Sydney Carton Rebirth

In A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, the themes of rebirth and resurrection are intertwined throughout the course of events in the novel. From the beginning of the novel when the words “Recalled to Life” are uttered to the memorable sacrifice of Sydney Carton at the end, these themes are incorporated by Dickens in his attempt to show the effect of spiritual renewal on a character’s behavior and ambition. Charles Dickens also shows the effect of rebirth on a political level, namely the French mob who ironically are resurrected into the very class they seek to eliminate. These themes also draw parallels between the desolate Sydney Carton and despondent peasant population, who both crave to escape their anguish and seize greatness and recognition.
Sydney struggles to free himself from his apathetic and purposeless life, but is unsuccessful due to his alcoholism, which is a detriment to his social image because he will never be held in the upmost respect. In addition, his love for Lucie causes internal conflict and depression because he is constantly reminded by Darnay’s success that he cannot win Lucie’s heart. However, he is also rebellious because of his willingness to confess his love to Lucie saying “let me carry through the rest of my misdirected life the remembrance that I opened my heart for you…” (Dickens 155). Although Carton proves to be his own worst enemy, his final act of selflessness, in which he sacrifices his life for Darnay and Lucie’s happiness, earns him the greatest possible honor there is. He imagines himself resurrected in the “sanctuary in their hearts, and in the hearts of their descendants, generations hence” (Dickens 367). This allows him to be reborn in the memories and hearts of Lucie and Darnay and possibly in their children. On a broader political level, Sydney’s dire life is similar to that of the French mob and peasant population, who are also fighting for political equality and emancipation, to escape the oppression and their poor standard of living. In the beginning of the novel when the wine casket broke, everyone suspended their activities and “men and women dipped in the puddles with little mugs…even with handkerchiefs from women’s heads, which were squeezed dry into infant’s mouth” (Dickens 36). It is evident the poverty that the peasants were forced to endure and that their misery united them in the struggle against the aristocracy. However, their efforts are not in vain because Sydney sees “a beautiful city and a brilliant people rising from the abyss” (Dickens 366). As it is evident, the French peasants and Sydney are very much