Preview

Multiple Characters In Charles Dickens A Tale Of Two Cities

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
745 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Multiple Characters In Charles Dickens A Tale Of Two Cities
Leaves in the Fall Just like leaves changing colors when the seasons shift, people have the capacity to change their behavior. Multiple characters in Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities demonstrate major character changes through a variety of processes. To begin, a person’s behavior can be largely determined by relationships and the influences of others that are close to him or her. Several main characters in the novel demonstrate a change in their behavior based on the influences of other valued individuals. In addition, a person’s attitude can be shaped from his or her collection of knowledge and the impact of a negative experience. Sometimes circumstances occur that, in turn, pressure an individual to reevaluate and make changes in their behavior. In summary, people have the capacity to dramatically change their behavior based on their relationships, experiences, and circumstances. Doctor Manette is a central character in Dickens’ …show more content…
He always viewed himself having, “won a tender place in no regard; I have done nothing good or serviceable to be remembered by.” (320). This self-destructive behavior was the cause of his drunk and disheveled state throughout the majority of the novel. He even considers himself a hopeless romantic over the beautiful Lucie Darnay. However, when Mr. Lorry was in distress over the Darnay’s unsafe condition, Carton experiences a pivotal moment whereupon he commits to a life-changing action. Carton is so moved by his love for Lucie, his desire for her happiness inspires a sacrificial act. Sydney offers his life in order to protect Lucie’s heart and her husband’s life. His response and action to this circumstance is considered, “a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go than I have ever known.” (386). Carton shows the capacity to change and complete the most unselfish act of

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Rockwater Insurance

    • 1150 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Rockwater Insurance is a family oriented business that looks to maintain a closely knit community and work environment. This has changed over the past couple years with Charles Bell, the original owner, stepping down. His sons have replaced him as managing the company and are striving to continue their father’s dream. Robert and Frank Bell are now managing the business and they seem to have some differences in views on how the business should be run. Frank is more of a laid back kind of guy with his employees that call him “Frankie”. Robert is becoming more distant according to his employees.…

    • 1150 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Carton 's death is a predictable conclusion to a book based around the themes of (Perhaps tragedy as well?) redemption, sacrifice, and resurrection. However, the significance of Carton 's death is usually interpreted in two ways (Taken from a Book Discussion chat room). Some see Carton as a Christ-like figure, a selfless man who gives his life for his beloved Lucie. Others like me however, will question the significance of Carton 's last act. Since he places little value in his own life, sacrificing himself on the guillotine would be relatively easy. He had nothing to lose and thus, could have easily immortalized himself by sacrificing his "worthless life" to be remembered by the Darnays for something other than being a bitter constantly drunk man.…

    • 297 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Characters change in many ways, whether they are conscious of it or not. In both a “Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens and “Nectar in a Sieve” by Kamala Markandaya characters can change when they have choices forced upon them. This essay will show how change is forced on characters in both books.…

    • 566 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    classes of the society in Dickens’ time, and his change is a lesson to the Victorian…

    • 549 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Dickens' places a heavy load on opposite forces in A Tale of Two Cities. Such antitheses occur between polar characters and contrary settings, and they enhance the meaning of certain aspects of the novel to a great extent.…

    • 395 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    When Dickens first introduces Dr. Manette, he is portrayed as an insane man who is locked up in the top floor of the Defarge’s wine shop. He is frantically making shoes; this is because whenever Dr. Manette is in “insane mode”, he goes to his shoe cobbling bench and works day and night until he has recuperated. In the beginning, whenever he faces adversity, Dr. Manette always goes back to the shoe-cobbling bench and furiously works until he has regained his peace of mind.…

    • 1038 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens vividly portrays both the coalition of good and evil, and the choices people make despite their circumstances. Thus, the theme of freewill is prominent throughout the novel. Lucie Manette’s and Madame Defarge’s characters represent such a theme. Though they both suffer hardship during their childhood years, the choices they make will determine their purpose in life and the end result.…

