Sydney Carton
Sydney Carton proves the most vibrant character in A Tale of Two Cities. He first shows up as a lazy, alcoholic lawyer who can't marshal even the littlest measure of enthusiasm for his own particular life. He portrays his presence as an incomparable misuse of life and takes each chance to proclaim that he looks after nothing and nobody. In any case, whilst reading the novel, even in the early chapters, one can tell that Carton has something to say, but cannot quite express it. When speaking to the acquitted Charles Darnay, Carton makes comments about Lucy Manette, whilst bitter and scornful, they betray his love for her. Eventually, Carton reaches a point where he can freely talk to Lucie, and admit his feelings towards her. Before Lucie marries Darnay, Carton declares his love for her, although Carton still sees himself as being utterly useless, this scene marks a pivotal transition for Carton and lays the groundwork for the sacrifice that he makes at the novel’s end.
In death, Carton becomes a Christ-like figure, a selfless martyr whose death facilitates the happiness of his beloved, and warrants his own immortality. As Carton goes to the guillotine, the narrator tells us that he foresees a beautiful, peaceful Paris “rising from the abyss” and sees “the evil of this time and of the previous time of which this is the natural birth, gradually making expiation for itself and wearing out.” Just as the apocalyptic violence of the revolution precedes a new society’s birth.
A lesson to learn from the story of Sydney Carton is that everybody has their place in life. Carton not knowing his, proved to be, in my humble opinion the most important character in the story. Without his sacrifice, Darnay would have died and his beloved Lucie would have been widowed.
In death, Carton becomes a Christ-like figure, a selfless martyr whose death facilitates the happiness of his beloved, and warrants his own immortality. As Carton goes to the guillotine, the narrator tells us that he foresees a beautiful, peaceful Paris “rising from the abyss” and sees “the evil of this time and of the previous time of which this is the natural birth, gradually making expiation for itself and wearing out.” Just as the apocalyptic violence of the revolution precedes a new society’s birth.
A lesson to learn from the story of Sydney Carton is that everybody has their place in life. Carton not knowing his, proved to be, in my humble opinion the most important character in the story. Without his sacrifice, Darnay would have died and his beloved Lucie would have been widowed.
Madame Defarge
Possessing a remorseless bloodlust, Madame Defarge embodies the chaos of the French Revolution. In the early chapters of the novel, Defarge is found to be sitting quietly and knitting in the wine shop. However, her apparent pleasantness belies her unabating thirst for vengeance. With her stitches, she secretly knits a register of the names of the revolution’s intended victims. As the revolution breaks into full force, Madame Defarge reveals her true spitefulness. Dickens notes that Madame Defarge's spite does not reflect on any current problem facing her, but rather the effects of the oppression and personal tragedy she has suffered at the hands of the aristocrats, and in specific, the Evrémondes, to whom Darnay is related by blood, and Lucie by marriage. However, despite being oppressed by the more privileged, she herself becomes the oppressor, and cannot justify retributive justice. Madame Defarge dies from being shot by her own gun. This is to symbolize that the vengeful attitude symbolized by Madame Defarge, ultimately proves to be self-damning.
Charles Darnay & Lucie Manette
atCharles Darnay, in reality Charles St. Evrémonde. Originally from an aristocratic family, which he has renounced. In England, he becomes a tutor, he finds happiness and success as the husband of Lucie Manette. When he returns to France to aid an agent of the St. Evrémonde family who has been captured by the revolutionists, he himself is arrested and condemned to the guillotine. He escapes because Sydney Carton takes his place in prison. Darnay returns to England with his wife and her father. Darnay is man of honor, respect and courage. Although Darnay has the right elements to be a hero, he never exhibits the kind of inner struggle that Carton and some others have to undergo.
Lucie Manette, a beautiful young French woman, closely connected with political events in France. Her father, a physician, had been a prisoner in the Bastille for many years, sent there because he had acquired knowledge of the hidden crimes of the St. Evrémonde family. She, along with the help of her father and Sydney Carton are able to help her husband, Charles Darney escape from prison. All throughout the trials, Manette keeps a cool head, stays charming and devoted.
While Charles Darnay and Lucie Manette seem to flat characters as they lack depth and complexity, they in combination with other characters contribute to a more detailed picture of the human psyche. Firstly, they show the light the counters the darkness portrayed by Madame Defarge. Secondly, throughout the novel they provide the motivation for Carton to become a better person.
Lucie Manette, a beautiful young French woman, closely connected with political events in France. Her father, a physician, had been a prisoner in the Bastille for many years, sent there because he had acquired knowledge of the hidden crimes of the St. Evrémonde family. She, along with the help of her father and Sydney Carton are able to help her husband, Charles Darney escape from prison. All throughout the trials, Manette keeps a cool head, stays charming and devoted.
While Charles Darnay and Lucie Manette seem to flat characters as they lack depth and complexity, they in combination with other characters contribute to a more detailed picture of the human psyche. Firstly, they show the light the counters the darkness portrayed by Madame Defarge. Secondly, throughout the novel they provide the motivation for Carton to become a better person.