How Is Sydney Carton Judged Too Fast

People are often times judged too quickly. Most times they are perceived as someone they are not. One needs to look beyond what is said or seen and take the time to get to know others for who they really are. In the novel, A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, a character named Sydney Carton is judged too quickly and suffers because other characters do not take the time to get to know him for who he really is. Sydney Carton is a misunderstood man who everyone, including himself, proclaims as worthless. However, a few get to know Sydney’s real self and that even the most damaged people are capable of love and compassion. When characters in this novel think of Sydney Carton, they only know him as a drunk who will never accomplish …show more content…
An example of this is displayed through Sydney’s relationship with Mr. Stryver. Mr. Stryver, Sydney's work partner, takes advantage of Sydney. Stryver treats Sydney very poorly and just uses him for his brilliant mind for, " You don't know the value of money, you live hard, you'll knock up one of these days, and be ill and poor; you really ought to think about a nurse," {pg 108}. Here, Stryver is stating that Sydney is not even capable enough to live on his own and needs assistance from a nurse. Stryver does not appreciate what Sydney does for him and regards him as someone who is, and always will be, merely a servant. Another example of someone who does not really know Sydney and makes judgments of him is Charles Darnay. Charles did not get a very good first impression of Sydney. The first time they spoke, Sydney was drunk at a tavern and hurled insults at Charles. Charles was quick to …show more content…
Under the drunkenness and rugged lifestyle, “. . .he has a heart that he very, very seldom reveals, and that there are deep wounds in it, My dear, I have seen it bleeding,” (pg 161). In this, Lucie describes the side of Sydney that people rarely see. The side that hurts and bleeds. That is how Lucie Manette describes Sydney to Charles. Charles has already concluded that Sydney is a waste of time, but Lucie tries to convince him that Sydney is more than that. She tells him that Sydney is very hurt and does not have it easy. No one knows this side of Sydney and the only reason that Lucie knows is because Sydney confessed to her. He poured his heart out to her without expecting any sort of compassion in return. He has acknowledged the fact that he will never bring prosperity and happiness to anyone’s life and he would never want to bring Lucie down to his level. “For you, and any dear to you, I would do anything. 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,” (pg 117). Sydney promises to Lucie that he would sacrifice anything for her or anyone she loved. This proves that Sydney is not a waste of space, and surprises Lucie by showing her a side of him that she did not even know existed. Because of futile judgements and the insensitivity of most characters, Sydney’s wounded heart is