Tale Of Two Cities Duality Essay

In the novel, A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens uses Sydney Carton’s decision of sacrificing himself for Charles Darnay to establish that forgiveness is unnecessary when it comes to acquiring justice. Dickens skillfully does this by linking Carton’s misinterpreted life and reputation to his final act of dying in place of Darnay, who was one of the main people who greatly misjudged him.

This love eventually drives Carton to give his life, which protects Lucie’s happiness. Carton says to Lucie, “If it had been possible, Miss Manette, that you could have returned the love of the man you see before you-self-flung away, wasted, drunken, poor creature of misuse as you know him to be-he would have been conscious this day and hour, in spite of his happiness, that he would bring you to misery, bring you to sorrow and repentance, blight you, disgrace you, pull you down with him” (Dickens 156). In this scene, Carton is telling Lucie that even though he loves her, he knows that she does not return this love. He proceeds to tell her that even if she had loved him, he would have made her miserable because of how he lives his life. Carton’s conversation with Lucie shows that Carton is hopelessly in love with Lucie, and yet that love is unattainable to him. However, he has the strength to sacrifice his feelings for her because of this love. During this conversation, Carton also says to Lucie, “think now and then that there is a man who would give his life to keep a life you love beside you!” (Dickens 159). Here, Carton tells Lucie that if ever her life and happiness were in danger, and he could save her from that pain by giving his life, he would gladly do it. This is a direct reference to the end of the novel, where

Duality is used to its full extent in Charles Dicken’s, A Tale of Two Cities. It becomes evident how crucial this device is in telling a gripping story of the French Revolution as pieces of this playing field are introduced. London and France. Love and Hate. Benevolent characters versus Malevolent characters.

Stryver. He, the jackal, picks up the pieces and does all the dirty work while Mr. Stryver, the lion, takes the credit. Sydney Carton repeatedly illustrates himself with insignificance and inferiority, when in reality, the role he plays in the progression of the plot could not be more significant. Sydney Carton’s boldest endeavor is his sacrifice to save the life of Charles Darnay. The two characters are indistinguishable regarding appearance, speech, and attire, but Dickens describes Darnay and Carton with a plethora internal differences, personality differences, and experiential differences, leading one to conclude these two characters are foils. The dichotomy between the two comes mostly from their states of being. Darnay is living with the success and the woman Carton could never have. When Charles Darnay’s life is at risk, Carton willingly takes his place. During his final moments, he pictures a bright future of Paris, the revival of the people, and the rebirth of the nation. At last he utters, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were

A Tale of Two Cities is a story written around 1859. It takes place in London and Paris during and after the French Revolution. Dr. Manette was arrested in England when her daughter was at a young age. Leaving her behind was the hardest thing to do since he would be locked up for 18 years. After 18 long years, they both finally reconcile and things start going back into the normal state. Now free, he and his daughter are called to court as witnesses for a trial. Charles Darnay, the suspect, was accused of treason and became free after Lucie’s testimony that changed the opinions of the judges. As he left the court as a free man, he met someone, someone unusual. This person looked similar to him. His name was Sydney Carton. They both had and attraction to

Throughout the novel, A Tale of Two Cities, Dickens uses powerful contrast to present a story that reflects the situations in his life, as well as the life of two cities. Best/worst, wisdom/foolishness, belief/incredulity, light/darkness, spring/winter, hope/despair, everything/nothing; these antithesis springing up from the first paragraph provide contrasting ideas that highlight the extreme conflict revealed throughout the novel. Looking at the character motifs, Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton, in addition to Lucie Manette and Madame Defarge are contrasting characters evolving with the progressing story. Contradicting scenes between London and Paris set the background for a light versus dark motif. Dickens’ use of contrast through antithesis, character motifs and two different cities demonstrate the intense conflict, change, and struggle that existed during the French Revolution.

Dickens has given life to Carton by transforming him from a lazy and alcoholic attorney, the “idlest and most unpromising of men” (Dickens 65), to a noble, self-sacrificing hero. In first meeting Darnay whom he vindicated in court, Carton takes an immediate dislike to him and Darnay to him. Carton responds to Darnay’s comment about his excessive drinking by saying “I am a disappointed drudge, sir. I care for no man on earth, and no man on earth cares for me” (Dicken 63). Carton’s statement shows his selfish and pessimistic nature and his apparent lack of self-worth.

