In society today, all people determine their lifestyle, personality and overall character by both positive and negative traits that they hold. Sydney Carton in Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities was a drunken lawyer who had an extremely low self- esteem. He possesed many negative characteristics which he used in a positive way. Carton drastically changed his life around and became a new man.
Sydney is not the man he first appeared to be. He is first described at Darnay’s trial as slouching and not paying attention. He is seen as a drunk who had 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 alchoholic who sees nothing positive in himself.
Carton demonstrates a sensitivity which helps others in the long run. His partner,
Mr. Stryver relaxes while Sydney works long hard hours to prepare the defense materials for the following days. Carton does most of Stryvers work, he is a man of great talent but lacks the character traits that would make those talents work to his own advantage instead of others that he helps. He always use to be satisfied with faling into his rank and never did anything to attempt to change his life. He further destroys himself with drinking and although he is not satisfied with his life now, he feels that he cannot do anything to change it. Sydney’s love for Lucie Manette changed him greatly in a positive way. One day when Sydney visited the Manette residence he called on Lucie and pledged his love to her.
After hearing this, Lucie feels nothing but compassion for Carton. He asked nothing more of Lucie than to always remember how deeply he cared for her, and that he would make any sacrifice to her or anyone dear to her. Lucie was the main reason for bringing out the new , more positve Sydney Carton. He now looked at things with a more positive attitude and a new personal strength was seen in his later actions.
Carton’s final act in this novel shows what a brave man he was and he acts upon his true love for Lucie. After the second arrest of Charles Darnay, Carton urges Dr.
Manette to attempt to use his influence to free Charles. When Carton is speaking with little Lucie, Charles and Lucie’s daughter, she begs him to do something to save her
Later in the plot, Lucie Manette marries Charles Darnay. When they get married, it is a big event for both of their families. After they are married, the doctor begins to have a relapse of his old times.
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.
Have you ever had to choose between living out your life and redeeming your image to mankind? Well, if so, then you and Sydney Carton, from the “Tale of Two Cities”, have something greatly in common. It all begins when Carton meets Charles Darnay in a tavern. Cartons life changed in the tavern. Darnay’s life changed in the tavern. Lucie’s life changed in that tavern. Here Carton, who had previously decided to spend his days as a drunkard, expresses his passionate feelings on his life with his newly found companion. Among these was the feeling of deep and profound love that Carton possessed for a lovely lady by the name of Lucie Manette. Unbeknownst to him, however, Darnay possessed the same inner desires for the lady.
Lucie and Dr. Manettes talk the night before the wedding is a very significant part of the novel. In that chapter, we really see the strong connection and bond that Lucie and her father have. Lucie is very worried for her father, she is nervous leaving him. All Dr. Manette wants is for Lucie to be happy. He cares very deeply for her and wants only the best for her. Dr. Manette tells Lucie about his imprisonment in the Bastille. It was the first time Dr. Manette had spoken about his experience since his release. He tells Lucie how he would dream of her in prison, hoping she was safe. It is a very emotional topic for Dr. Manette but together they bond and their relationship becomes stronger through it. There is an unconditional love that Dr. Manette has for Lucie, and Lucie has for him. Dr. Manette proves his strong, devoted, kind and loving characteristics in this chapter, he shows us he isn’t some old crazy
Tolmachev, I. (2010, March 15). A history of Photography Part 1: The Beginning. Retrieved Febraury 2014, from tuts+ Photography: http://photography.tutsplus.com/articles/a-history-of-photography-part-1-the-beginning--photo-1908
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
Lucie Manette is a compassionate and benevolent character that aids in the resurrection of Sydney Carton and Dr. Manette. At the beginning of the book Lucie is only 17, but maturity beyond her age is reflected in her character. She is the ideal Victorian lady, perfect in every way. Lucie is gorgeous, with long, beautiful golden hair. She is very positive and unselfish, always willing to help others. Her wonderfully kind and sympathetic nature causes the men to fall in love with her. She doesn't look down upon anyone and sees the best in who some may see the worst. These qualities in Lucy are what make possible the resurrections of Sydney Carton and Dr. Manette's lives.
Of the extraordinary amount of literary devices available to authors, Charles Dickens uses quite a few in his novel A Tale of Two Cities, which is set during the French Revolution. One of his more distinctive devices is character foils. The five sets of foils are Carton and Darnay, Carton and Stryver, Darnay and the Marquis de Evremonde, Madame Defarge, and Mr. Lorry and Jerry Cruncher. Dickens uses foil characters to highlight the virtues of several major characters in order to show the theme of personal, loving relationships having the ability to prevail over heartless violence and self-consuming vengeance.
In Sydney Carton’s sacrifice, the theme of redemption that built up throughout the book culminates. Dickens wrote Carton’s character with one end in mind. Thus, Carton’s one success in life is his sacrificial death. Throughout his novel, Dickens entwines foreshadowing and allusion to ultimately point to Carton. He is the culmination of the theme of resurrection. Using the biblical model, Dickens parallels the human Carton with Jesus, thus constructing not only an incredible allusion, but also a marvelous feat of storytelling.
Sacrifices are often made to strengthen bonds, and no other bond in the novel is stronger than the one that Lucie Mannette shares with her father , Dr. Manette. Indeed, Lucy has gone to great lengths to ensure that their bond stays strong. In the opening chapters of the novel, Lucie, in hopes that her pleas can cure her father’s insanity, devotes herself to Dr. Manette wholeheartedly, disregarding any personal desires of her own. She promises her father that if, “ ..I hint to you of a home there is before us, I will be true to you with all my duty.” (46) Lucie’s undying devotion to her father is a clear example of how one person’s sacrifice can inspire life in another.
The most dynamic character in Charles Dickens, 'A Tale of Two Cities,' appears as Sydney Carton. First, Carton presents himself as a drunk, lazy attorney, who feels as though his life has no meaning. However, Carton as well as others know deep down that his life does have true meaning. Carton professes his love to Lucie Manette. Inexplicably, Carton becomes a changed man; this important turning point molds the remainder of the novel. After he exits the den, he finds his independence. When Sydney Carton becomes enlightened, he transforms into a Christ-like figure. He begins to shoulder his way through life.
...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.
In A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens’ choice of sentimental expression had an excellent effect on the readers’ responses to the characters. The use of exaggerated sentimentality helped create a clear picture of the story’s issues in the readers’ minds; it gave a feel for the spirit of the times, and made it easier to understand the characters’ points of view. It was this very sentimentality that Dickens strived to achieve.
...sband while he is wrongfully jailed and never loses her hope. With allegiance and admiration, Lucie displays her impact on the lives of those who were forced to leave her.