Examples Of Selflessness In A Tale Of Two Cities

While Carton dies he finds the sacrifice worth it as he believes that his friends will have a good life even though it will cost him his own life. Carton ,through Lucie, who acted as an “ altruistic outlet” managed to regain a purpose in his life by helping others though he is never able to help

This wasted potential is emphasized when both Darnay and Carton fall in love with Lucie Manette. Darnay, as the typical charming hero, is chosen over desperate, brooding Carton. As a result, Carton finds himself channeling his love and his physical advantage of being Darnay’s double into keeping Lucie safe and happy by way of rescuing Darnay from the guillotine. Thus, Carton is able to become the proverbial “good guy,” a role he saw for himself in his counterpart, Darnay. He also managed to thwart the Defarges’ plot to murder all those connected to the aristocracy in any way. In this way, Dickens is able to use the comparisons and contrasts between the two men to show how love is capable of victory over violence and vengeance.

“‘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.

Mr. Sydney Carton proved that the amount of courage for him to make a difference meant to sacrifice his own life when taking the place of Charles Darnay in execution. The quote “It is a 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”by Sydney Carton showed Sydney knew what he had to do and he knew that it was the only way to save the people that he loved(Dickens, 386). He knew that by sacrificing his life, he could provide for them and do more good by dying than he could ever do while he was alive. In the face of danger, Sydney rose to the challenge and faced it head on. As he walked to take the place of Charles Darnay, he also met another innocent life about to be executed.

Earlier in the novel, when Carton confesses his love to Lucie, he states, “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” (117). His word is tested later in the end of the novel. Darnay is sentenced for execution, but Carton would not allow for Lucie to loose “the life she loves” (117). Carton trickes Darnay into switching places and eventually, Carton is executed in Darnay’s place, without any of the Revolutionists realizing. Indeed, he is willing to give up his own life, a life Lucie could never love the way she loves Darnay, so she and Darnay could stay together. Besides sacrificing his life for Lucie’s husband, Sydney also sacrifices his life because he believes the people of the city would benefit from it. Carton states during his last moments of life, “I see a beautiful city and a brilliant people rising from this abyss, and, in their struggles to be truly free, in their triumphs and defeats, through long years to come, I see 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” (292). Carton explains how he thinks the Revolution will end since the revolutionist have achieved their goal of killing the last “Evrémonde.”

Sydney Carton is a miserable drunk, but in his heart he finds tenderness for Lucie. Though he knows unworthy of being a prospect companion, Carton wishes her “a life [she] love[s]” (156). Keeping true to his promise, Carton knows nothing is more important to her than being reunited with her husband, Charles Darnay. Sydney has a reputation of being bitter and inhospitable, and feels that in dying he has a chance at redeeming himself. Alive, he has hurt people he loves, including himself- in death he is a hero in the eyes of himself and his friends.

Not only did he sacrifice for Darnay, but he also did this for Lucie's happiness. Darnay was going to die, therefore Carton disguised himself to Darnay so that Darnay will not have to die, causing Lucie to be sad. Carton did not want to see Lucie sad, this is why he sacrificed himself for Darnay and Lucie. “ I see that I hold a sanctuary in their hearts, and in the hearts of their descendants, generations hence. I see her, an old women, weeping for me on the anniversary of this day. I see her and her husband , their course done, lying side in their last earthly bed, and I know that each was not more honored and held sacred in the other soul, than was in the souls of both” (Dickens 372). In reality Carton was sacrificing just for Lucie’s happiness, because he loved her too much to see her become sad about the death of her husband. Cartons thinks that he will be reborn through Lucie because of his sacrifice he made. Not only did Sydney Carton sacrificed for his loved ones but he also sacrificed for his friend Mr. Stryver, who “strived” only for himself, and did not really do anything for others. Mr. Stryver was starting his new life, however he needed a partner to reach his goals. He then partnered up

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

In the beginning Sydney Carton is explained as, “Sydney Carton, idlest and most unpromising of men.” He is mostly describe like this because of his drinking habits and weak demeanor. In the first chapters that introduces Carton, he is seen as too much of a drunk to accomplish any of his goals. He has sacrificed his milestones and takes no advances in his career as a lawyer because he has no will to live. However, Lucie awakens his true potential in life by the end of the book. Carton also shows sacrifice by loving and supporting Lucie after Darnay is taken. Carton sacrifice time and energy to help Lucie in this time of need. Showing his sacrifice and devotion to Lucie, he is renewed with life and eventually “reborn”. He shows dedication and it rectifies for his past behavior of addiction. Also, Carton exemplifies sacrifice by giving up his addiction to alcohol when he starts to be involved in Lucie and Darnay’s life. He gives up something that is a demanding addiction. When he becomes sober, he is freed from his chains of alcoholism and reborn; unrestrictive life. Not only does Carton sacrifice drinking but most importantly his life. Sydney Carton gives up his life for Lucie and Darnay. He saves them so they can come back and live together. His sacrifice helps him live debt free from his earlier sinful behavior making him renewed through this service. In conclusion, Carton is a character that exhibits the

Carton is doing this because he would rather sacrifice his own life than see Lucie unhappy without her husband by her side. Overall, Carton lived up to his potential as a human by making these

He is finally able to gain back the sanity and health he lost long ago. The very end of the novel also conveys a sense of resurrection for the life of Sidney Carton. Carton lives an extremely lonely and unfulfilled life. His life seems to have no purpose and or direction due to the fact that he is a drunkard that chooses to company himself with no one. When he immediately falls for Lucie he suddenly seems to view life in a new light.

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

Carton proves to be the most dynamic character in A Tale of Two Cities; developing from a self loathing drunk to the epitome of the self sacrificing hero in the final pages of the

Lucie has given Carton a reason to live but not in the way the reader was hoping for. He promises Lucie he will take his own life to save Lucie’s life and every soul she loves. This promise was unexpected from egotistical Carton. When Darnay is sentenced to death, Carton takes his place, ultimately saving Darnay’s life, and keeping his promise to Lucie. Dickens convinces the readers that individuals are capable of changing, in Carton’s case from self-centered to

However, towards the end of the novel we see Carton’s true identity. Carton decides to sacrifice his life for love. The love he had for Lucie Manette and the promise he decided to keep to her was much greater than the hatred in his heart and the violence occurring at the time in both Paris and London. In general, Sydney Carton’s sacrifice portrayed his true identity and it illustrated that it was his fate to die for Charles Darnay, similar to how Jesus died for humankind. His intense value