During the summers before 11th and 12th grades, I had to read numerous books and keep a reflective journal focused on my readings. Some of these journal entries are provided below.
Sydney Carton [entry dated August 8, 1997]
Sydney Carton dies on the guillotine to spare Charles Darney. Carton’s act is a triumph of individual love over the mob hatred of the revolution. Carton and the seamstress he comforts meet their deaths with great dignity. In fulfilling his old promise to Lucie, Carton attains peace; those watching see "the peacefullest man’s face ever beheld" at the guillotine. In a prophetic vision, the former "jackal" glimpses a better world rising out of the ashes of the Revolution and a long life for Lucie and her family—made possible by his sacrifice.
Carton’s death should be linked with the ideal of Christian sacrifice and love. When Carton makes his decision to die, the New Testament verse beginning "I am the Resurrection and the Life" nearly becomes his theme song. The words are repeated a last time at the moment Carton dies. Carton’s dying in Darnay’s place wipes away Carton’s sin, just as Christ’s death washed clean man’s accumulated sins.
Sydney Carton [entry dated August 28, 1997]
In A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, Sydney Carton is an assistant to a lawyer, C. J. Stryver. Due to Carton’s uncanny resemblance to Charles Darnay, Darnay is acquitted of treason in Book II. At the end of the novel, Carton makes the ultimate sacrifice for his friends.
Perhaps the only virtuous part of Carton’s life is his love for Lucie. Even when Lucie married Darnay, Carton’s feelings did not waver. Carton promises Lucie that he would gladly sacrifice himself for her and anyone she loved should the occasion arise. And this is what he ultimately ends up doing.
Certain aspects of Carton’s self-sacrifice and walk to the guillotine remind the reader of Jesus Christ’s sacrifices two thousand years ago. Certainly the reader can see the parallels between "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son . . ." and the possible line "For Carton so loved Lucie that he gave his life . . . ." Regarding Carton’s walk to the guillotine, the reader is reminded of the heavy burden that Christ had to carry in the form of a cross when Carton helps to carry the heavy burden of a seamstress.
Sydney Carton is the most admirable character in the novel because of his selflessness and whole-hearted dedication to Lucie. It is a fitting tribute to Carton to have Lucie and Darnay name one of their children after Carton because Carton is the person that gave Darnay his life.
Duality [entry dated August 28, 1997]
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going to direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way . . ."
In the first sentence of Charles Dickens’ novel A Tale of Two Cities, the author begins instilling the idea of a dual nature prevalent in the time period of the novel. This theme of duality is carried forth throughout the novel.
Perhaps the most obvious duality is the two countries involved in the novel: England and France. Indeed, the author continues in the second paragraph of the novel to compare specifically the two counties:
"There were a king with a large jaw and a queen with a plain face, on the throne of England; there were a king with a large jaw and a queen with a fair face, on the throne of France. In both countries it was clearer than crystal to the lords of the State preserves of loaves and fishes, that things in general were settled for ever."
In a discrete way, Dickens is telling the English to beware of the misfortune that befell the French. A Tale of Two Cities could be considered an attempt by Dickens to warn his readers of the dangers of a possible revolution. Oddly enough, however, Dickens sends this political message in the form of a religious one by reenacting Christ’s death in the form of Sydney Carton. Instead of Carton creating a heaven as Jesus did, Carton creates a better life for his acquaintances he leaves behind.
Another duality conveyed in the story is the social division between the aristocrats and the peasantry. In France this stratifying of the people becomes most apparent throughout the novel with the onset of the French Revolution. Even Charles Darnay (originally St. Evrémonde), who has renounced all previous wealth and has worked to correct the evils of his family, cannot escape the label of aristocrat. He is eventually sentenced to death because of his lineage.
The last duality to be dealt with is the twin-like relationship of Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton. Besides their obvious outward similarity in appearance, the two also share other characteristics. Both love Lucie Manette; however, Darnay is her husband whereas Carton has sworn his life to assist her in any way. Carton and Darnay seem to be soul mates because of Carton’s saving Darnay from execution twice. The first time is in a courtroom when Carton’s resemblance to Darnay led to Darnay’s acquittal; the second is when Carton takes Darnay’s place at the guillotine.
It should be apparent that Dickens considered the theme of duality important. From the opening line, starting, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times" throughout the entire novel, until the last line—"It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known"—many events happen in a dual nature. Dickens’ point may have been to enlighten the English to the misfortunes that could befall them should they revolt.