    • 746 Words
    • 3 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
  • Good Essays

    Similar to Lucie, Sydney Carton’s loyalty proves to be ennobling, and transforms Carton from an unmotivated alcoholic to a man of profound merit. When he pledges that he will give his life to save Lucie or anyone close to her, you see his true colors. He is really dedicated to her, and though he would give anything to have her, he’s willing to step back and simply allow her to know how he feels instead of fighting for her. Sydney later proves his dedication by coming around to help out, play with the kids, and just in general be part of the family. Carton’s promise to Lucie takes him to the guillotine at the end of A Tale of Two Cities. He died in Darnay’s…

    • 474 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Ultimate Sacrifice

    • 1131 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In life we all make ultimate sacrifices. Some may be sacrifices but seem as they are because we feel as if we are losing something. In Charles Dickens’s, A Tale of Two Cities, Dickens shows the inherent goodness of his characters. By exemplifying various acts of sacrifice, he demonstrates the character’s gifts ultimately bring about great change, often change that facilitate the revival of their loved ones. The very first signs of sacrifice are noted in the opening pages of the book. Dickens writes of a “fated revolution” by metaphorically comparing the woodsman and the forester to the creation of the guillotine. Dickens notes that in the midst of a revolution, heavy bloodshed must be made in order to achieve the vengeance that the peasants desire. Though the peasants were originally people f good faith, they were forced by the aristocratic government to take drastic actions. Poverty, the mother of all crimes, along with the aristocrats “crushing of humanity out of shape once more” gave the peasants no choice.” Dickens conveys here that because of the negligence of the government, the people were forced to sacrifice their good nature and engaged in the violent acts that caused a time of great animosity and dejection.…

    • 1131 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the novel “A Tale of Two Cities” The author Charles Dickens uses various themes such as death and resurrection, social conflicts and sacrifice. To convey different ideas to the reader. Dickens also uses many forms of figurative language to help convey the many themes. Foreshadowing, allusion and motifs is some of the many figurative languages that is used. The story takes place during the french revolution. The novel starts off with a popular quote “ It was the best of times, It was the worst of times” This quote shows that the novel is can be interpreted differently to everyone. The themes that is discussed in the novel may not even be relevant to the novel because of his big use of…

    • 1370 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Charles Dickens was an English novelist in the 19th century. A Tale of Two Cities by Dickens is a story of sacrifice and resurrection. Throughout the novel many instances of this are displayed. Charles Darnay, Dr. Manette and Lucie Manette, and Sydney Carton are all examples of sacrifice and resurrection in the novel.…

    • 447 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    In order to incriminate Charles Darnay, a letter from the formerly imprisoned Doctor Manette is used as evidence. In the doctor’s memory, a young boy whose family is hurt by the Evremondé brothers, who were French aristocrats, says, “We were so robbed by that man who stands there, as all we common dogs are by those superior Beings… I say, we were so robbed, and hunted, and were made so poor, that our father told us it was a dreadful thing to bring a child into the world” (Dickens 337). The boy and his family have been wronged a lot of his times by the brothers. For example, his sister is unwillingly taken away by them, he is dying of a wound from them, and his other sister has to be sent away at a very young age for protection. This has gone to the point that life became meaningless and negative, as said by the boy’s father.…

    • 1526 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Great Depression is considered to be the most severe economic collapse in the history of the world. The Great Depression occurred in October 1929 and lasted until 1939. In October 1929, Wall Street’s investors were wiped out, which caused consumer spending and investment to decline. The next effect to the crash on Wall Street was the decline in industrial output and employment as failing companies laid off workers. The Great Depression reached its lowest when there were about 15 million Americans unemployed and the failure of most of the banks in the country.…

    • 694 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Heart Surgery

    • 889 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Open heart surgery can be real painful on a family, just as it is to the person having it. My father had to undergo this procedure, and might have to undergo it again. This was a devasting time for my family and myself. This occurred almost two years ago.…

    • 889 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics