Sydney Carton

Charles Dickens book clearly reveals the idea of resurrection through the character of Sydney Carton. Although, in the 1980 version of A Tale of Two Cities directed by Jim Goddard, the same actor, Chris Sarandon plays the role of both Sydney Carton and Charles Darnay. Through having such change being made, it severely shifts the theme of the novel. For starters, the author is trying to reveal the idea of resurrection but does so by the character of Sydney Carton and when he decides to give his own life for that of Charles. Thus, when both characters are the same actors in the film, it also creates new ideas of who Sydney really seeks to be, not only himself but Charles as well. Nevertheless, the whole idea of resurrection is questioned due

The way I see Sydney Carton is that, he's an alcoholic, mean mid age lawyer. But he acts like a mid twenties kind of guy who is kinda messy and in a way selfish kind of man. But when it comes to his business, he kept himself calm and pays attention to his surroundings. Other people would think of him as a drunker, immature and with attitudes. No matter what time of day, he will always have a drink on his hand. And also, he's not always like that, just some times when he drinks.

3. I would not have Sydney Carton as a friend. Sydney is always "depressed" and would only bring me down. He also probably would not care enough for me to have a strong friendship. All of the alcohol he drinks would also get me in to doing some bad things and likely in trouble with the law.

Charles Dickens’ novel, A Tale of Two Cities, reveals a person that is so complex that students of British Literature still have not fully understood Sydney Carton’s character. Dickens introduces him to the reader as an arrogant, frustrated, no account barrister who lives through the lives of others. Yet throughout the novel one can see that he is a brilliant barrister who does not realize his worth, a man changed through love and devotion, and a self-sacrificing individual.

In this essay, one will examine the changes Sydney Carton made to reach the path of redemption. In the beginning of the novel, Sydney Carton is a man who is given no recognition for his work, and has no meaning at all in his life.

Most of the revolutionaries are peasants who have been severely neglected by the French government and aristocracy. These peasants all eventually rebel at the storming of the Bastille in 1789, and until 1794, violently killed many innocent people. During this time, the revolutionaries killed hundreds of prisoners for no reason, an event later known as the September Massacres. So violent were these massacres that “the eye could not detect one creature in the group free from the smear of blood” (203). Another sadistic and inhumane device used by the revolutionaries was “the sharp female newly-born, and called La Guillotine” (196). The guillotine was a machine used to behead prisoners, innocent and guilty alike, by the hundreds during the revolution. This guillotine was used to kill two characters in the novel, a seamstress and Sydney Carton. The seamstress is a perfect example of how the revolutionaries would kill anybody and everybody because of the Law of the Suspected. This law allows the Republic to imprison anyone on just suspicion, and they did not need any proof. The unstable Republic used this law many times to try and prevent plots from being formed that would overthrow the new government. On the day of their executions the seamstress says to Carton, “I have done nothing. I am not unwilling to die, if the Republic which is to do so much good to us poor, will

His strong hatred foreshadows that something will cause him to have to ignore this hatred for the greater good. Consequently, it happens that both the men fall in love with same girl Lucie Manette. However, Carton does not want Lucie to choose him because he feels that she will have a miserable life with him. He does not want this lowly sort of life for his love and so he promises her that he will stay out of her life as much as possible. Later, when Lucie’s husband, Charles Darnay, is sent to the guillotine to die, Carton takes his place so that Lucie can continue to live a happy and desirable life.

Sydney thinks, as his life is slipping away, “ The murmuring of many voices, the upturning of many faces, the pressing on of many footsteps in the outskirts of the crowd, so that it swells forward in a mass, like one great heave of water, all flashes away. Twenty-Three” (320). As Sydney Carton's life fades away, his life purpose comes together. He has always thought of himself as a drunk that no one could ever love, but he now knows Lucie will love him, because he gave her Charles Darnay. Sydney describes switching clothes with charles, “There was a hurry, too, in all his thoughts, a turbulent and heated working of his heart, that contended against resignation. If, for a moment, he did feel resigned, then his wife and child who had to live after him, seemed to protest and to make it a selfish thing” (297). For Carton this decision was one of the easiest decisions of his life; for Lucie, his love, he would give her Charles, whom is Lucie's love. This seems to be one of the bravest things done, although for Carton it was a duty. Carton describes what he thought, “ The spare hand does not tremble as he releases it; nothing worse than a sweet, bright constancy is in the patient face” (320). Carton values respect, though he never got it, he values loyalty, though he never received it, he values Lucie, though he gave her away. He values multiple things, but by

He says to her “for you [...] I would do anything” (147). When Darnay is sentenced to death Carton comes up with a master plan to switch with Darnay to take his place and fall into “eternal sleep” (304) for the good of Lucie and her family’s happiness. As the knitting- women count “twenty-three” (363) Sydney Carton dies. By dying he is recalled to life, he is “truly free” (363) from the hate of himself and the rejection he felt from others. Carton’s unlimited love for Lucie overcame the revolutionary’s hate, but that came with the consequence of the death of a beloved

Charles Darnay, Evremonde as we know him, is a rich leader of France. On the other hand, a lawyer, whose name is Sydney Carton, seems to not care about anyone but himself. However, when he met Lucie Manette, his life was changed a little bit and added her in his circle of obligation. Both of these guys, in our case Charles Darnay

Acting upon his moral duty, Darnay puts his life on the line in hopes to have an influence on the situation of those who suffer in these dire times. Up against the menacing Madame Defarge, Miss Pross gains courage out of love, and defeats the sinister woman, all while sacrificing her hearing for the betterment of Lucie’s state. No longer roaming lost through life, Carton unearths his purpose as he sacrifices all to switch positions with Darnay, allowing Lucie to live a life she loves. However, these characters do not carry out their sacrifices because they are obliged to or even because they desire to, but they do so because they know it is just. Sacrifice is powerful, sacrifice is noble, but sacrifice is not easy.

Saving and then switching spots with a person when it’s their time to die deserves a great amount of recognition. In his novel Tale of Two Cities Charles Dickens delivers a mysterious love drama twisted with history, the French revolution to be precise. In the book there are two main characters I will be focusing on. They are Charles Darnay, he is born aristocrat but doesn’t want to be one, and Sydney Carton, and he is an assistant lawyer. I was highly intrigued with the fact that Carton saving Darnay leads to Cartons ultimate death. First, Carton saves Darnay which leads to his freedom. Then, Darnay’s freedom leads to his imprisonment and carton switching places with him. Lastly, Darnay’s imprisonment; and Carton

Charles Dickens’ novel, A Tale of Two Cities, brilliantly portrays the violence and discriminatory actions of the French Revolution of 1789. Within this novel Dickens shows how revolutionary actions negatively affect governments and individuals. However, the character Sidney Carton awakes from his bleak life and is given a direction by the revolution. Through the theme “being recalled to life” Dickens shows how a man such as Sidney Carton can go from a monotonous life as a lawyer to finding purpose through love and

In Charles Dickens’, A Tale of Two Cites, the theme is prominent that compassion culminates in life and vengeance in death. Destroyed by Darnay’s family, Madame Defarge ruthlessly sought retribution for her deceased brother and sister. Skillfully entwining Dr. Manette’s letter, Madame Defarge weaved her revenge, spinning a malicious pattern of death for the denouncement of Charles Darnay. Hindered by Miss Pross from finding and murdering both Lucie Darnay and her daughter, Madame Defarge became enraged and attempted to kill Pross with a pistol. Firing and falling from her hands, Defarge herself was shot; her demise a consequence of her enmity. Denounced and sentenced to die by the blade of the guillotine, Sydney Carton self-effacingly surrendered

“‘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.