Sydney Carton essays

Sydney Carton essays The novel A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens is full of determined characters who will do anything to obtain their individual goals. But to me, the most purpose-driven character in this book is definitely Sydney Carton. He shows his determination in several, sometimes paradoxical ways. Consequently, some readers may consider him a hypocrite. But I ask: is it not a sacrifice toward ones goal in life to change his or her very beliefs because of that goal? Sydney Cartons goal in life is to make Luce Manette Darnay happy, and he will do anything to achieve it. Besides his goal of wanting to make Lucie felicitous, Sydney is also determined to do anything to make people understand his point. In the beginning of the book, he asks Charles to go to dinner. At this dinner, Sydney wants the fact that he does not like Charles to be apparent. He does not care that he makes a fool of himself by getting horribly drunk, and that he asks Charles rude, on-the-spot questions. He doesnt even bother to pay for the wine he drank or for Charles meal; instead, he has Charles pay. Provided that Sydney does not like Charles, it comes as a surprise to the reader that in order for Sydney to achieve his goal of Lucies happiness, he must later change his attitude toward Charles. This is where Sydney can be considered a hypocrite, but where I consider him selflessly devoted. After the embarrassing scene Sydney made when he went to dinner with Charles, he swallows his pride for Lucies sake and actually befriends Charles. He even goes as far as to open his heart up to Lucie and to tell her that to make Lucie happy is to make himself happy (or as close as he can get). This fact is also made evident on several occasions when he is acting for her benefit it is said that a look of inspiration in the eyes...not only contradicted his light manner, but changed and raised the man. In other words, he w...