How Does Sydney Carton Change

413 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: A tale of two major and minor characters

Sydney Carton’s change throughout A Tale of Two Cities shows that Dickens wanted his readers to learn two main lessons. The first is that people can change no matter what they’ve done in the past, and the second is that one’s life is defined by the choices they make. Sydney went from a bitter drunk to somewhat of a hero, and he will be remembered by those who know his fate as such, not as the person he was most of his life. At the beginning of the book, Sydney Carton is introduced as an alcoholic, but smart, lawyer. He is begrudging towards Darnay because, although they look alike, Carton feels as if Charles is everything he is not, but wants to be. As the book goes on, he continues to act the same way, but as we near the end, he does a very

Show More
Related

  • Sydney Carton Quotes

    1498 Words  | 3 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Tale Of Two Cities Dialectical Journal

    2442 Words  | 5 Pages

    During the final event of the book, Carton sacrifices his life. He saves Darnays life purely for the happiness of Lucie. Carton drugs Darnay and Barsad takes him to the carriage outside where his family is waiting.

    Read More

  • Charater of Sydney Carton in A Tale of Two Cities

    509 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • A comparative study of Sydney Carton in Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities

    1248 Words  | 3 Pages

    the personality can be intense. Dickens introduces Sydney Carton to us immediately after a trial, speaking to his client. It is at this point that we get a glimpse of the character of Carton, "…who smelled of port wine, and did not appear to be quite sober…" (Dickens, 100). Carton is so disillusioned with his own life, that he can’t even like his client [who looks like him],

    Read More

  • Ambiguous Characters In A Tale Of Two Cities

    706 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Carton's Depression In A Tale Of Two Cities

    1589 Words  | 4 Pages

    The passage, “Carton’s depression”, takes place at the end of Book Two, Chapter 5 in the book A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens. While they were talking about their day, Stryver mentions in front of Carton how he is up one minute and down the other minute showing how he has very easy mood changes. This is taking place 5 years after Darnay was on his trial. He was saved by Sydney Carton. This explains Carton’s feelings after the trial. Carton is basically contemplating his life. The main function of the passage is to enhance the depth of Carton’s character as well as how he relates to Darnay. This basically explains his mindset. In the passage “Carton’s Depression”, Charles Dickens is foreshadowing Carton’s actions at the end. However,

    Read More

  • The Transformation of Sydney Carton in A Tale of Two Cities

    523 Words  | 2 Pages

    Sydney Carton is also shown in the novel to be somewhat immature in his actions

    Read More

  • A Tale Of Two Cities

    2254 Words  | 5 Pages

    		Sydney Carton has been presented as the worthless human being. He was always drunk. He did not acquire any high social position. He was always alone and lonely. Nobody loved him and nobody respected him. "I care for no man on earth, and no man on earth cares for me" said Carton (page 99). However, Sydney Carton did never cause any harm to anybody, but actually helped the people around him. Sydney Carton was physically identical to Charles Darnay. When Darnay was being prosecuted for treason against the English government, Carton allowed Mr. Stryver (the lawyer Carton worked for) to reveal him "Look well upon that gentleman, my learned friend there, and then look well upon the prisoner. How say you? Are they very like each other?" said Stryver (page 86). "My lord inquired of Mr. Stryver, whether they were next to try Mr. Carton for treason? But Mr. Stryver replied no" (Page 86). The court then released Darnay. This was one of the ways Sydney Carton presented assistance to others, and that shows that he is a good person who does not mind helping other people. After the trial Carton and Darnay met with each other, and they had a talk. Mr. Carton had told Darnay that he hated him because Lucy loved him. Couple of months after this incident, Mr. Carton asked to meet with Mr. Darnay. Carton asked Darnay to forgive him for the previous incident and also asked him to be his friend. "Mr. Darnay, I wish we might be friends" said Carton (page 251) "On the drunken occasion in...

    Read More

  • "Recalled to Life" in A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

    758 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...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.

    Read More

  • Resurrection in A Tale of Two Cities

    1152 Words  | 3 Pages

    In A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens, many characters are given second chances as their lives are resurrected. The central heroine woman, Lucy Manette, is responsible for the resurrections of Sydney Carton and Dr. Alexander Manette's lives. She gives them inspiration and love to help them recover from their seemingly hopeless states. In turn, Carton gives up his own life in order to save a friend. The lives of Sydney Carton, Dr. Manette, and Charles Darnay are all resurrected at times when hope is lost.

    Read More

  • Christianity in a Tale of Two Cities

    1696 Words  | 4 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Psychoanalysis of Sydney Carton

    1045 Words  | 3 Pages

    Sydney Carton is introduced as a pessimistic introvert who struggles with his id and superego. Although Carton’s past is never revealed in the novel, a traumatic event clearly haunts Carton and prevents him from leading a pleasant life. According to Sigmund Freud, “the memories and emotions associated with trauma” are stored in the subconscious mind because an individual cannot bear to look at these memories (Dever 202). One part of the subconscious mind is the id, or “basic desires”, of a human being (Baker 4). Carton desires to drink as a way to detach from his past, and because of his lack of emotional strength, he allows his id to take over and Carton becomes an alcoholic. Based on Carl Jung’s ideas, Carton is considered an introvert because he is described as the “idlest” of all men and is viewed by society as a worthless drunk (Dickens 91). This displays Carton’s struggle with another element of the subcon...

    Read More

  • The Dynamic Sydney Carton in A Tale of Two Cities

    461 Words  | 1 Pages

    At the beginning of the novel, Sydney Carton presents himself as a drunken attorney. When Carton converses with Charles Darnay, Dickens presents Carton as a drunk, "Carton, who smelt of port wine, and did not appear to be quite sober" (89). Carton appears constantly drunk at the beginning of the novel. Also, Carton has no sense of self-worth. When Carton drinks at the Bar with Mr. Stryver, Stryver describes him as, "[Y]our way is, and always was, a lame way. You summon no energy and purpose" (95). Dickens, also describes Carton as, "Sydney Carton, idlest and most unpromising of men" (92). As most people believe, Carton feels that he himself has no purpose. He agrees with the way other people feel about him and takes no initiative.

    Read More

  • Moral and Immoral Conversions in A Tale of Two Cities

    1274 Words  | 3 Pages

    It is significant that when Sydney Carton first sees Darnay, he performs a good act, using the striking resemblance to break down the witness who is identifying Darnay, and saving his double for the first time(43).

    Read More

  • Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities

    617 Words  | 2 Pages

    He was first described at Darnay’s trial as slouching and not paying attention. He is seen as a drunk who has 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 alcoholic who sees nothing positive in himself.

    Read More

More about How Does Sydney Carton Change

Open Document