, said to one another they would hardly of thought the two alike” (Dickens 74).

In the text Charles and Sydney are represented almost as yin and yang. The only differences are there is no bad in Darnay. They are a solid yin and yang with no in between. They are either the best of the...

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...nay’s friendship. ““Mr. Darnay” said Carton, “I wish we might be friends”” Sydney is changing for the better, he now realizes the importance of friendship, and how he has longed for it. In the midst of this conversation Carton acknowledges his faults as he states that he is a dog and he will never change. Darnay then states that he believes carton will change for the better. Darnay sees this and accepts the offer of friendship. Carton then pleas to be a welcome guest into Darnay’s home. “Well! If you could endure to have such a worthless fellow, and a fellow of indifferent reputation, coming and going at odd times, I should ask that I might be permitted to come and go as a privileged person here;” (199) Darnay welcomes Sydney into the Darnay-Manette household. Carton now has people to care for and friends to love.

Works Cited
A Tale of Two Cites Dickens,Charles

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