In a country where death is on every corner, resurrection of life is, ironically, a reoccurring theme. Charles Dickens's A Tale of Two Cities explores the true meaning of love, sacrifice, and revenge. Throughout the novel, Sydney Carton struggles with the idea of worth, wondering if his life has been wasted. When Lucie comes along, he discovers what it feels like to have a light in his world. Trying to recapture the reality of the French Revolution, Dickens uses the element of resurrection to parallel to the war time of Europe. Sydney Carton is resurrected as he makes the ultimate sacrifice for love. In the beginning of the novel, Sydney Carton is a miserable man with little worth for his own life. In the conversation with Darnay after his trial, he tells him "I care for no man on earth, and no man on earth cares for me" (Dickens 87). This hints that Carton feels numb to the outside world and no longer cares …show more content…
He now has the light he needs to become a better man. When Sydney and Lucie first meet, he notices her immediately, exclaiming "look to that young lady. Help the gentleman take her out" (Dickens 79) when she was about to faint at Charles Darnay's trial. Since he was the first and only one to recognize Lucie when she nearly passed out, Carton exhibits interest in Lucie from the very moment he laid his eyes on her. As he gets closer to the family, a feeling overcomes him that he has never felt before: acceptance. Although he is falling in love with Lucie, he believes she will be happier with Darnay. In a confrontation with her, Carton says "in spite of his happiness, that he would bring you to misery" (Dickens 150), knowing he could never be with her, while still conceiving the idea that he would do anything to protect her family. Lucie is resurrecting Sydney Carton by showing him love, compassion, and acceptance, while leading him to his fate of making the ultimate sacrifice for her