Tale Of Two Cities Change Analysis

Over time, many have realized that people have the power to change others, however some believe that people cannot and will not change. One side of this argument is that though people will be the same their whole life, and never change. On the contrary, people have been changed by others over time and throughout history. It is a fact of life that people have the power to change others through their actions, perspectives, and ability to persuade their point of view.

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.

In the same fashion, switching lives with his double, crossing of the threshold, and a start of a transformation, Carton has been this depressed, beaten-down, drunk lawyer for the majority of the novel. Being altered and viewpoints changing, most likely for the better, traveling through the circle of the Hero’s Journey, transformation comes quickly there after crossing the threshold, and shows the character has reconditioned. Through the book, Carton starts as a “disappointed drudge… [he] cares for no man on earth, and no man on earth cares for [him]” and then turns into “the Resurrection and the Life, saith the lord: he that believed in [him], though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in [him] shall never die” and lives a great life (Dickens 68/371). Correspondingly equal, coming from a depressed, middle-aged man, to a life full of meaning and heart, Carton truly exemplifies the transformation that a Hero part takes in. Equally important, being just a bit off from other heroes, the journey of Carton starts to wind down, and along comes the return, when the Hero makes his everlasting

Sydney Carton is an “unsubstantial” social presence on the edge of groups to which he belongs, but never really a part of, and he is at home nowhere (Petch 27). This is the feeling that the reader experiences when introduced to Carton. One realizes that he does not belong. He is with everyone, and he is with no one. He sees nothing in any of his accomplishments. He is indifferent to success. He takes a back seat as the jackal, while Stryver, the lion, takes the front seat making money and winning cases. Yet, one can see that his colleague, Stryver, is nothing without him. It is Carton that finds the meaning in the statements, defines them, and, like the cunning jackal that he is, makes cases for Stryver that can be won. (28) As Dickens states, “(Stryver) had not the faculty of extracting the essence from a heap of statements, which is among the most striking necessary of the advocate’s accomplishments.” (90) Carton does not know his worth. He spends his

Thesis: In a Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens utilizes the character of Sidney Carton to show that a wasted life can be redeemed.

Mr. Carton deserves more consideration and respect than you expressed for him tonight” (Dickens 160). Just the fact alone that Lucie

At Darnay’s imprisonment, however, Carton’s otherwise useless life is given an opportunity for redemption, and the decision to sacrifice himself becomes “... a far, far better thing that [he does], than [he has] ever done...” (Dickens 345). Having been a stagnant character, his love for Lucie Manette that gives him purpose, allows for the self sacrifice that becomes the one valuable act that

Lucie keeps her head high and is always lending a helping hand. Carton admires all of Lucie’s characteristics, so he decides to proclaim his love to her. Dickens is showing us how a man can change so drastically with Carton. Before Carton met Lucie, he claimed, “I am a disappointed drudge, sir. I care for no man on earth, and no man on earth cares for me” (2.4.70).

As the ancient Chinese proverb wisely observed, “Change is infinite.” Although sometimes we tend to think that there are limits on our ability to change our views or our behavior, humans are indeed very flexible and versatile. As we undergo new experiences and learn from our mistakes and flaws, our perception naturally adjusts. Quite frankly, our ability to change is unlimited. In fact, numerous literary and historical examples attest to our unlimited ability to change our views.

How can change be part of our life? It is part of our life, all livings things is part of it, but can you think how we change one day to another with our actions. Be the change you wish to see in the world. Change can be good or bad.

Dickens portrays Darnay as “the fellow of delicacy” and Carton as “the fellow of no delicacy”. Through these two characters not only is Dickens showing that one's character is more complex that being good or evil, but he is referencing society’s view of people. As Darnay is from the upper class and Carton from the middle class each is symbolic respectively. If a poor man can be thrown in jail for being poor, as Dickens's father was, an upper-class man can be thrown in jail for being an upper-class man, as Charles Darnay was. But yet, Charles Darnay did not pay the price for being an upperclassman in the end.

The issue with change is not so much what we think of change, but rather how we respond to change. In all honesty, there are few words that can throw up such a kaleidoscope of differing interpretations and emotions.

Change is a concept that many people in the world are uncertain about. The dictionary defines change as when something becomes different, it can be abrupt or gradual. Everyone experiences change, but more often than not people fear change rather than welcome it. In my opinion, change shouldn’t be feared or resisted but should be prepared for and embraced.

With all the cliche movies that illustrate what happens to a freshman: getting thrown pennies at, pushed out of nowhere in the hallways and stairways, etc; it is probably freaking most freshmen. Being able to go through this change is good in every way. The thought of change occurs in many different forms, carried out different ways, and is handled differently. However, as time passes and I get older, starting to realize the purpose of everything, I perceive that change can be the deepest of all subjects, which for many obvious reasons why people reject change and at the same time opportunities. As a matter of fact, usually when people reject change it is due to the change and the risks they don’t want to go through. Before, I knew the full concept of what “change” specifically was, I always assumed it when someone was moving to a new city, state, etc., or when you lose someone close to you. However, those are elements of change, change doesn’t only have to occur after a single dramatic event, but it can happen overnight or in a matter of seconds when your brain thinks it's time for something unusual. Everyone has to admit that they will fight change till the death of it, if they even have a chance

Regret, missed opportunities and an unattainable love plagued the life of Sydney Carton in Charles Dickens’ A Tale Of Two Cities. Throughout the novel, every fiber of Carton’s being strove for a change in his miserable existence and a chance to redeem himself, yet he trudged on and masked his insecurities with drinking and denial. The shift in his life he had long pined for happened when he goes to the chemist and wanders around late at night. He was a lost man, but the tone of this passage by Dickens changes to show Carton’s newfound purpose. By shifting from and dark and decisive tone at night to a light and hopeful tone in the morning, Carton has a metaphorical death and rebirth. A shift in tone occurs when the sun rises in the morning, symbolizing his birth into a newer, purer life. Sydney Carton has transformed from being lost and purposeless into a savior.