Sydney Carton Character Analysis

In the novel, A Tale of Two Cities Charles Dickens opens with an anaphora, about how the world is throughout the novel. A reoccurring theme throughout this story is the battle between good and evil. Most of the novel is about the struggles each force has and how most of the time good triumphs over evil. In A Tale of Two Cities, the triumph of love, the death of the Marquis, and the contrast between Sydney Carton and Charles Darnay shows how good triumphed over evil.

Carton has given up his own life to give Lucie and a child whom he’s never met a better life. A main theme in A Tale of Two Cities is loyalty, and Sydney Carton’s loyalty seems to lie with not only Lucie, but with everyone but himself.

and finally Sydney Carter as ChristA tale of two cities is not only a social critique, but an exploration of what truly bind humans together. LOve-not just romantic fuels the characters actions. And from Love, the need for revenge.The theme of resurrections occurs often in the book. Doctor Manette is “recalled to life’, Darnay is saved at a legal trial, Sydney redeems his unfulfilling life by his his sacrifice and resurrection into another world. Duality and contrast are an important part of the book. Lucy and Madame Defarge are juxtapositioned as innocent, golden goodness versus witch like, cruel darkness. We see the theme of duality in Darnay and Sydney Carton, who look alike and love the same woman but are very different.when looking the overall theme and catharsis of the

In a Tale of Two Cities, a novel written by Charles Dickens, conflict can only be resolved by the actions of once slovenly appearing characters. This is done by the changing of their outlooks on life despite their previous hardships. Dr. Manette exemplifies heroism from his transformation of being a psychotic bastille survivor into a healthy father and mentor. However, Carton shows even more heroism, mainly for his commitment, and braveness. Although the hardships Carton faced were not as difficult to overcome compared to Manette, Carton had to transform completely by himself and made the ultimate sacrifice in the end.

Charles Dickens’ extensive use of foil characters in A Tale of Two Cities also includes the duo of Mr. Stryver and his business partner, Carton. Although the characters in the novel are spaced apart among various chapters, meaning certain characters only appear on occasion, the few scenes involving both Carton and Stryver undeniably indicate their status as foils. Both Carton and Stryver wish to marry Lucie Manette, although they go about it in much different ways. Carton, “the fellow of no delicacy,” obtains a personal discussion with Lucie, in which he, already defeated, acknowledges the hopelessness of his situation (148-153).

Sydney Carton, “one of Dickens’s most loved and best-remembered characters” (Stout 29), is not just another two-dimensional character; he seems to fly off the pages and into real life throughout all the trials and tribulations he experiences. He touches many hearts, and he even saves the life of Charles Darnay, a man who looks surprisingly similar to him. In Dickens’s A Tale of Two Cities, Sydney Carton is a selfish man of habit, a cynic, a self-loathing drunk, and an incorrigible barrister until he meets Lucie Manette; throughout the novel Sydney is overcome by his noble love for Lucie and transforms from a cynic to a hero as he accomplishes one of the most selfless acts a man can carry out.

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

In the novel A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, one of the main characters Sydney Carton is portrayed as a Jesus Christ-like figure, risking death and sacrificing his life to create a better life for the ones around him. Carton takes one of the biggest risks a human can ever take in their lifetime, the risk of death. He goes into this risky situation knowing the consequences, but he doesn’t care, he just wants to accomplish his goal, to save his friend Charles Darnay from his demise, Of course, one would not be able to complete such a task without motivation. This motivation of course is his one true love, Lucie Manette, Carton wants to save the husband of Lucie, Darnay, and allow them to live a happy life, with their daughter who was also named Lucie. Using Lucie’s own life as the true motivation, and completely disregarding all the consequences, Carton’s own life is redeemed through the resurrection of his hopes and his dreams for Lucie.

“‘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.

