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The impact of the Victorian era literature
The impact of the Victorian era literature
Charles Dickens’ art of characterisation in reference to characters of great importance
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Christian Value Reinforcement in A Tale of Two Cities
In this essay, I will argue that one of the underlying motives in Charles Dickens' novel A Tale of Two Cities (1859) is the reinforcement of Christian values in 18th century Victorian England. Dickens was very concerned with the accepted social norms of industrialized England, many of which he felt were very inhumane. Christian values were challenged, largely due to the recent publication of Darwin's Origins of a Species, and philosophy along with literature was greatly affected. In 1859, the industrial age was booming, making many entrepreneurs rich. However, the majority of the lower economic class remained impoverished, working in unsafe and horrific environments as underpaid factory workers. Additionally, child labor was an accepted practice in Victorian England's factories. Dickens, who worked, as a child in a shoe polish factory, detested this social convention with such strength that only one with experience in such exploitation could.
Dickens responded to this "dog-eat-dog" social climate by writing A Tale of Two Cities as a vehicle to reform society. He intends to fortify Christian values within English culture, such as self-sacrifice and kindness, in a time when he feels these values are threatened and sometimes completely overlooked. In this essay, I will show how Dickens interweaves his moral agenda of Christian values into the novel by using contrasts, symbols, and the motif of doubles as well as the evolution of Sydney Carton into a Christ-like figure with the goal of inspiring the reader to the point of evolving into an ethically "good" human being.
The Motif of Doubles: Darkness and Light as Symbols of Good and Evil
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...n the same passage the narrator reveals that Lucie's future son will be named after Sydney, and, like Sydney, the son will become a lawyer (292).
Dickens creates immortality for Sydney's character with the intention of showing the reader that those who live by a Christian moral code will be rewarded with immortality. Sydney begins as a sordid character so the reader will realize that anyone can follow the path of righteousness, regardless of how sinful one is to begin with. Dickens intends the evolution of Sydney's character to function as inspiration for the reader to incorporate both selfless kindness and self-sacrifice into his or her ethical code. By giving immortality in exchange for Sydney's selfless kindness and martyrdom, Dickens radiates his moral agenda of Christian values as a moving story to inspire Victorian society towards Christian morals.
Charles Dickens writes this book explaining the French Revolution, in which the social and economic systems in France had huge changes and the French monarchy collapsed. This causes high taxes, unfair laws, and the poor being mistreated. Charles Dickens shows that cruelty of other people will lead to a revolution and in addition to the revolution more cruelty will occur. He explores the idea of justice and violence through the use of ambiguous characters with positive and negative qualities, meaning that they have to different sides to them; for example, Charles Darnay, Sydney Carton, and Dr. Manette. Throughout the story of A Tale of Two Cities, Charles dickens uses ambiguous characters to shows how violence and cruelty can be stopped through the power of true sacrifice.
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.
He is known as the drunken person who does not have his life together and he is lazy and does not care about anything. What makes him ambiguous is the fact that even though he is this careless man he also has a side to him that has a kind heart. After he meet Lucie is when he began to realize how people see him and his love for her transformed him into a good person. This transformation leads him to saving Charles Darnay’s life by poisoning and switching clothes with him and dying in place of Charles to show his abundant love for Lucie Manette. In the end, after Sydney is killed. Charles Dickens writes, “it is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done: it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known” (Dickens 382) to summarize what he thinks Sydney Carton would have said before he died. To show that Sydney has done something he feels pride in and that there was a purpose to his
Two characters Dickens sets in opposition are Madame Defarge and Lucie Manette. Although Lucie Manette grew up an orphan after her mother died and her father lay languishing anonymously in a prison cell of the Bastille, although she suffered irreparable harm, Lucie Manette always finds within herself the ability to forgive wrongs and love other people. She looks for the best in every human heart and inspires those around her to love and achieve great, nearly impossible goals. Lucie Manette always appears in the form of light, often receiving the appellation of "angel." She provides a soothing disposition to those in torment, patiently listening to sorrows and misdeeds while forgiving and encouraging the miscreant to better ways. Even though she cannot reform Sidney Carton, he realizes that she, more than anyone, would have that power; ho...
Lastly and most importantly would be Lucie’s elaborate expression of sentimentality in her constant fainting at the least sign of distress. However unbearable it might have seemed, the reader could not fully appreciate the significance of her character and why she was loved by so many equally sentimental; characters in the novel. When Lucie early on testifies at Darnay’s trial in the English court, she says, “He was kind, and good, and useful to my father. I hope,” and here she bursts into tears, “ I may not repay him by doing him harm here today.” Her deep sensitivity and generous nature shines through. And remember, when Lucie stands forlornly and devotedly at a place near the Paris prison in order for her husband, Darnay, to glimpse her and their child, it is clear that Dickens wanted to portray her as a loving, faithful, and sympathetic person.
		Sydney Carton’s loving soul, Dr. Manette’s kind personality, Charles Darnay’s noble behavior, Madam Defarge’s evil deeds and the Marquise D’Evremonde’s cruel ignorance, all prove that Charles Dickens used archetypal characters. They have been the way they are since the beginning of the novel. The good was never cruel and the evil was never kind.
Using various literary devices like foreshadowing, and allusion, and through the character of Sydney Carton, he drives home his point. One of the best examples of foreshadowing comes in the form of the echoing footsteps. These footsteps that echo outside the Manette's home symbolize, in Lucie's fancy, the numerous people that she believes will enter into her family's life. “‘I have imagined the footsteps of the people who are to come into my life, and my father’s’” (107).
...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.
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.
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:
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.
The character who goes through moral conversion to the greatest extent is Sydney Carton. Sydney is a frustrated alcoholic who does not really seem to care too much about life, because life for him has not been too good. His moral conversion begins the first time his eyes see Lucie Manette, the beautiful young daughter of Dr. Alexander Manette. This occurs during the first trial of Charles
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 positive Sydney Carton.
Dickens is often held to be among the greatest writers of the Victorian Age. Nonetheless, why are his works still relevant nearly two centuries later? One reason for this is clearly shown in Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities. In the novel, he uses imagery to sway the readers’ sympathies. He may kindle empathy for the revolutionary peasants one moment and inspire feeling for the imprisoned aristocrats the next, making the book a more multi-sided work. Dickens uses imagery throughout the novel to manipulate the reader’s compassion in the peasants’ favor, in the nobles defense, and even for the book’s main villainess, Madame Defarge.
...roughout her essay, but she stretches them to make them fit a Darwinian reading, and she ignores Christian wording that attributes the course of Great Expectations and the growth of characters to the influence of the Judeo-Christian God. Rather, in direct opposition to Darwin, Dickens denies that inherited genetic traits control a person. If all people are equally low, they are also equally capable of a Christian love, goodness, and grace. And if Dickens emphasizes this theme more distinctly in Great Expectations than in previous works, the effect is only to create a novel that is more, not less, profoundly Christian.