Man vs. Himself

Dickens uses Carton to symbolize resurrection in numerous parts of the book. "I am the resurrection," Carton calls himself. Dickens uses this specific character to symbolize that because of how Carton got Charles Darnay out of prison, and saved him from death therefore he symbolically resurrected him, by saving his life.

The introduction of Charles Darnay's character drastically affected Carton's mental state of character. Besides realizing the fact that they look so much similar, Carton found himself unable to like Darnay's character. To Carton, Darnay becomes his constant reminder of what he could have been, "What a change you have made in yourself! A good reason for taking to a man, that he shows you what you have fallen away from, and what you might have been! Change places with him, and would you have been looked at by those blue eyes as he was."( Dickens 89) In the presence of his character, he begins to realize and think about his flaws thus accepting this better version of his doppelgänger. What he is exposed to in his life is this frequent state of being in the shadows. This is shown with Mr. Stryver who has Carton under his hands. Now with the appearance of Darnay, his spotlight or recognition is covered again. What other sees is this "drunken", miserable, and lazy man using alcohol to escape from the reality of unhappiness. Because he knows his own status he tends to

Darnay represents this goodness by making something out of nothing, and working all on his own to make a life for himself other than being handed everything. Darnay chose a good way to go because Sydney Carton was Darnay's lawyer that saved him from being imprisoned or worse in one of his court cases. Carton looks identical but is an alcoholic that is jealous of Darnay and the life that he has made for himself. Darnay has scorned Carton and judged him to be a useless drunk, little does Darnay know that the person he scorns will save his life. Fortunately, Darnay learns the errors of his judgement, to honor Carton, he names his son Sydney, in honor of the man who twice saved his life. It would have been very easy for Charles to just take all the riches of being the marquis of France, but he would have been continuing his family tradition of wrongdoings and not been true to his character which symbolize justice. Dicken let us only believe that he is a good guy throughout the story and not giving us anything else about his character, “His latent uneasiness had been, that bad aims were being worked out in his own unhappy land by bad instruments, and that he who could not fail to know that he was better than they, was not there, trying to do something to stay bloodshed, and assert the claims of mercy and humanity” (Dickens 212). Darnay represent a good man, Justice and Duty but also learn from judging people too

This statement is revisited at the top of the novel once Carton offers up his life so as to save lots of that of Charles to make sure Lucie’s happiness.

A large parcel of the population has as their ultimate goal in life achieving well-being. Unfortunately many try to achieve it through the wrong means. For instance, in The Sirens of Titan, by Kurt Vonnegut, Malachi Constant thinks he is truly happy, but what he really does is fulfill his hedonism, satisfy his shallow needs, without truly searching for a higher form of well-being. Not only does a life focused on hedonic satisfaction not achieve true happiness, it also leads, along with the urge to accumulate, egocentrism, and greed, to an unethical life. The Sirens of Titans depicts this kind of life, which is also represented throughout

In today’s world, we have come to see that trial, error, pain, and the striving for living a glamorous life are common; we all know it’s an exhausting task. Everybody seems to “go through the motions” at one point or another; we all seem to have this point in life where everything seems like a black hole that’s going nowhere. In the book, Of Mice and Men, and play Death of a Salesman, we see this is common, among many other similarities. However, no story is ever the same between two people’s lives, and this is also shown in these two works of literature.

An individual’s Pursuit of Happiness can be achieved in many ways. Throughout the year we have read a good amount of literature that contains either characters pursuing happiness or the authors themselves showing their own ways of pursuing their dreams. There are always ups and downs, but the end result is people will follow what they believe will make them happy. Whether it is Gatsby following Daisy, becoming rich for her and following her to New York, or it is George trying to find a better life for him and Lennie, the end goal is the same. Even in The Crucible, John Proctor is searching for happiness when he tries to save his family from being accused to witchcraft, even if it ultimately fails. All of these pieces of literature are similar because they all portray a person’s Pursuit of Happiness as the center of the plot.

Despite Carton’s disliking for Darnay decides to once again save Darnay’s life just before he is to be beheaded by the revolutionaries and their beloved guillotine. He creates an elaborate plan that includes blackmail with a double-crossing spy, Barsad, the changing of clothes with Darnay, and using a special vapor to knock Darnay out and send him back to England with his family. Carton, because of his uncanny resemblance to Darnay gets away with taking his identity. He stays unphased by the situations that follow and just before he is beheaded he envisions a better future. This includes “[Lucie] with a child upon her bosom, who bears my name… I see that child who lay upon her bosom and who bore my name, a man winning his way up the path of life” (292-293). Carton was not nervous when staring death in the face, proving his braveness.

