A Tale of Two Cities

In the time of the French Revolution, the Manettes, and the Defarges have quite the different outlook on happiness. Sydney Carton has a life full of trial, and is soon to be executed. In A Tale of Two Cities, Sydney Carton sacrifices his life in place of Mr. Darnay. During the book, Sydney Carton learns that sacrifice in death is the truest form of love and for Lucie, he is willing to pay the price and take Darnay's place.

“I see the lives for which I lay down my life, peaceful, useful, prosperous and happy, in that England which I shall see no more. I see Her with a child upon her bosom, who bears my name. I see her father, aged and bent, but otherwise restored, and faithful to all men in his healing office, and at peace. I see the good old man, so long their friend, in ten years' tine enriching them with all he has, and passing tranquilly to his reward.

I see that I hold a sanctuary in their hearts, and in the hearts of their descendants, generations hence. I see her, an old woman, weeping for me on the anniversary of this day. I see her and her husband, their course done, lying side by side in their last earthly bed, and I know that each was not more honoured and held sacred in the other's souls, then I was in the souls of both.

I see that child who lay upon her bosom and who bore my name, a man winning his way in that path of life which once was mine. I see him winning it so well, that my name is made illustrious there by the light of his. I see the blots I threw upon it, faded away. I see him, foremost of just judges and honoured men, bringing a boy of my name, with a forehead that I know and golden hair, to this place –then fair to look upon, with not a trace of this day's disfigurement – and I hear him tell the child my story, with a tender and a faltering voice.

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.” (page 379-80)

Throughout the passage, Carton speaks of the peace he has come to with the sacrifice. He speaks of Lucie and Darnay and their child, and the life they will continue on, ever grateful for him and the choice he is making that will demonstrate his love for Lucie. As he speaks he sees them, happy and reminiscent of him, who will have given them the ultimate gift. He sees them growing to their old age, always thinking of him who gave them this life. He is desperate in some way to find favor with Lucie.

He is Christ-like in his martyred sacrifice. “...and I know that each was not more honoured and held sacred to the other's soul, than I was in the souls of both.” Here he illustrates his desire to be well regarded and praised for his sacrifice, hoping in a sense that he can be as important to each of them as they are to each other. “I see the good old man, so long their friend, in ten years' time enriching them with all he has, and passing tranquilly to his reward”. Again, here he conveys his desire for recognition for his sacrifice. That he has given them everything, and he will peacefully pass on to his next stage in life. “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.” His sacrifice is selfishly motivated. He will do the best thing he has ever done in his life, and receive greater peace and rest than he has ever enjoyed. And everyone will love him for it.

Sydney Carton gives up his life quite anxiously. He is giving up his life, being okay with it. He seems ready. He realizes a great thing, and shares that with Lucie and Darnay. He has lived a great, full life, and is fine and ready to let it go. Relief fills his voice. Sydney tells it himself in first person, looking on and looking forward to what is going to happen. What Lucie will be like, what Darnay will say. It is a life lesson that we can all follow, as others do in the book. Sometimes you have to make a sacrifice. Throughout the novel, others start living that same lesson. We can all learn to make a simple, or even a hard sacrifice.

A Tale of Two Cities has many themes you can learn, and many different lessons. The novel teaches lessons that don't always come out in books. Sydney Carton, and the people in his life, watch as he learns and lives an amazing lesson. Sacrifice. He is okay leaving, and he knows he has lived a great life.