Tale Of Two Cities Sydney Carton Quotes

Sydney Carton is a character in the novel, A Tale of Two Cities, written by Charles Dickens. In Book the First, Chapter 5, “The Wine-Shop”, Sydney Carton says, “I am a disappointing drudge, sir. I care for no man on earth, and no man on earth cares for me.” The childhood life of Sydney Carton has not been mentioned in the book and his childhood life is left up to the imagination. Sydney Carton’s childhood can be assumed to have been bad based on his drinking habits, the way he treats others, and his need to be a part of a family. One main example of an inadequate childhood, is that Sydney is always drunk. He is described as being drunk or is drinking during several scenes throughout the book. One example from the story would be in chapter

It is stated that Charles noticed Sydney smelled of alcohol. “Carton, who smelled of port wine, and did not appear to be quite sober, laughed then, and turned to Darnay.” (62). This scene took place right after the trial got dismissed. That means that Sydney was drunk throughout the trial and helped win the case while under the influence of alcohol. Another reason this could be a sign of a bad childhood, is that having a related alcoholic, can increase their chances of being an alcoholic themself. When you grow up, your biggest influence is your parents. So if one or both of Sydney’s parents drank a lot, he might have assumed growing up that it was normal. Another quote from the book follows in the same scene as the previous quote with Charles and Sydney being at the bar after the trial. “‘Then bring me another pint

If his parents were controlling or demanding it would make the way he works for Mr.Lorry logical. In the story, Sydney is described as being a jackal to Mr.Lorry who is compared to a lion. “At last, it began to get about, among such as were interested in the matter, that although Sydney Carton would never be a lion, he was an amazingly good jackal.” (65). Mr. Lorry and Sydney Carton work together as lawyers. They had even gone to school together and Mr.Lorry notices a similar behavior tendency between now and back when they were in school. “‘The old seesaw Sydney. Up one minute and down the next; now in spirits and now in despondency!’ ‘Ah!’ returned the other, sighing: ‘yes! The same Sydney, with the same luck. Even then, I did exercises for other boys, and seldom did my own.’” (67). The quote proves that both Mr.Lorry and Sydney Carton recognize that Sydney has changed very little. While Mr.Lorry sees it in a way of his moods, and how he’s either feeling happy or feeling down and changing between very quickly. Sydney remembers he has done the work of others for a long time and acknowledges that he still does