Examples Of Sacrifice In A Tale Of Two Cities

Sacrifice is defined as giving up something of great value in order to benefit others. In A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens there are lots of sacrifices being made. Some of the people that sacrificed themselves for others were Sydney Carton, Lucie Manette and Dr. Manette, they do this in different ways; however, it is still sacrifice. These sacrifices have different intensities, for example, Lucie Manette sacrificed her social life for her father, Dr. Manette. Dr. Manette sacrificed his health and mental status for his daughter and her happiness but the most noted sacrifice is the novel was done by Sydney Carton, who sacrificed his life for Lucie and her loved ones. These sacrifices sum up to develop the theme of the book, which is that

love is stronger than violence and vengeance.

At the beginning of the novel, Sydney Carton is described as somebody that “cares for no man on earth and no man care for” (89).

This depicts how Sydney thought that his life didn't matter and since nobody cared about him he wouldn't care for nobody. He showed this attitude through drinking. This made Sydney Carton “incapable of his own happiness” (96). This meant that even though he could be capable of many things but his lack of confidence in himself and the fact that he didn't try to get better because he had no one to encourage him to do so. It is also shown that he believes that his life is purposeless, he states, “Do you particularly like the man?... Why should you particularly like a man who resembles you? There is nothing in you to like; you know that” (90). In this quote it is shown how he believes that he is a worthless person and that nobody should like him, it is also shown that he does no like Charles

Darnay.
As the novel progresses it is shown how Sydney Carton changes his attitude towards his previous mentality. One way in which he changes his mentality is by expressing his love for Lucie Manette, he states, “I wish you to know that you have been the last dream of my soul” (156). By doing this, Carton shows that as his life has been going by, he is showing new characteristics and has been more accepting of his life, since he has loved Lucie since the beginning of the novel. He is also able to prove that he was able to change because he is not drinking anymore and that is all because Lucie is giving him purpose. He also promised Lucie, “For you, and for any dear to you, I would do anything” (158). This explains how Carton has changed from not caring for anybody and hating Darnay to being a very caring person towards Lucie and even Darnay since he is one of Lucie’s loved ones and his promise is that he would do anything for Lucie and her loved ones.

By the end of the novel, Sydney Carton showed his true values of faithfulness and fidelity.

This is shown when Charles Darnay, Lucie’s husband was sentenced to the guillotine and Carton voluntarily exchanges places with him because of their resemblance. Before he did this he whispered in Lucie’s ear, “A life you love.” (345) while she was unconscious. By this Carton means to tell Lucie that he is going to fulfill the promise that he had made to her years ago. By sacrificing himself Carton also believes that his death will make Lucie and her family happy and peaceful. He predicts this by stating, “I see the lives for which I lay down my life, peaceful, useful, prosperous and happy, in that England which I shall see no more. I see her with a child upon her bosom, who bears my name” (386). This shows how Sydney Carton believes that it is necessary that he gives up his life in order for Lucie's family to be happy and peaceful in the

future.

In conclusion, throughout the novel, A Tale of Two Cities, there are lots of sacrifices depicted by Charles Dickens in order to show the theme of true love overcoming vengeance and violence. This is clearly shown through Sydney Carton, throughout the novel he has been the worse version of Charles Darnay and was always drunk and careless; however, as the novel goes on Carton becomes the hero of the story. He falls in love with Lucie and gives his life up for Lucie's husband. This is because he knows that Lucie will be incomplete without Darnay and he had already promised her that he would do anything for her and her loved ones. Vengeance and violence is defeated by love in this case because Carton’s love for Lucie was strong enough to save her husband, which was to be killed because of vengeance.