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Where there is darkness, there is always a light to overcome it. The chaotic and stirring society is thoroughly well-written in Charles Dickens' novel, A Tale of Two Cities. As the French nation goes through its devastating revolution, the English nation remains in a steady and peaceful state. Dickens compares these two countries and their opposing nations throughout the novel. His method of light and dark imagery is generally used to contrast the two nations about which the story is written, especially to compare each of the characters development, for example Dr. Manette and Sydney Carton. This method brings these characters to a new extent and highlights the theme of duality and contrast other areas of the novel. In the opening sentence, …show more content…
Although highly intelligent, good-looking, and capable of success like his colleague Stryver, Carton chooses to be unhappy and dissolute. He does not want to have light in his life, and continues to stay in his dark, unkempt state. Carton continues this mindset even during the trial of Charles Darnay, a successful aristocrat that is unlawfully convicted. In fact, Carton's self-esteem of himself seems to have worsen as he meets Lucie Manette and helps Darnay to be proved innocent. The theme of mirror image that Dickens portrays is helpful to the light and darkness traits of the novel. Although similar in physical appearance, Carton and Darnay have big differences in temperaments. Where Darnay is a kind-hearted and successful gentleman, Carton is an unkempt and gruff alcoholic. Dickens uses the differences between these two men to highlight the intensity of Carton wasting his life away, with Darnary serving as a reminder of what Carton could have been. Furthermore, the events of the trial seem to have shaken up Carton in terms of dissatisfaction with his life. As Carton goes to his home after the trial, the setting of the novel reflects Carton's feeling of empty hope and unhappiness as "the air was cold and sad, the dull sky overcast, the river dark and dim, the whole scene like a lifeless desert." (35). As Darnay brings …show more content…
Dickens writes Lucie as a physically and spiritually beautiful as she is blessed with a gift of bringing out the finest aspects of those in her life. While she is the one of the characters with a lesser development of the novel, she is the "golden thread" (16) that intertwines many of the characters' lives together. Dickens writes Lucie out to be a humane, wholesome woman who inspires a strong amount of love and loyalty in other characters. This is seen after the trial of Charles Darnay. Dickens makes it obvious that Lucie is the main emotional element character to the novel as she is that "golden thread." (16) He depicts that "everything turned upon her and revolved about her," (38) implying that her influence expands beyond her father and embodies those around her. Her effect on people proves her to be that golden thread, and she carries a quality of prompt people to her and influences them to be more than they think they are. For example, her father is not just a shoemaker and Mr. Lorry is not just a business man. Making Lucie very central to the story may seem a bit odd, but Dickens created her to be an idea rather than an actual woman. Lucie is the model of all that is good in innocence, faith, hope and kindness. In fact, Dickens uses her bright demeanor to highlight the darkness of Madame Therese Defarge's character. Throughout the story,
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
Later in the plot, Lucie Manette marries Charles Darnay. When they get married, it is a big event for both of their families. After they are married, the doctor begins to have a relapse of his old times.
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,
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.
The theme of fate is shown in the symbol of knitting through Mme. Defarge. She is “always knitting” and “not watching”, but Mme. Defarge is actually knitting a hit list. Dickens describes her, “Pointing her [Mme. Defarge’s] knitting needle at Little Lucie as if it were the finger of fate” (Dickens 207). The words “finger of fate” is foreshadowing the purpose of Mme. Defarge’s knitting and how she is actually determining who will die. Because of this, she is the one is can determine a person’s fate, whether a person will die or live. At the end of the novel, when the little seamstress dies, it is read, “She goes next before him [Carton]-is gone; the knitting-women count Twenty-Two” (292). These “knitting-women” count the number of deaths, including the little seamstress’; they are the ones who symbolically determine the fate of a person’s life. These “knitting-women” are like the Fates in Greek mythology. The Fates spin the thread of life for each person and cut ...
		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...