An individual’s Pursuit of Happiness can be achieved in many ways. Throughout the year we have read a good amount of literature that contains either characters pursuing happiness or the authors themselves showing their own ways of pursuing their dreams. There are always ups and downs, but the end result is people will follow what they believe will make them happy. Whether it is Gatsby following Daisy, becoming rich for her and following her to New York, or it is George trying to find a better life for him and Lennie, the end goal is the same. Even in The Crucible, John Proctor is searching for happiness when he tries to save his family from being accused of witchcraft, even if it ultimately fails. All of these pieces of literature are similar

In the novel, Person Vs. Illness is the main conflict which is not resolved throughout the story. Hazel Grace, the main character, suffers from cancer and it determines the way she lives her life. The ِanother conflict that is Dissident from Person Vs. Illness is Person Vs. Self. Hazel Grace decides to keep people away from her because of her illness. She compares herself to a grenade because she believes that she can harm her beloved ones when she dies because of cancer. This conflict is solved throughout the story when she falls in love with a guy she meets at Support Group, Augustus Waters. She becomes unable to control her feelings towards him, and soon she becomes his girlfriend. Getting in love with Augustus later brings another conflict,

“‘Are you dying for him?’ she whispered. ‘And his wife and child. Hush! Yes.’ ‘O you will let me hold your brave hand, stranger?’”( Dickens 631). The Seamstress recognizes that Sydney has taken Charles place to be killed, she begins to adore him because of his heroic act. Sydney gave up his opportunity to marry the love of his life, Lucie and instead gave his life for her happiness. Sydney thought of himself as a Christ-like figure because of his sacrifice. Carton a foolish hero shows how love for one's cause can cause you to take your own life.

Sydney Carton is another ambiguous character compelled by his passion. In the beginning of the novel he is an isolated and depressed alcoholic. He is nicknamed memory because he acts as the brain of his boss, Stryver. He has no confidence in himself: “I am a disappointed drudge, sir. I care for no man on earth, and no man on earth cares for me” (Dickens 85). Carton never puts too much pressure on himself because he knows he is a failure. He seems to be a guy who floats through life along with the current. When he meets Lucie, he begins to change. He falls in love with her and even expresses his feelings. He promises he will do anything for her: “I would embrace any sacrifice for you and those dear to you” (Dickens 154). This is the complete opposite of the reserved Carton from the start of the novel because now he finally has someone he cares about. This brings up a new,

In the beginning, Sydney Carton was a mean drunk that did nothing well and was only worried about himself. Carton had never done anything correctly, or for the benefit of others until he met Lucie, which was the love of his life, that he would do anything for. In another incident he shows his love for Lucie by dying in place of her husband, Charles Darnay, and when asked why he was dying for this man, his reply was, “ It is 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” (446). Sydney Carton is basically saying that it was the best thing that he has ever done because he did not grow up doing things for other people’s better good. This shows how much he has changed from being a drunk and mean, to dying for the happiness of a person he loves. Sydney Carton has been greatly “recalled to life”, because he has changed so much, and it has made a huge impact in the book.

It is human nature to expect a lot from the people around us. Expectations are all achievable with effort, but what if those expectations prevented the chance to make our lives extraordinary? Carpe diem, seize the day, it is this principle that makes life worth pursuing, others expectations should not interfere in the making of a pleasant life. In the play, Death of a Salesman, “Oedipus the King”, and the novel Handmaid’s Tale, Willy Loman, Oedipus, and Offred all strive to meet these expectations set by others. In attempts to do so, the main characters decide to prevent their own satisfactory lives for the betterment of the people around them and neglect the potential consequences of

Carton further helps Darnay and implies more of his heroism when he dies for him. Carton’s great love and respect for Lucie holds him to the promise he made to her when he said that he would die for anyone she loved. The sheer act of heroism possessed him to buy the elixir that would cause Darnay to pass out, to switch clothing, and take Darnay’s place in prison. Carton knew that if his plan was discovered, he would be just as dead as Darnay. However, Carton kept in mind his promise and carried it through. At this point in time, Darnay expressed a sense of heroism as well because he was prepared to face his death without fear. Darnay would have