A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens. Analysis of the character Sydney Carton

Charles Dicken's A Tale of Two Cities was written as a political commentary to inform the people of the causes of the revolution in France. Dickens in his novel tried to show that if there were love during this time, the revolution would have succeeded, or if there was love a revolution wouldn't even have been needed. The revolution failed, because it acted out of revenge and hate, but Sydney Carton, a fictional character in the novel, showed a different side and acted out of love.

Sydney Carton is portrayed to be an intelligent man, but unfortunately is the classic underachiever. He is first introduced into this novel at Charles Darnay's trial. Charles Darnay is Sydney's look-alike, who was on trial for treason against England. The trial is when Carton first meets Lucie Manette, the daughter of a French doctor, who had just been released from being imprisoned for eighteen years.

English: Cover of serial "Tale of Two Cities" by C...

English: A photograph of an engraving in The Writi...

carton

Ever since Darnay's trial, Carton fell in love with Lucie to the point where he basically worshiped her, although, Lucie's heart belonged to Charles. Carton confessed his love for her, and showed a different side of him that no one had ever seen. He tells her that they could never be, because he would only bring her to misery. He makes her a promise: "For you or anyone dear to you, I would do anything." He does fulfill that promise at the end of the book, when the French revolutionaries sentenced lucie's husband, Chartles Darnay, to die at the guillotine. Sydney Carton saves his life by switching places with him.

He loved Lucie so much that he was willing to die for her happiness. He made a promise to her, and he kept it. Before he switched places with Darnay, he whispered in her ear,