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I, for one, have had a great appreciation for Sydney Carton, an eventually christlike character in A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.  The theme of how self-sacrifice is necessary should be discussed around the often less-discussed notion of apotheosis.

Obviously, there is the fundamental contrast in Carton's character from a lazy and apathetic character, highlighted by the moral probity of the similar-looking Charles Darnay, to being the selfless lover who overcomes envy for the benefit of Darnay and Mannette.   "It is a far, far better place..." that he's going to.

     Aside from this palpable contrast, however, it's also interesting to note how the voice of Sydney Carton shifts from being common to being prophetic.   This occurs after Darnay, mistaken for our hero, is removed from death row and Carton develops a Christlike aura around him that draws the unnamed girl, also waiting to be guillotined, to him. 

      When the girl worries about what will happen to her cousin under the First Republic, Carton replies "What then, my gentle sister?"  This is followed by his assurance that there is a kingdom of heaven where all the faillings of this world are rendered more than bearable as "There is no time there, and no trouble there."  Indeed, this process of apotheosis culminates with how Carton uses prophetic language to describe the happines of Darnay and Mannette with a new child named after our hero.