How Does Carton Change In A Tale Of Two Cities

“A wonderful fact to reflect upon, that every human creature is constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other” (16). This is one of the tone setting statements of Charles Dickens’s novel A Tale of Two Cities. In accordance to Sydney Carton, this quote is the underlying definition of his character. The reader watches as Carton develops and becomes an utterly contrastive person to the once known drunk. This once know drunk undergoes change to apologize and all in all deliver the ultimate sacrifice for the one he loved the most.
In the beginning, the reader's relationship with Carton is a bit rough. We are initially introduced to Carton as a lawyer. Despite his lackadaisical ways, he saves Darnay’s life in the court room. By
Bits and pieces maybe, but not the whole story line. In doing so, he leads the reader gently into Carton’s death. Although a death, it cannot be compared to any other. Carton gave the ultimate sacrifice for his loved ones. The thought of making a decision like that makes one tremble. “‘I see the life 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...’” (372). Carton mentions twice about a life you love. Once was mentioned when he was in his apologetic stage. “‘...think now and then that there is a man who would give his life, to keep a life you love beside you’”(153). Then, the reader later finds out he mentioned it to little Lucie when she was young. “...he bent down and touched her face with his lips, he murmured some words. The child who was nearest to him, told them afterwards, and told her grandchildren when she was a handsome old lady, that she heard his say, ‘A life you love.’”(334) In having Carton say this phrase twice, it struck significance in the mind. Carton told them exactly what was going to happen, yet it was not revealing until