Love, Friendship, And Sacrifice In A Tale Of Two Cities

Decent Essays
In this story of love, friendship, and sacrifice, Charles Dickens presents us to one of his many impacting novels, A Tale of Two Cities, in where, with his majestic skills, Dickens unravels a story full of mystery using motifs such as shadows and imprisonment along with the themes of violence and oppression, resurrection, and sacrifice. Dickens structures this story with such manner introducing the main characters in a secretive method. Unfolding the darkest depths of each character slowly as each event turns up. It is how Dickens, using motifs, shows us the connection amongst characters how, within them, they are mirrors. They both demonstrate or rather likely, Dickens helps us understand how characters reflect each other without knowing …show more content…
Throughout this novel various characters experience sacrifice but only one made a decision that has impacted the knowledge of literature. Sydney Carton, awarded of being the most dynamic character. Dickens, through Carton, helps us acknowledge the fact that even the most vulnerable souls stand strong when hope seems to be gone. Carton, in his internal conflict (man vs. self) of insecurity and acceptance to his own self, astonishes the audience with suach act of braveness. "I care for no man on earth, and no man on earth cares for me." (Dickens 85) a state of mind Carton has penetrated within himself in his belief that he 'll never once be loved by anyone because he sees himself as an invaluable human being. That in her beauty and the compassion and goodwill she sees within Carton that Lucie Manette manages to erupt emotions never thought would be seen again by Mr. Carton. "[Y]ou...[have] stirred old shadows that i thought had died out of me." (Dickens 152). Words spoken by Mr.Carton in his confession for his love to Miss Manette yet that he asks her to forget. It is the compassion and goodwill; it is the profound love he has for Lucie and friendship that triggers him to take upon himself to sacrifice himself in exchange for the happiness of his beloved Lucie and friends. "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." (Dickens 382) a statement so alike to what the Crucible projects when Proctor is willing to sacrifice his reputation in order to save his wife. "I have rung the doom of my good name." (Miller 76) accepting his errors upon the safety of his wife. Just like Carton having accepted himself just the way he knows that he left his friends and his love safe with ensured happiness Sydney Carton dies at peace.

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