It is said that; “The greatest sacrifice is when you sacrifice your own happiness for the sake of someone else” (Unknown). In Charles Dickens’s A Tale of Two Cities, Sydney Carton sacrifices his life for Charles Darnay, the husband of the woman he loves, Lucie Manette. He loves her so tenderly that he is willing to give his life for her happiness. Sydney Carton describes his existence as a waste of life, where he encourages himself to not take action or help someone. Instead of helping others, he would rather be drunk. He is not married. However, then he meets Dr. Manette’s daughter, Lucie Manette, and he falls for her. However, she doesn’t love him. Sydney Carton is tired from his wasted life, so he goes to Lucie Manette to tell her about a promise, where he is ready to give up his life for her love.Sydney Carton overhears Madame Defarge about some plan, where she is going to accuse Lucie’s family and then they will die and she can take her revenge. The redemption of Sydney Carton, in A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, shows that character is given another opportunity to show the better of themselves when they redeem themselves. Dicken’s attitude toward redemption says that one can benefit

Carton loves Lucie just as much as Charles except Carton will do anything for her even sacrifice his life for her. The love is present and Carton makes it clear by meeting with Lucie before she marries Charles. Carton then expresses his love for Lucie but instead of asking for her love back he says all he wants is to make an impact on her life. “For you, and for any dear to you, I would do anything. I would embrace any sacrifice for you and for those dear to you. And when you see your own bright beauty springing up anew at your feet, think now and then that there is a man who would give his life, to keep a life you love beside you” (Dickens 156). Carton seems to have found his purpose and that is Lucie. During the meeting with Lucie, Carton explains that he is beyond repair and how he cannot be saved by her. By saying Carton would “embrace any sacrifice” he alluding to his purpose and legacy. Carton feels so bad about himself that he wants no one to feel the way he feels. He has discovered his purpose. Sydney Carton will trade places with Charles Darnay and be sacrificed for the greater good of Lucie. When Carton learns what has to be done he walks and thinks about the resurrection. “I am the resurrection and the life, saith the lord: that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die. This allusion to Jesus gives Carton life. By saying “I am the resurrection and I am the life” Carton is saying that he is the resurrection to Lucie and Charles but also the life because even though he will be sacrificed he will live through the spirits of Lucie and Charles giving him a new life. :In a single movement at once actual and symbolic, Cartons spiritual self, “The life within him” disguised by mortality, imprisoned by the mundane world, is liberated through

Sydney Carton performs many courageous acts that create positive changes for the Evrémonde family’s future. Carton’s actions strive to improve the Evrémonde family’s life, while boldly putting his at risk. His fearless actions reunite the Evrémonde family back together, producing a new, positive outlook of the future for them. When Carton enters Darnay’s prison cell, it is described that Carton, “dressed himself in the clothes the prisoner had laid aside, combed back his hair, and tied it with the ribbon the prisoner had worn” (Dickens 358). Carton acts gallantly in order to salvage Darnay’s life, for he switches places with him in the prison. As a result of Carton’s brave actions, Darnay is free once more to be with his family and lead a

In A Tale of Two Cities, written by Charles Dickens, Sydney Carton is introduced as a lethargic alcoholic that has little interest in living. As the story progresses, however, Dickens shows Sydney’s interest in another character named Lucie. Later, Sydney even announces his love to her before she weds another man, Charles Darnay, yet he still continues to speak of the worthlessness of his life as the story continues. It becomes very obvious to the reader that Lucie is the focal point of Sydney’s life, and that he lives primarily in the light of her happiness. Towards the end of the novel, Darnay is in prison and soon facing the guillotine. Sydney, who looks stunningly similar to Darnay, takes his place and dies to ensure Lucie’s happiness with Darnay in their future. From the time he announced his love to Lucie until his death, Sydney showed his passionate interest and care for Lucie while showing apathy for his own life. It is clear that Sydney valued Lucie and her happiness more than his own life. Therefore, by

Sydney Carton is the most memorable character in Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, a story of redemption, resurrection, self-sacrifice change and love, all of these words have to do with the extreme transformation of. Sydney Carton had such great love for Lucie Mannette that evolves from a depressed loaner that can only attempt to substitute happiness with alcoholic indulgence to a loyal caring friend who makes the ultimate sacrifice for the ones he loves.

Similar to Jarvis Lorry, Sydney Carton undergoes a transformation of character. When Carton is first introduced in book one he is a pitiful lawyer, an “idlest and most unpromising man,”(Dickens 78). In chapter five he is displayed as an “amazingly good jackal,”(Dickens 79), meaning that he is “content and apathetic towards the fact that he will never be accredited with the performance and outcomes of his actions,”(Trojan, Kara). However, Lucie Manette inspires redemption in Carton through love, for he knows that if he can save her in any way then he can absolve his misery and find a purpose for his years on Earth. When Lucie Manette’s husband is punished to death row, Carton is determined to keep his promise. Carton takes the place of the spouse