Sydnie Carton In A Tale Of Two Cities

If a life is void of purpose, what makes it worth living? In Charles Dickens' book, A Tale of Two Cities, Sydnie Carton is a character who comes to face this question. Carton possesses little self- confidence and, despite his great potential and ability to work hard, chooses to hide himself away behind alcohol and a big-headed friend named Stryver. Carton leads a dark and lonely life, but eventually comes to find light in the beautiful and selfless Lucie Manette. After falling in love with Lucie and the hope she has given him, he chooses to dedicate his life and loyalty to the Manette family. When Lucie's husband, Charles Darnay, is sentenced to death in Paris, Carton is able to rise above his drunken self-loathing in order to sacrifice himself

Lucie is a beautiful young woman, never portrayed as committing any wrongdoings. She is sweet and fragile, yet strong enough to care for her tormented father. This beauty is able to break the veil of darkness that Carton has placed over his life. In his confession to Lucie, Carton explains that, "In my degradation I have not been so degraded but that the sight of you with your father, and of this home made such a home by you, has stirred old shadows that I thought had died out of me" (Dickens 157). Lucie, through her care for her father, is able to inspire hope in Carton. It is this inspiration that eventually calls him to a greater purpose in life. As a result of Lucie's influence on Carton, he becomes willing to change his drunken ways for the sake of a greater cause. He exclaims to Lucie that, "If my career were of that better kind that there was any opportunity or capacity of sacrifice in it, I would embrace any sacrifice for you and for those dear to you" (Dickens 159). This is his turning point where his character develops the capacity for change, though his resurrection is not complete until he is killed in Charles Darnay's