Archetypes In A Tale Of Two Cities

What makes a person who they are. Is it how they act, the way they dress, or is it their future that defines who a person is. A person is truly made when they are faced with difficulty and problems in their lives. How they act to these problems will define them for the rest of their lives. This is present through some of the main characters in the book, since they experience awfully burdensome times. Dickens purpose is show the true nature of people, which is hidden beneath every living soul. Dickens cleverly shows this throughout the book Tale of Two Cities when portraying the character archetypes of Charles Darnay, Madame Defarge, and Sydney Carton.
First, Charles Darnay is one of the first to bring out his true nature as the hero. He is

the nephew to the french aristocrat Marquis St. Evremonde. At the time of the book aristocrats were hated by all who are not considered equals. Charles made the decision in his life to leave his crooked family. Charles tells his uncle, “‘We have so asserted our station, both in the old time and in the modern time also,’ said the nephew, gloomily, ‘that I believe our name to be more detested than any name in France.’" (Dickens 116). This would be remarkably difficult for anyone to accomplish because it would mean leaving wealth, power, and family behind. All the while he tries to get his uncle to correct his wrongs. Comparatively, when Charles Darnay found out that Gabelle, an old servant, has been imprisoned he tries to rescue him. This is particularly heroic because he risks his own life. With the new laws in place in France during the revolution, it makes it especially difficult for him to save his friend but unfortunately is imprisoned. Third, Charles Darnay didn’t willingly allow Sydney Carton to trade places with him while he was in jail. It would be easy for anyone to willingly trade places with someone in jail, but despite Charles’s condition he still is thinking of others and not himself. Through thick and thin Charles Darnay is always there to lend a helping hand.
Second, Madame Defarge is the leading antagonist throughout the book Tale of Two Cities.

In the first place, Madame Defarge is seen sewing peoples names onto her register. These were the people that she wanted and planned on killing even if they had no correlation to her life. It is evil to pursue so much bloodshed for her vengeance against one family. The worst thing is these people she condemned to death had committed no crimes at all. Second, Madame Defarge used Alexander Manette’s journal against Charles Darnay in court, even though it went against Dr. Manette’s wishes. Dr. Manette says, “‘President, I indignantly protest to you that this is a forgery and a fraud. . . . Who and where is the false conspirator who says that I denounced the husband of my child’?” (Dickens 293). Madame Defarge uses Dr. Manette’s past against him to denounce Charles in court. Madame Defarge doesn’t care what it takes to get her revenge, even if it means hurting Dr. Manette in the process. Additionally, Madame Defarge plans to kill Lucie and little Lucie just because they are part of Charles Darnay’s family now. She is so hell bent on revenge she doesn’t care who she kills to fulfill her needs. Lucie and little Lucie have done nothing but showing politeness to Madame Defarge. Madame Defarge has been at the point of no return for quite some time

now.
Finally, Sydney Carton is precisely considered the underdog of the book Tale of Two Cities.

Sydney Carton has no real accomplishments in his life. After the first court case with Charles Darnay, Sydney Carton feels like he hasn’t done anything. He says to Charles Darnay, “I am a disappointed drudge, sir. I care for no man on earth, and no man on earth cares for me” (Dickens 81). Sydney Carton even knows that he has accomplished nothing in his life so he then drinks himself to sleep. In like manner, Sydney Carton doesn’t get the girl. Sydney Carton falls in love with Lucie Manette, but she is in love with Charles Darnay. Since Carton knows he is a “failure” he tells Lucie they can never be together even though he loves her. She respects his decision and then goes on to marry Charles Darnay. It’s heartbreaking to see the love of your life go on to marry another man. Despite Sydney Carton’s past, his true nature as underdog is brought to light. Charles Darnay is sentenced to death by Guillotine, so Sydney Carton decides to trade places with him to protect the Manette family. He is so selfless that he decides to accept death to protect his loved ones. Sydney Carton surpasses Charles Darnay who he looked up to for his

accomplishments.
Charles Dickens gave us a wonderful book filled with all kinds of people. Throughout the book there was countless occasions of selflessness and heroism, but there was also many acts of revenge. Charles Darnay was considered the hero for most of the book but Sydney Carton, the underdog, came in and took that title from Charles. All the while this is happening Madame Defarge was plotting revenge for things that happened to her as a child. Dickens’s book shows its readers to help others who are in need of it and that there are people in the world who will be out to get you.