Preview

How Does Sydney Carton Change

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
994 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
How Does Sydney Carton Change
In A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, Sydney Carton transforms from a self-doubting, negligent man to a caring, valiant hero which shows how love can change a person drastically as he is “recalled to life” during his time with Charles Darnay, Mr. Lorry, and Lucie Manette.
Sydney Carton’s relationship with Charles Darnay is unique because he is the husband to Lucie while Carton is in love with her, and thinks he will never do any good in his lifetime, but becomes his savior. While talking to the newly freed Darnay after his trial, he shows his self pity when he says, “I am a disappointed drudge, sir. I care for no man on earth, and no man on earth cares for me” (Dickens 85). He describes himself as a “drudge” which is someone who does dull work and how no one cares for him, showing how he thinks of his life as meaningless because he has no purpose to do anything since it is dull. He is “recalled to life” after Darnay is on trial again after a letter is found which states how his family hurt many people. He is sentenced to be killed and Lucie becomes sad. Carton only wants the best for Lucie and creates a plan to switch places with Darnay, meaning he will be the one to die. When he goes to Darnay’s cell to switch places he is described as, “There was something so bright and remarkable in his look, that, for the
…show more content…
He becomes a hero because he realizes his love is strong and that he is willing to die to prove it, even if Lucie will never love him back, exemplifying how love can cause people to take drastic measures to win someone over or have them realize it. His willingness to kill himself so Lucie thinks of him as a hero proves how deep love can go and make someone do things they would never do, showing it can be a driving factor in bringing out a person’s true

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    In Charles Dickens's novel "A Tale of Two Cities," and in all his novels, he wants to confuse people to keep them reading. He creates complex characters who change over time, or rather just gives us more information influence our decisions our opinions. One of these complex characters who Dickens brings out in different light later is Sydney Carton.…

    • 1302 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Sydney Carton is the most dynamic character in A Tale of Two Cities. He is first a lazy, alcoholic lawyer who lacks even the slightest amount of interest in his own life. He describes himself as a complete waste of a life and takes every opportunity to declare that he cares for nothing; but one can sense from the initial chapters that Carton feels something that he perhaps cannot express. In his conversation with the recently acquitted Charles Darney, Carton 's comments about Lucie Manette, while extremely hateful and bitter, betray his interest and blossoming feelings about Lucie. Eventually, he reaches the point where he can admit his feelings to Lucie herself. Before Lucie is wed to Charles, Carton professes his love to her but still considers himself as worthless. This scene marks a vital transition for his character is the foundation for the sacrifice he makes at the end of the novel.…

    • 297 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The focus of Dickens’s book centers on the hellacious government that rules France. Aristocracy and upper-class society work the puppet of the country’s government. Cover to cover, “The novel actually begins and ends with a description of the nobility’s abuses of the poor.” (Gonzalez-Posse 347). The book’s first words form a dichotomy between the lives of each class. Then in the final lines, Sydney Carton remarks on his sacrifice as he awaits the guillotine pressed on him by the wrath of the government. In the book, Darnay battles with his uncle, Monsieur de Marquis, about the unfair treatment from the aristocracy and that because of it “France in all such things is changed for the worse” (Dickens 127). Darnay’s concern about the manipulation and use of lower classes to socially raise people, like his uncle, heightens as they discuss the treatment, lack of acknowledgment, and to admit their neglect. Dickens uses this to prove the government’s dreadfulness. Most any peasant before 1775 experienced hardships, but without attention it worsens. Government has no disregard during this time as to how they treated their people and most provocatively demonstrate it “In perhaps the novel’s cruelest scene, soldiers play upon a common taboo and allow an executed man’s blood to run into a village well, knowing that the community will be obliterated.” (Rosen 94). Darnay continues to press his argument on his uncle about…

    • 2563 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the novel, A Tale of Two Cities Charles Dickens opens with an anaphora, about how the world is throughout the novel. A reoccurring theme throughout this story is the battle between good and evil. Most of the novel is about the struggles each force has and how most of the time good triumphs over evil. In A Tale of Two Cities, the triumph of love, the death of the Marquis, and the contrast between Sydney Carton and Charles Darnay shows how good triumphed over evil.…

    • 718 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The French Revolution was a time of great chaos, violence, and trouble during the late 1700s. Many sacrifices were made out of freedom, loyalty, morality, and love. Throughout Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, the theme of sacrifice in the name of love is developed through the characters Miss Pross, Doctor Alexandre Manette, and Sydney Carton.…

    • 982 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Charles Dickens presents his story of aristocracy and tyranny clashing during the French Revolution. The dramatic novel grabs the reader's attention as events unfold in a time of love and sorrow. In Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities he illustrates the picture of two countries that eventually become tied together by the characters in a cynical yet factual tone using diction and symbolism.…

    • 451 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Primarily, the characters in the book are foils for each other. One example is Lucie Manette and Madame Defarge. Lucie is a very gentle and loving woman. Everything that she does shows her kindness and virtue. Her tenderness and adoration for everyone empowers her to unite the family. For instance, when Lucie 's father was in a horrible state of depression, the only cure for his sadness was the sight of Lucie 's face and the touch of her skin. On the other hand, Madame Defarge is a cruel and fanatical revolutionary. She makes notes in her mental "register" of everyone she decides should be executed. She feels that every heir of the Evrémond family, (Charles Darnay 's family) should be exterminated. After Darnay is released from prison, Madame Defarge reports him to the authorities because of the cruel mistreatment of peasants that his uncle commits, even though Charles strongly disagrees with his uncle 's choices. Each of their personalities are so extreme, that they both are foils for each other 's characteristics. Another foil in characters, is Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton. Darnay is an heir to an aristocratic family. He displays exemplary honesty and great virtue. For example, Darnay made a commitment to Lucie 's father that he would reveal to him his true identity (heir to the very cruel Evrémond family). Carton, however, is the extreme opposite. He is an unmannerly, unenthusiastic, drunken attorney. His love for Lucie Manette occupies most of his thoughts. However, he has a revolution within himself and transforms from a simple person with no prospects into an honorable hero. When Sydney Carton dies, his sacrifice is meant to give Lucie, Charles, and even Carton a better…

