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Historical Impacts On Victorian Literature
Changes in Victorian literature
Changes in Victorian literature
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I believe that if Sydney Carton was standing here today, the inspiration in his eyes and the selflessness of his heart would be evident. He would want to reassure us all that although he may be gone, the world will still keep moving as usual. He was only a small part in this great big world and that this funeral is nothing out of the ordinary, and that, in fact, all will be well. Sydney Carton lived a great example of the phrase “Do not judge a book by its cover”. Mr. Carton intelligence was extraordinary and he was always readily available to assist someone else before himself. During the time I have known Carton I have seen his character gradually grow from a disrespectful uncaring man to a hero. He became a hero to me when he answered to
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.
When the reader first encounters Sydney Carton, Sydney is a self-deprecating, poor unfortunate soul that has nothing to live for. This contrasts with the persona of Charles Darnay, as he marries Lucie, with whom Carton is in love. Carton even comments to Darnay, “I am a disappointed drudge, sir. I care for no man on Earth, and no man on Earth cares for me” (70, Dickens). This quote further affirms Carton’s depressed disposition. Carton, in contrast to Darnay is also described as “careless and slovenly, if not debouched” (72, Dickens). Carton, a seemi...
Although cast out of society as delinquents, Sydney Carton and Tupac both overcome their shadowed past to make something great of themselves. When questioned about his business by Mr. Lorry, Sydney states, “Business! Bless you, I have no business” (Dickens 84). Likewise, when talking about his
Sydney Carton is a pitiful, emotional, and selfless character. These are all true, but there is a line between two archetypes. In this formal essay, I will attempt to discover this line. A Romantic hero is an archetype that embodies romanticism. Romanticism is a movement in the arts and literature that originated in the late 18th century, emphasizing inspiration, subjectivity, and the primacy of the individual. A tragic hero is a person of noble stature, and of outstanding quality and greatness. They both die young, and they both have self awareness. One key factor in difference is that romantic heroes already have self awareness, and tragic
Unlike the Sydney Carton stuck in a self-fulfilling prophecy, he is visibly satisfied with what he is doing. His mindset has changed to that of a man who is finally at peace with himself. Carton’s sacrifice essentially becomes a reflection of the breaking of the cycle. For the first time in his life, he is happy with himself. Throughout his lifetime, Sydney Carton squandered numerous opportunities, dismissing his intelligence and diligence behind the idea that his life was a waste.
Carton has a life of extremes. He lives his life full of gloom and then later falls in love with Lucie. He begins to care for her and her family so much that he sacrifices himself for them. Carton’s growth from despising himself to giving up his life for Lucie and her family is amazing. This development occurs because Carton, while in his saddened state, finds his purpose in life which then results in Carton altering his outlook on life. Carton’s changing view of his fate leads him to sacrifice himself.
Sydney Carton was a drunk, he felt like he was worthless and hollow. When discussing this with Lucie he says, “Be comforted! I am not worth such feeling, Miss Manette. An hour or two hence, and the low companions and low habits that I scorn but yield to, will render me less worth such tears as those, than any wretch who creeps along the streets” (Dickens 174). He is spiritually buried. He knows that all the drinking or other things he does are bad- he completely admits it. He just feels that he can’t stop. He is miserable and sick of being miserable, but he doesn’t do anything but be miserable. He is buried deep spiritually. Eventually, he begins to find joy in being with the Darney family. He becomes friends with Charles, he is close to Lucie, and is very close to their daughter. He begins to find some purpose in life, yet he does not stop his wicked ways. This all changes though, when he performs the most selfless act one can perform: giving one’s life for one’s friend. He switches places with the to-be-executed Charles Darney, and ultimately sacrifices his life. He finally sees past all the evil that had been clogging him up, and selflessly gives everything for another. He is completely resurrected spiritually. His last words quote resurrection as he says, “I am the Resurrection and the Life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he were
Sydney Carton died heroically. The fact that he started the book as such a selfish and uncaring person makes this heroism all the more significant. It also makes him seem to be a much more realistic and relatable character: he has flaws but grows to overcome them. Interestingly, if Carton did not have initial flaws he may not have understood the magnitude of what he has “done” and the quality of “rest” he now deserves.
Sydney Carton made many sacrifices in his life, and ultimately gave his life for another. For him, these moments were still the best moments of his miserable life. One example was when he professed his love for Lucie (Dickens, pg. 158), and rejected himself before she could even say if the feeling was mutual. This was good for him because he got it off his chest, and he thought that by some miracle she may love him back. With the miserable life he had had up to this point, almost anything, even something as little as this, became one of the best moments in his life. At the same time though, it was also terrible. He knew that he could never have her; that it wasn't meant to be. There was also the chance that she would take no pity on him and blatantly say no. Another example is when Sydney Carton goes to the guillotine in the place of Charles Darnay (Dickens, pg. 386). It is one of the best moments in his life because he never had really done anything good in his life. His sacrifice made him feel at peace, because he had fulfilled his debt to society for all the bad things he had done. Sacrificing himself was also a bad thing for him, because of course it meant he had to die.
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...
...87). Sydney Carton redeemed his wasted life by making sure he was loved and remembered to everyone he was close to. His sacrifice was what redeemed Carton to be a hero.
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.
The character who goes through moral conversion to the greatest extent is Sydney Carton. Sydney is a frustrated alcoholic who does not really seem to care too much about life, because life for him has not been too good. His moral conversion begins the first time his eyes see Lucie Manette, the beautiful young daughter of Dr. Alexander Manette. This occurs during the first trial of Charles
One reason Sydney Carton was a hero was because of his transformation from his personality. Sydney Carton was a self-destructive person, who didn’t care about anyone else or himself. In Chapter 4, Sydney Carton said “I am a disappointed drudge, sir. I care for no man on earth, and no man on earth cares for me.” This also showed
Seeing that Sydney Carton had less to lose then Charles Draney, it was right that he sacrificed himself for him. Sydney Carton had spent his life in carousing and getting drunk, he is referre...