“It was the best of time, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity…(Dickens 3)”.
Through the usage of the duality between Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton in the Tale of Two cities, the author Charles Dickens conveys how a social class that a person is born into does not predetermine his/her fate. Dickens also situates these two juxtaposed characters to symbolize the yin and yang which must exist to obtain a perfect balance in the world.
Dickens situates these two characters to come from two distinct social classes to demonstrate how people can change and move away from their expected lifestyle. Darnay is expected to mirror the Monseigneur
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who “was a national blessing, gave a chivalrous tone to things, was a polite example of luxurious and shining fife, and a great deal more to equal purpose (254)”. Although Darnay comes from an aristocratic family who views the common man with no importance, he is different in that he chooses to distance himself from that mentality. He states his reason as, "there is not a face I can look at, in all this country round about us, which looks at me with any deference on it but dark deference of fear and slavery (215)”. His choice illustrates how the social class he was born into does not define that he too will follow the same belief. Carton, on the other hand, falls into assuming that his lower-class life will never have a purpose, “I am like one who died young. All my life might have been (263)”. He believes that he does not deserve an ideal lady like Lucie. However, he too rises above that predetermined expectation of living a life with no purpose and changes himself. Even if he doesn't win Lucie’s love, he does succeed in achieving a purpose in his life; the purpose of keeping the life Lucie loves beside her (269). Both characters, even if they are coming from different classes show how they rise of out of their predetermined fate that they must follow their forefathers’ footsteps . Dickens hints through Darnay and Carton that change in people’s ideologies is inevitable. The balance between Darnay and Carton is found within their love for Lucie Manette and their desire to improve their lives.
Darnay’s and Carton’s desires to win over Lucie and change their lives are the driving forces of the novel. Both characters are similar in that they wanted to marry Lucie; however, due to Darnay’s positive nature, he is able to win Lucie’s love. Carton, even though he doesn't win Lucy's love, promises to keep a life Lucie loves beside her (269). Using Darnay and Carton to represent yin and yang, Dickens illustrates that neither side is stronger than the other as both are essential to the plot. If Carton never promised to save Darnay towards the end, neither character would have satisfied their purpose in life. Other motives to save a close friend - Gabelle for Darnay and Darnay for Carton - show how their intentions lead them to the same overall goal. However, they are also different in that only one of them is successful in each of their goals. Charles is successful in winning Lucie's love, but not in saving Gabelle whereas Carton is successful in saving Darnay, but not in winning Lucie's love. Although their changes are very different, they are very similar in that their paths coincide - Darnay is imprisoned and Carton replaces him in the jail cell to allow Darnay to escape- to fulfill the purpose of their lives. By providing both sides of the story, just like combining yin and yang, Dickens educates his audience that the change which both characters strove for is complete. He also shows that neither side is greater nor stronger than the other as both experienced equal amounts of success and
defeat. Fate is also another controlling factor between the two men. The similarities and differences in their fate justify the idea that as both of them are making sacrifices, and are being resurrected, they represent yin and yang. Darnay and Carton, similar in appearance, but different in social classes come together to reach a perfect balance in their lives. Although Charles Darnay is on the verge of death by the guillotine, Carton holds true to his word and chooses to sacrifice himself to keep the life Lucie loves beside her (269). Through his act, not only does he represent a Christ figure, but he also redeems the Evremonde family. With this sacrifice, Carton also finds his true purpose and leaves the world feeling satisfied especially since Dickens allows a moment where Carton states, “‘I see that I hold a sanctuary in their hearts, and in the hearts of their descendants, generations hence (398)”. This is a definite contrast from earlier in the novel when he states, “...no man on earth cares for me (146)”. Although their predetermined fate - death for Darnay and no purpose in life for Carton - the unexpected still took place to fulfill the purpose of making each character complete. Charles wanted to live with Lucie and a life as a commoner. Carton wanted a purpose and he found that through death, representing the duality that their purpose was found for one in life, and one in death. The balance between yin and yang is preserved as one side is allowed to live, while the other one is subjected to die. By coming together to as a duality to form a whole, Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton strive to change their predetermined fate while endeavoring for their essential purpose in life. Although one character found his purpose through life and the other through death, this ultimately justifies the meaning of yin and yang.
