Tale of Two Cities: Revolution & Evolution
Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens, is a famous novel of the Victorian era about the good and evil human nature of the aristocracy and peasantry, and struggles against forms of imprisonment during the French Revolution. In Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens develops the characters of Doctor Manette, Charles Darnay, and Sydney Carton to struggle against a form of imprisonment, allowing them to transform. Transform is defined as a change in composition, appearance, or condition. Doctor Manette was literally imprisoned in jail for eighteen years and Charles Darnay is figuratively imprisoned in the evil of aristocracy rather than being seen as a good-natured aristocrat. Sydney Carton too is imprisoned
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He feels he leads a worthless life and works for Mr. Stryver. “At length the jackal had got together a compact repast for the lion, and proceeded to offer it to him… ‘Sadly, sadly, the sun rose; it rose upon no sadder sight than the man of good abilities and good emotions, incapable of their directed exercise, incapable of his own help and his own happiness, sensible of the blight on him, and resigning himself to let it eat him away.” (94-95, A Tale of Two Cities) The jackal is analogous to Sydney Carton who is lazy and incapable of his own happiness like a jackal who is lazy and timid. Moreover, he has a wounded heart because he lacks happiness in his life, allowing to be eaten away. When Sydney meets Lucie, he falls in love with her. This is evident later in the book, as he struggles against the imprisonment of his wounded heart so that he can make Lucie happy. “Before I go,’ he said, and paused- ‘I may kiss her?’... ‘that she heard him say, ‘A life you love.” ( 339, A Tale of Two Cities) Sydney’s love for Lucie allows him to break free from his wounded heart as she is known for bringing out the best in others around her. Lucie brings out the best in Sydney when he decides to help her when she is in shock after hearing that Charles is being sent to prison awaiting his execution. “... something to save papa! O, look at her, dear Carton! Can you, of all the people who love her, bear to see her so?” ( 339, A Tale of Two Cities) Little Lucie, Lucie’s daughter, asks Sydney if he can do something so Lucie doesn’t have to endure Charles’ execution. Sydney Carton transforms as he struggles against his wounded heart to save Charles Darnay’s life and make Lucie happy. “... and a cautionary finger on his lip, Sydney Carton. There was something so bright and remarkable in his look… ‘Draw on these boots of mine. Put your hands to them; put your will to them. Quick!’” Sydney Carton is the hero of
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
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.
He lets Dr. Manette know his true identity and that he is the nephew to the Marquis St. Evremonde. In Book The Third, Sydney Carton makes an astonishing sacrifice for the sake of principle when he fulfills his promise to Lucie Manette, his true love, that he will one day sacrifice himself for the person whom Lucie loves. All of the above sacrifices were made with the intention of keeping morals and principles high in human life. Whether it is your life or your feelings towards someone, we have learned that it is always better to give for the greater cause. Works Cited Dickens, Charles.
A Tale of Two Cities takes place in England and France, during the time of the French Revolution. A Tale of Two Cities is a classic novel, where Charles Dickens presents to the reader archetypal main characters. From the beginning of the novel, the reader can know whether the characters are evil or not. In the novel, the main character, Sydney Carton, also contributes a lot to the theme of the novel-every individual should have both moral and physical courage, and should be able to sacrifice everything in the name of love.
In similar fashion Sydney Carton laid down his life to save the life of others, of Charles Darnay and in turn, better lives for both Lucie and Little Lucie, keeping his promise. The sacrifice Sydney Carton made for Lucie and her family is similar to the sacrifice of Joan of Arc, both were very commendable and
A trait in every romantic hero is a big ego. Sydney is known for self-hatred, and we discussed it in the previous section, so we can cross that out. Some common traits of a romantic hero (arrogant, rebel, mysterious, and secret past) are completely off. We know that he isn't a rebel, since he fought against, and was ultimately killed by the resistance. And we know that he isn't mysterious because, although he does it cryptically, he occasionally shares his feelings. Right before he dies, he writes this letter, “Dear Lucie, When you read this letter, I won’t be breathing anymore, my soul will be flying peacefully in the air, and my heart will be an angel and always protect you...Charles Darnay is perfectly a great man full of kindness for you. I’m a loser in my heart... I’m a drunkard, and I will do everything as a drunkard... However, this is the time, the time for the last word, the time for my love, and the time to say good bye. Adieu, my dearest love. The man who will always sacrifice for you, Sydney Carton” This quote shows the feelings he has, and how, though hesitantly and difficult, he does eventually share his thoughts. This evidence also shows his lack of ego when he calls himself a loser and a
...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.
Charles Dickens’s voice varies from being sympathetic with the revolutionaries, to a feeling of discord with their method of revolting. A Tale of Two Cities revolves around the French revolution and the tension in England. Dickens gives the tale of a family caught in the conflict between the French aristocracy and radicals. In the course of the book, the family handles extreme difficulty and obscurity. Dickens’s neutrality, though sometimes wavering from side to side, is apparent throughout each book in the novel.
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.
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 ...
Both Sydney Carton and Dr. Manette made sacrifices for Lucie's happiness because of their love for her. Similarly, Darnay sacrificed himself for Gabelle due to his sense of familial love towards him.
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.
My favorite scene in A Tale of Two Cities is one of the last scenes, when Sydney Carton is about to go to the guillotine. It takes place in Paris, near a prison, and many people have gathered to watch french aristocrats be beheaded. The atmosphere is tense and chaotic; Sydney, however, remains calm, even though he is about to be killed. Sydney is holding the hand of a young girl who is given no name other than a "poor little seamstress". Sydney and the seamstress, who are both being wrongfully killed, comfort each other just before they reach the guillotine, and they seem to have an instant romantic connection with each other. I loved this scene because it showed that Sydney Carton had finally found someone who could love him, as he could love them, but it saddened me that he had found her just before their deaths.
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.