Summary:
In the outstanding novel A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, many characters were changed by the love of others, even Sydney Carton, who was a drunken deppressed man in the begining, began to feel love and compassion towards the middle, and was willing to die for the one he loved in the end.
Can love change a person? Can it bring the good out in people? Some may ponder apon these questions wondering if it is possible to show unconditional love, and yes it is. Throughout the ages of man there have been many that have died for there country or their beliefs, and yet we see it to vaige to die for love. In the outstanding novel A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, many characters were changed by the love of others, even Sydney Carton, who was a drunken deppressed man in the begining, began to feel love and compassion towards the middle, and was willing to die for the one he loved in the end.
To begin with, Sydney Cartons horrid addiction to alcholol and carelessness for other life and his own was a big problem he encountered. Sydney Carton would completly isolate himself from others, and he shows this when others would try to talk to him he would just slouch down, and completly act as if the man was not there. Doing this showed he did not care to have a social life or to engage in a relationship with anyone, not even his own clients. Another example of Carton's disregard to others was after Charles Darnay's trial he said to Darnay, "As for me, the greatest desire I have is to forget that I belong to this. It is no good in it for me-except wine like this- nor I for it" (Littel 101). In this quote Carton shows that he has no desire to live, and that all that can please him is his wine. Carton displays that he has no will to live and that he is completly dependent on alcohol, but when shown love, he slowly begins to change.
Not only was Sydney Carton known for his carelessness and drunkenness, but he was also known to have changed into a person with a spark of compassion rising within himself. Sydney Carton begins his metamorphis from a ugly duckling to a beautiful swan, as he meets Lucie Manette, and opens himself up to her. Carton starts to change when he begins to speak with Lucie Manette, and during his most personal converation he said this, "I know very well that you have no tenderness for me. I ask for none; I am even thankful that it cannot be" (Littel 185). When Carton opens himself up to Lucie and tells her his feelings, he shows that even a man like himself can love. Another way Carton begins to express change is that he is becoming less and less abusing of alcohol. He does not drink in front of Lucies child, and is also very kind to her. As he falls in love with Lucies family, he begins to feel the love he has been giving returned to him by little Lucy, and others as well. By conversing and interacting with others Carton became more and more polite and caring.
Above all, Carton was remembered as a loving person by those that meant the most to him. As Carton reaches the Climax of his life he finds that it may also lead him to his death. When Carton hears that Charles Darney has been placed in prison again, he knows that he will be killed, and that daughter would become fatherless, Carton decides to take Darneys spot on the guillotine. Carton then drugs Charles Darney and switches his clothes with his, and gives Darney another chance at life, showing his love for Lucie and her family. As Carton awaits his turn to be executed his last thoughts were, "It is a 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." [Littel, 462] Carton is now happy to die becuase he finally believes that he is doing something that is worth living for, showing another human being love. As Carton places his head under the guillotine, he can not help but smile, for he is going to die for a reason that seems just, and righteous to him.
Thus concluding Sydney Carton's change from a deranged cold hearted alcoholic, to a man that finds a small flicker of light coming from a candle within himself. Taking in the love and compassion shown to him by Lucie Manette, turned that flicker into a enormous raging fire within himself, which led him into the Climax of his life, which also led him to his death. Lucie Manette's kindness allowed a monster like Sydney Carton to become a loving creature, if only Sydney Carton had been shown love sooner he may have lived a happier life, and even helped others as well.
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