From the beginning of the novel, Lucie is willing to make sacrifices to take care of her family and keep the bond between them strong. Lucie’s first life-altering sacrifice begins when she realizes that her father, thought to be dead, is alive. While discussing Lucie’s father, Mr. Lorry says to Lucie, “Your father has been taken to the house of an old servant in Paris, and we are going there: I, to identify him if I can: you, to restore him to life, love, duty, rest, comfort” (Dickens 29). Given this information from Mr. Lorry, Lucie recognizes that her jaded father needs her help in order to return to a normal life. This requires great sacrifice, but, later in the novel, Lucie also takes on the task of caring for the rest of her family. While quietly sitting in her house, listening to footsteps, Lucie is “Ever busily winding the golden thread that bound them all together, weaving the service of her happy influence through the tissue of all their lives, and making it predominate nowhere” (Dickens 216). Lucie’s “golden thread” is the single thing holding the family together, keeping peace and eliciting happiness through her sacrifices. She is able to bring her father out of madness an...
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.
Dickens alleges that “Sydney Carton would never be a lion, he was an amazingly good jackal” (65). Carton is referred to as a jackal because jackals are scavengers; these animals let the lion eat all the food first, and then the jackal will eat the remains. Stryver is the lion; he is missing the intellect to extract the essence for cases. Carton stays up from ten at night until three in the morning drinking and working for Stryver. Carton gets all the information, while Stryver receives all the credit. Sydney Carton is a man in the shadows, and everyone believes he is a depressed alcoholic except for Lucie Manette. Carton loves Lucie, and he adds to her, “I wish you to know that you have been the last dream of my soul” (115). Carton is freeing his soul by telling her that he is grateful that she does not love him because he is not worthy. Carton believes he cannot change for the better; he is set in his ways, and he cannot save himself because of his fate. Carton is selfless and fragile when he expresses his feelings to Lucie, which shows how amazing he is. Carton’s delicateness conveys when Dickens claims, “there were tears in his eyes. There were tears in his voice too” (115). Carton informs Lucie, “for you, and for any dear to you, I would do anything” (117). Dickens foreshadows that Carton will save Darnay’s life by dying for him out of his love for Lucie, which is Carton’s purpose in life. Carton is similar to “an eddy that turned and turned-purposeless, until the stream absorbed it, and carried it on to the sea” (244). An eddy goes nowhere until the stream, which straightens it our as a purpose, captures it. The purpose takes him to an end, which is peace, death, or redemption. Carton has always been going nowhere, but now he has a purpose to save Darnay and
Proclaiming his love to Lucie Manette before her wedding, Carton has a turning point and becomes enlightened. Carton converses with Miss Manette, "O Miss Manette... think now and then that there is a man who would give his life, to keep a life you love beside you" (156). Apparently, Carton becomes a changed man; he becomes a caring person who tries to help others. However, Carton always noticed Lucie Manette; when they were in the courtroom, Carton focuses on Miss Manette. Dickens describes the scene, "when Miss Manette's head dropped upon her father's breast, he was the first to see it." Carton constantly focuses on Lucie. He makes her the center of his attention.
Darney. Barbara Hardy describes this first trial and how Carton comes about saving Charles in her essay "The Change of Heart in Dicken's Novels." She writes
In the beginning of the book, Jarvis Lorry and Miss Lucie Manette meet and travel together to rescue Lucie’s father, Doctor Manette. The book jumps ahead to a time when Lucie has revived her dad, and the two are witnessing a trial against Charles Darnay, who is accused of treason. Sydney Carton, a goofy drunkard, saves Darnay from being convicted. Charles’ uncle, Marquis Evremonde, is killed by Revolutionaries in France going by the name “Jacques”. A year later, the two men profess their love for Lucie, but she marries Charles. Charles then admits to Mr. Manette that he is the descendant of those who imprisoned him, and Mr. Manette has a breakdown, but quickly recovers. Darnay travels to Paris and is arrested for emigration by the Revolutionaries, to then be rescued and re-arrested for the wrongs of his father and uncle—who killed a man and raped a woman, then blamed Mr. Manette, causing his imprisonment—once he is free. Awaiting the death of her husband, Lucie waits sadly in an inn when Sydney hears Madame Defarge plotting to kill the daughter of Luce and Lucie herself. In a desperate act of love for his friends, Sydney plans a course of action to save his friends: he planned an escape from the inn for the Manettes via carriage, then he ...
little Lucie, Charles and Lucie’s daughter, she begs him to do something to save her
Lucie Manette, in A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, is a quiet young woman. She is deeply compassionate but never develops a real believable character. Her feelings, which are similar in all cases, are revealed to us when she interacts with her father Dr. Manette, Charles Darney, and Sydney Carton.