    • 765 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    A Tale of Two Cities is a novel which takes place during the French Revolution. In this novel there are many characters who often have conflicts in their interactions. Sometimes these conflicts take place on a personal level and at other times they occur on a social level. There are many examples of revenge in A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.…

    • 615 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Tale of Two Cities

    • 935 Words
    • 4 Pages

    When they are toasting to Lucie, Carton gets angry and bitter he is not the one she likes. He compliments Lucie by telling Darnay what a fine lady she is. Talks to himself about how he could have been like Darnay. Rant about how alike they are. Drinks as a consolation.…

    • 935 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Sydney Carton loved two people in the book, and she would sacrifice anything for them. Sydney loved Lucie Manette. He loved her so much that he was willing to die for her. " For you, and for any dear to you, I would do anything, I would embrace any sacrifice for you, and for those dear to you" (Dickens 147).He represents the hero of the book because he died for Lucie. His decision to die instead of Charles Darnay also represented his love he had for Lucie Manette because she would have been devastated with the loss of her husband, Charles Darnay. "Carton toward and over the threshold of his dying, the hero's epitomizing end as Ressurrection Man is then displaced into narrative prophecy, as we have seen, and made available there far into the future" (Stewart 119). His decision was the best for everyone that was related to the Carton's, Manette's, and Darnay's because it allowed Charles to live with his family and Sydney had many problems himself. He also kept his promise for when he said he would do anything for Lucie and anyone "dear" to her. "Are you dying for him?" she whispered." And his wife and child. Hush! Yes" (Dickens 392). So Sydney Carton is a true hero through the book the book would not have been able to work if it wasn't for his love or compassion shown to Lucie. It is…

    • 910 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Tale of Two Cities and On the Waterfront Synthesis A Tale of Two Cities and the movie On the Waterfront embodies a distinct message when looked at carefully, from certain individuals who act on their conflicts to bring about a more extensive change to their company. Dickens and Kazan illustrate a clear significance in their works emphasizing the difference an individual can make when situated in a conflict but sacrifice what they have to others benefits. We see this in A Tale of Two Cities with Sydney Carton and what he does that is very bold at the ending of the novel, and as well with Terry Malloy and how he has to act against a larger threat and dark society for his community. Even with very different environments and time periods, these…

    • 1283 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Defarge Vs Carton

    • 945 Words
    • 4 Pages

    In the 16th century Charles Dickens wrote the unforgettable novel A Tale of Two Cities. In it he created two of the most remarkable fictional characters of all time. One is the bloodthirsty Madame Defarge, and the other is the selfless Sydney Carton. Madame Defarge is a peasant who seeks revenge on all aristocrats who cross her path. In contrast, Sydney Carton is a man who is willing to do anything for the love of his life. While the actions of these two characters clearly delineate their differences, the underlying forces that drive each character are quite similar.…

    • 945 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    When thinking of the character Sydney Carton, I thought of the song Grenade by Bruno Mars. To understand this comparison, you must know that Sydney Carton is a mournful and lonely alcoholic who is in love with a woman who is marrying another man. Carton loved this girl so much that he even said,“If my career were of that better-kind that there was any opportunity or capacity of sacrifice in it, I would embrace any sacrifice for you and for those dear to you.”. Like Bruno Mars talks about risking his life for the girl he loves, Sydney Carton does the same when he says in his quote and then did. Even though Sydney Carton and Bruno Mars are very different people, they both say that they are willing to die for the women they love.…

    • 746 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Final Argumentative Essay Think for a moment, if you’re best friend, the one who you tell your secrets too, the one who has always been there for you, died right before your eyes, and you could’ve saved them. Would you chose to feel bad? There will always be guilt in these situations, but learn that everything happens for a reason. In The Seventh Man, a short story, his hometown had a hurricane, and his best friend K, died, right in front of him, and he could have saved him.…

    • 691 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Dr. Manette, who is kept in the Bastille for years and loses his mind because of it, has been brought back to a happy life with his daughter, Lucie. When Mr. Lorry asks Miss Pross why Dr. Manette refuses to talk about his imprisonment, she replies, “’It’s plain enough, I should think, why he might be [afraid]. Not knowing how he lost himself, or how he recovered himself, he may never feel certain of not losing himself again’” (74). Dr. Manette is so afraid of losing his mind again and becoming a different person that he refuses to talk about it. Dr. Manette also knows that Charles Darnay has something to do with his imprisonment. However, when Darnay asks if he can marry Lucie if Lucie loves him, Manette replies, “…if there were… any fancies, any reasons, any apprehensions, anything whatsoever, new or old, against the man she really loved – the direct responsibility thereof not lying on his head – they should all be obliterated for her sake. She is everything to me; more to me than suffering…” (104). Dr. Manette already knows that Darnay’s presence could start a relapse of the condition he’s so afraid of; however, he states that he would forget all of the grievances he had against someone Lucie loved, all for Lucie’s happiness. Manette is saying that losing his mind again would be worth it if it meant Lucie could be happy. Later on, Darnay does marry Lucie,…

    • 1264 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays