Sydney Carton Essay
Sydney Carton is the most significant character in A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. This novel takes place in both France and England in the 1700s during the French Revolution. Sydney Carton is a man who finds comfort in alcohol and sees no value in his life. He first meets Lucie Manette and her father at the trial of Charles Darnay. As he gets to know them more, he finds himself attracted to Lucie, but sees no advantages to their relationship. His love for Lucie Manette becomes prominent once her husband, Darnay, is sent to prison in France. Carton is significant because he saves Darnay from being imprisoned in England, creates conflict in Lucie Manette’s love life, and gives his own life for the sake of the ones he loves. Dickens introduces Carton’s
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significance when he saves Darnay from imprisonment for allegedly being a spy. Mr. Stryver brings attention to the court that “careless and slovenly if not debauched, [Darnay and Carton] were sufficiently like each other”(79). This similarity made the jury question if Charles Darnay was the man they were accusing. Sydney Carton provides the presence necessary to save Charles Darnay from being imprisoned for life and being unable to fulfill his purpose in life. Since Carton and Stryver have been working together for a long time, Carton is seen as the brains behind the operation by others. The striking resemblance of Carton and Darnay leads to the game-changing decision made by the jury. As banker Jarvis Lorry runs to tell the messenger Jerry Cruncher about the outcome of Darnay’s trial, the only word he uses is “acquitted”(83). This single word seals Darnay’s future and allows him to keep living out his life. He is no longer being accused of working as a spy, thanks to Sydney Carton, and this sets the stage for future conflict and the resolution at the end. This trial connects all of the characters in this novel by creating conflict, romance, and dependence. Carton’s similar appearance to Darnay plays a vital role in Charles Dickens’ novel. Overall, Carton’s appearance and attentiveness saves Darnay and shows his significance to the ongoing lives around him. Sydney Carton develops feelings for Lucie Manette that creates conflict, but shows his significance.The love Sydney Carton has for Lucie forces him to show his caring side as he promises their relationship would bring her “misery...sorrow and repentance, blight [her], disgrace [her], and pull [her] down with him”(156). This emotional connection causes sympathetic Lucie to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of devoting herself to Carton. She helps him until she no longer can if he lets her, but he does not believe in his importance, so he forbids her to take care of him. Since Lucie Manette cares very much for Carton and puts effort in helping him see the value of his life, she contradicts his self hatred. Foreshadowing the future, Lucie Manette assures Carton that she is certain “that the best part of [his life] might still be”(156). This revelation eventually occurs to Carton towards the end of the novel, allowing him to fulfill his life duties. Carton’s confession to Lucie creates a necessary conflict that is critical to the ending of the novel. His devoted love creates problems and takes away any self control someone has. But of everything that has happened in his life, Carton’s love for Lucie Manette is one of the best and most prevalent parts of his character. Sydney Carton’s love for Lucie Manette establishes its significance when Darnay is faced with yet another trial. Sydney Carton is a man who cares more for others than himself, which shows in his actions.
The strikingly similar appearance allows Carton to swap places with Darnay in prison. In order to protect the ones that he loves, Carton told Darnay he was “dying for him...and his wife and child” and they changed clothes (365). This moment changes the perspective of Carton to be a man of no value and no self confidence, to a brave man with the biggest heart in the story. From the beginning of the novel, Carton wastes his life, but once he makes this bold and heroic decision, he proves his importance. He gives up his life for Darnay by switching places with him, leading him to face the guillotine. Before he faces the guillotine, he befriends a fellow prisoner who says that if it wasn’t for “[Carton], dear stranger, [she] should not be so composed”(384). Carton shows his soft side and ability to give himself up for others in this interaction. Carton causes the calmness and serenity of this woman’s last few hours alive because he is such a loving man. His importance is vast and his presence is vital within this novel. Thus, Sydney Carton gives himself up for others as emphasis of his importance and
significance. Sydney Carton emphasizes his significance through saving Darnay from being imprisoned in England, creating conflict in Lucie Manette’s love life, and giving himself up for the ones he loves. As he evolved throughout the novel, so did his importance. In the beginning, Sydney Carton was the man who could not save himself, but could save others. Lucie Manette tried to convince him that his life had a purpose, but he did not see the point. When he finally replaces Darnay in Paris, he realizes that the one thing he needs to do is give himself up for the ones he loves. Carton is the most important character in A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens because his life created the main conflict in the novel, and he resolved it himself.
