Summary:
A Tale of Two Cities compares Carton's will for self betterment with Evremonde careless attitude and self-centerdness. Evremonde did not care to change his self-serving attitude, and it lead to the ruin of many lives, and, ultimately, his demise. Carton's want of a better life led to meaning for his life, and a heroic death. Having an attitude that seeks change for the better can be seen as a far, far better thing that one has ever done.
It has often been said that it is human nature to fear change. This fear however, is misplaced. In many instances the change involved can be a complete transformation of a character rather than a small change in life style. These changes are usually the ones not to be feared, but rather greeted with open arms, as was the case with Carton in A Tale of Two Cities. He began as a drunkard, and ended the book by dieing as a hero, highlighting the idea in the book that care about what one does will often lead to much better things than a careless attitude, because Sydney Carton cared greatly that his life was leading nowhere, and greatly wished to change that. In fact, a careless attitude can lead to not only the destruction of one's own life, but can ruin the lives of countless others.
During the novel, Carton strived many times to find meaning in his life. He began the novel as nothing but a drunkard who happened to bear a striking resemblance to a man, whom some might hold in high regards. The drunkenness is to make the reader look down upon, and even feel sorry for Carton at this point, because Carton's life has had no purpose thus far. Carton also wishes that his life could have meaning, which he displays through his jealousy for Darnay. His attitude for want of change is used by Dickens to contrast the carelessness of the Marquis St. Evremonde, who cares not for anyone who he views to be lower in status than he. This is shown in the scene when Evremonde's carriage runs over the poor man's, Gaspar's, son. The readers detestment of Evremonde is heightened when Evremonde show no remorse for this action. It is at this point in the novel where the reader will greatly see the effect that Evremonde's carelessness is having on not only the people around him, but Evremonde himself. It also serves to highlight the attitude of Carton and his want to change, as opposed to Evremonde's need to feel superior and unchanging resentment towards anyone with an empty pocketbook.
Carton's first major change comes when his likeness to Darnay is first used to acquit Darnay, who is on trial as a French spy. Carton's life then has gained a little meaning, but at this point, he doe not truly realize it, or begin to grasp that he is more than just a drunkard. Carton's attitude of wanting to make himself better has already touched the life of one, and at this point, the reader might assume that Carton will serve to do much the same thing again, but on a much grander scale. Dickens uses Evremonde to show the reader how much better it is to have hopes for a brighter future, and actively pursue self-betterment, as was the case with Carton, rather than having black heart and a careless attitude towards everything. Throughout the novel, the reader is made to feel unchanging hatred towards Evremonde for his terrible acts, and pity towards Carton, which eventually changes into reverence with his final, selfless act.
The final stage of Carton's change come at the end of the novel, when he willingly gives his life to save the life of Darnay. His death is seen as a positive event by the reader, because he is finally achieving what he has wished for all his life, meaning. This contrasts the death of the power-hungry, careless Evremonde who was murdered out of hatred for his actions, highlighting the theme that pursuance of change into a better person is one of the most important things a person can do. Had Carton pursued a life of crime and evil, or not wished for change at all, he would have died an unimportant drunkard with a meaningless life.
Change for the better does not come to those who do not seek it. Evremonde did not care to change his self-serving attitude, and it lead to the ruin of many lives, and, ultimately, his demise. Carton's want of a better life led to meaning for his life, and a heroic death. Having an attitude that seeks change for the better can be seen as a far, far better thing that one has ever done.
This is the complete article, containing 711 words
(approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page).
