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   jilllessa Teacher
   High School - 10th Grade

   eNotes Editor

   As I am sure you know, Sydney Carton never marries in the book, but in chapter XIII of Book Two,( I do not give pages because my copy is old and outdated and would not do you any good) he lets down his rough persona for a moment to show Lucy his deeper feelings.  He has come to let her know of his love for her.  It appears that he sees marriage to her as a possible redemption for himself.  He says that "You have been the last dream of my soul." continuing to say that knowing her had made him feel remorseful of his sinful life.  He continues " I have had unformed ideas of striving afresh, beginning anew, shaking off sloth and sensuality, and fighting out the abandoned fight."  He sees marriage as an ideal and if he could but attain that ideal he could be saved.  Unfortunately, he knows that Lucy does not love him and he does not want her to feel sorry for him or feel responsible for him.  This marriage to her is an unattainable ideal, but he pledges his love to her and promises that he would give his life to make her happy.  That is truly where he will find his redemption.

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   http://www.enotes.com/twocities/book-second-chapters-12-1...

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   Posted by jilllessa on Thursday February 19, 2009 at 6:27 PM