significance when he saves Darnay from imprisonment for allegedly being a spy. Mr. Stryver brings attention to the court that “careless and slovenly if not debauched, [Darnay and Carton] were sufficiently like each other”(79). This similarity made the jury question if Charles Darnay was the man they were accusing. Sydney Carton provides the presence necessary to save Charles Darnay from being imprisoned for life and being unable to fulfill his purpose in life. Since Carton and Stryver have been working together for a long time, Carton is seen as the brains behind the operation by others. The striking resemblance of Carton and Darnay leads to the game-changing decision made by the jury. As banker Jarvis Lorry runs to tell the messenger Jerry Cruncher about the outcome of Darnay’s trial, the only word he uses is “acquitted”(83). This single word seals Darnay’s future and allows him to keep living out his life. He is no longer being accused of working as a spy, thanks to Sydney Carton, and this sets the stage for future conflict and the resolution at the end. This trial connects all of the characters in this novel by creating conflict, romance, and dependence. Carton’s similar appearance to Darnay plays a vital role in Charles Dickens’ novel. Overall, Carton’s appearance and attentiveness saves Darnay and shows his significance to the ongoing lives around him. Sydney Carton develops feelings for Lucie Manette that creates conflict, but shows his significance.The love Sydney Carton has for Lucie forces him to show his caring side as he promises their relationship would bring her “misery...sorrow and repentance, blight [her], disgrace [her], and pull [her] down with him”(156). This emotional connection causes sympathetic Lucie to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of devoting herself to Carton. She helps him until she no longer can if he lets her, but he does not believe in his importance, so he forbids her to take care of him. Since Lucie Manette cares very much for Carton and puts effort in helping him see the value of his life, she contradicts his self hatred. Foreshadowing the future, Lucie Manette assures Carton that she is certain “that the best part of [his life] might still be”(156). This revelation eventually occurs to Carton towards the end of the novel, allowing him to fulfill his life duties. Carton’s confession to Lucie creates a necessary conflict that is critical to the ending of the novel. His devoted love creates problems and takes away any self control someone has. But of everything that has happened in his life, Carton’s love for Lucie Manette is one of the best and most prevalent parts of his character. Sydney Carton’s love for Lucie Manette establishes its significance when Darnay is faced with yet another trial. Sydney Carton is a man who cares more for others than himself, which shows in his actions.
The strikingly similar appearance allows Carton to swap places with Darnay in prison. In order to protect the ones that he loves, Carton told Darnay he was “dying for him...and his wife and child” and they changed clothes (365). This moment changes the perspective of Carton to be a man of no value and no self confidence, to a brave man with the biggest heart in the story. From the beginning of the novel, Carton wastes his life, but once he makes this bold and heroic decision, he proves his importance. He gives up his life for Darnay by switching places with him, leading him to face the guillotine. Before he faces the guillotine, he befriends a fellow prisoner who says that if it wasn’t for “[Carton], dear stranger, [she] should not be so composed”(384). Carton shows his soft side and ability to give himself up for others in this interaction. Carton causes the calmness and serenity of this woman’s last few hours alive because he is such a loving man. His importance is vast and his presence is vital within this novel. Thus, Sydney Carton gives himself up for others as emphasis of his importance and
significance. Sydney Carton emphasizes his significance through saving Darnay from being imprisoned in England, creating conflict in Lucie Manette’s love life, and giving himself up for the ones he loves. As he evolved throughout the novel, so did his importance. In the beginning, Sydney Carton was the man who could not save himself, but could save others. Lucie Manette tried to convince him that his life had a purpose, but he did not see the point. When he finally replaces Darnay in Paris, he realizes that the one thing he needs to do is give himself up for the ones he loves. Carton is the most important character in A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens because his life created the main conflict in the novel, and he resolved it himself.