When Carton is being taken to the guillotine, he meets a young seamstress who was imprisoned with Darnay. She soon discovers that Carton is not actually Darnay, ““Are you dying for him?” she whispered. “And his wife and child. Hush! Yes.”” (Dickens 365). Caron is asked by the seamstress if he is sacrificing himself for Darnay. Carton replies that he is, but also for Darnay’s wife and child, Lucie and little Lucie. This shows why Carton is sacrificing himself. Carton, though he is saving Darnay’s life, is ultimately giving his life to save Lucie and her child, as well as the future children she and Darnay will have. His love for Lucie is the true reason he commits such an act of self-violence. Sydney Carton’s sacrifice is heroic because he willingly gives his life to save Darnay’s and to preserve the happiness of his family (Keck). Carton is ultimately driven by his love for the Manette family, and his desire to protect them and the love they have for one another. Though Sydney Carton is seemingly a failure, “his redeeming grace is his love for Lucie, which persuades him to sacrifice himself so that she and her family can escape” (Plot Summary). Again, this shows that Carton’s sacrifice is driven by the love he holds for Lucie. Everything Carton told Lucie he would do for her and her family has ultimately
In this passage, Dickens’ juxtaposition, personification, detail, and diction reinforce Dickens’ tone of empathy and pity for the social conditions of the people of lower class France. When a large cask of wine spills open on the streets of France there is a mad rush to collect a taste of the spoiled wine. The people’s reactions consisted of “...frolicsome embraces, drinking of healths, shaking of hands, and even joining of hands and dancing a dozen together.” This exciting and scene of much happiness is juxtaposed by the “gloom that gathered on the scene that appeared more natural than sunshine” that occurs after all the wine has run out. This juxtaposition of the momentary happiness that the peasants of St. Antoine experience provide a contrast
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.
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 caused 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 happen. He explores the idea of justice and violence through the use of characters that are ambiguous, 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 shows the ambiguous characters through the power of true sacrifice.
The most prevalent example of characters that are foils is the pair of Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton. These two men are extraordinarily similar, and yet they are also polar opposites. When Darnay and Carton are both introduced for the first time in the courthouse scene in Book the Second, Dickens immediately ensures that the reader is aware of the comparison. Darnay is acquitted of treason simply because the witnesses are unsure of their testimony after seeing Carton’s near-identical features. In addition to virtually sharing a countenance, the two also tend to dress alike throughout the novel. However, these similarities are merely the backdrop by which to accentuate the key differences between the characters. These are also recognized early on, even by the dim-witted Jerry Cruncher: “so alike each other in feature, so unlike each other in manner” (80). Carton is a relatively poor Englishman, while Darnay is a privileged French aristocrat. Although they have similar capabilities, Darnay uses his situation in life to his advantage, and Carton develops a disrespectful attitude and alcoholism. When the characters themselv...
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...
“There is no such thing as accident; it is fate misnamed. “ – Napoleon Bonaparte. The idea that we control our own destinies has existed since the 16th century. Charles Dickens’ novel, A Tale of Two Cities, written in 1859, depicts a story of loss and love during the French Revolution of 1789. Throughout the novel, Dickens uses many symbols and characters to develop the theme of fate and destiny. Many symbols used in Tale of Two Cities revealed the fates of many characters and foreshadowed conflicts. A character analysis of Sydney Carton also reveals that fate guided his path to make the ultimate Christ-like sacrifice to save the Manette family. The fate of the major characters such as Darnay, Carton, and Dr. Manette were all like through
A Tale of Two Cities Essay Throughout history, the powers of love and hate have constantly been engaged in a battle for superiority. Time and time again, love has proven to be stronger than hate, and has been able to overcome all of the obstacles that have stood in the way of it reaching its goal. On certain occasions, though, hate has been a viable foe and defeated love when they clash. In the novel A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens presents several different power struggles between love and hate.
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens is a classic novel written in the 1850’s by Charles Dickens. The novel is set in London and France during the French Revolution. The novel features an amazing use of themes as well as sensational development of characters. Charles Dickens and his feature style of the poor character who does something great is very evident in Sydney Carton, a drunken lawyer who becomes the hero of the book.
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.
Throughout the book, Dickens portrays his objectivity between the classes through a series of graphic descriptions. For example, the horrid events that occur when the Marquis murders the child is a time when Dickens most definitely favors the rebels. Dickens’s attitude when Jacques kills the Marquis is that justice has been supplied. There is a definite tone of approval in his voice after these actions. On the other hand, Dickens’s attitude towards the mutineers is not always one of endorsement. When the activists nearly kill Gabelle and burn the Chateau, Dickens’s attitude changes from one of approval to one of disbelief. His disposition is almost one of sorrow for all the beauty being carelessly destroyed. As the reader can see, Dickens’s opinion varies greatly in accordance to the portion of the story the person is reading.
A dynamic character is one who changes greatly during the course of a novel. There are many fine examples of dynamic characters in all Dickens novels. Three of these characters are Dr. Alexandre Manette, Jerry Cruncher and Sydney Carton. Dynamic characters play a very apparent role in the novel A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.
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.
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 possessed many negative characteristics which he used in a positive way. Carton drastically changed his life and became a new man. Sydney is not the man he first appeared to be.
A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens, is a story set in the year 1775 and through the turbulent time of the French Revolution. It is of people living in love and betrayal, murder and joy, peril and safety, hate and fondness, misery and happiness, gentle actions and ferocious crowds. The novel surrounds a drunken man, Sydney Carton, who performs a heroic deed for his beloved, Lucie Manette, while Monsieur and Madame Defarge, ruthless revolutionaries, seek revenge against the nobles of France. Research suggests that through Dickens’ portrayal of the revolutionaries and nobles of the war, he gives accurate insight to the era of the Revolution.