Carton throughout his life was the “Jackal” when compared to the “Lion” which was Stryver (Dickens 105); he was an unloved alcoholic who happened to pledge his love to Lucie Manette (Dickens 188). By pledging this to Lucie, he is foreshadowing that he will do good for her, similar to how Darnay and Doctor Manette have helped her. As a result of this pledge, while Darnay is imprisoned, Carton chooses to give up his life, ordering Barsad to “[b]e careful of [Darnay]... and leave [me]” (Dickens 435) . This death in a way recalls Carton to life because he has finally done something with glory in it, which is said by him to be a “far, far better thing that he does than he had ever done” (Dickens 462). Carton redeems his years of alcoholism with this moment of sacrifice; he allows himself to finally have a moment of peace while serving the greater good by helping Darnay to be with his wife, “giving up his own life so that others with purpose may enjoy theirs” (Dingyuan and Xiaohua 92).

Dickens continues to illustrate corrupted power. Monseigneur's cruel philosophy illustrates the mindset that has crept into the most privileged class and demonstrates how power can corrupt. The contrast between his philosophy and his nephew's beliefs further underscores the suffering of the masses. (Book 2, Chapter

Charles Darnay, the protagonist contends the practices and standards of the society in which he used to be identified as. Although a French aristocrat at birth, Darnay decides to live in England because he cannot bear to a part of the unjust cruelty posed by the French social system. Darnay reveals his rejection toward the snobbish values of the French aristocrats, particularly, his uncle Marquis Evrémonde and his father.

Monsieur the Marquis is a nobleman who Dickens uses to represent the first estate class. Riding his coach through town, the Marquis “drove as if he were charging an enemy”, giving no care to the peasants narrowly escaping the path of his carriage (Dickens 110). This scene illustrates the altitude of the aristocracy for they did what they pleased not giving a care for who they stepped over. As he charged through the dark streets Monsieur slaughters a child, crushing him under the horses and wheels of his carriage. Obviously, the parents and bystanders are furious, however Monsieur sees no problem, in fact he even says “ It is extraordinary to me...That you people cannot take care of yourselves and your children” dismissing his own fault and simply paying the parents of the dead child to “make up” for their loss (Dickens 111). Dickens uses many similar, exaggerated scenarios such as this one throughout the story. These are used to further prove his point and to tell his readers about the arrogance of the upper classes not only in France, but also relate the story back to the reader’s lives in

Sydney Carton, one of the most dynamic characters of the book, indulges himself with wine and depression, however furthermore represents himself as a dynamic character due to his eagerness to preserve happiness in Lucie Manette and Charles Darnay. The anger that persists in Carton’s mind is evident of hatred towards Charles Darnay due to the fact that Darnay is who Carton wanted to be, and now believes he has wasted his life. In fact, he fills himself with pure hatred and despair, saying “[he] shall sink lower, and be worse” and he is “like one who died young”(Dickens 149 and 150). This oversaturated mentality, filled with oblivious thoughts, proves his instability and represents one who can’t reach his desire. Sydney Carton continues to indulge

In chapter twenty-one, “Echoing footsteps”, of Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, Dickens utilizes the idea of a raging sea to embody the rage and anguish of the Jacquerie in their first glorious moment of revenge.

Dickens deeply sympathizes with the plight of the French peasantry and emphasizes their need for liberation but he also intended to draw the image of cruelty of the revolutionaries themselves as if the corruption moved from the oppressors to the oppressed and as if the oppression of long years came to an end but now the people are ready to hurt and kill , to burn and destroy just to stop the injustice the faced regardless of how they can stop it even with violence

Dickens used the development of a conflict between the French lower class and the French government and aristocracy to build plot and suspense. The nobility (the government and aristocracy) is extremely rich and the French lower class are exactly the opposite, very poor. The French lower class suffered for a long time under the tight rulings and restraints of the French government and aristocracy. The lives of ignorant French poor people are described by Charles Dickens as horrendous: