Sydney Carton Quotes

Resurrection is the term that is used to describe the rebirth of someone as a new person in their own lifetime. “With A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens asserts his belief in the possibility of resurrection and transformations both on a personal level and a society level.”( Xiaohua and Liu Dingyuan, Vol. 3, p.1).The most significant character that represents resurrection is Sydney Carton, he appears at the first as a lazy, alcoholic lawyer who cannot even care about the smallest amount of interest in his own life. Carton was the lawyer of Charles Darnay,lucie`s husband. Carton was angry of Darnay because when he told lucie about his feelings, she told him that she is in love with Darnay. By the end of the novel Carton`s anger has been
transformed into sacrifice and resurrection. Carton decided to sacrifice his life in the sake of lucie`s happiness. He has changed places and clothes with Darnay and he has been executed instead of him. "If my career were of that bettter kindd that there was any opportunity or capacity of sacrifice in it, I would embrace any sacrifice for you and for those dear to you" (149).By his death, he secures a new, peaceful life for Lucie, Darnay, and even himself. By delivering himself to the guillotine, he becomes a Christ-like figure whose death serves to save the lives of others. His own life thus gains meaning and value. “Carton is condemned to a rather melodramatic and moralizing end: ‘It’s a far, far better thing that I do than I have ever done, it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.”( Dickens and David Troughton 40). Carton has a vision of his own resurrection and he believes that sacrifice is necessary to achieve happiness