Olivia Deem A Tale of Two Cities Analysis English 10A E 6 October 2015
Carton shows to be the most active character throughout A Tale of Two Cities. I think this because within the book so far, he has changed and developed in several ways. Sydney first comes across as a sluggish, drunken attorney that can’t even gather the slightest amount of interest in anything in his life. During the first trial, in his exchange with Charles Darnay; the jailer, he performs rarely out of a good-natured impulse and actually manages to save Darnay's life. In effect of this, Carton becomes interested in one of the witnesses, Lucie Mannette. In big shock, we realize that he actually cares for her with a very pure love. Soon enough Carton comes to the point where he can admit his feelings for Lucie to her. Carton does this confession right before Lucie marries Darnay. Doing this is brave because he knows it is useless due to the fact that it will not change Lucie’s mind. He describes his life as a waste and this is why he makes sure he takes every advantage he has to declare that he cares for nobody and nothing. But no matter how hard he tries, the reader gets the hint in the beginning chapters of the book that he actually does feel something. I think he tries to hide this mainly because he cannot understand the reasoning to
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This is because he owns that he is not good enough to earn her love and is satisfied to place her on a pedestal, “the dream of his soul”. His promise to her is to protect or sacrifice anything for her or anyone meaningful to her. Carton simply states that he would give up anything in exchange for her happiness whether or not it is with him or Darnay. He lives up to this promise when he takes Darnay's place at the Guillotine. He is extra careful at the right times to make sure that he can save Darnay. And once again, all of these efforts are in spite of his love for