A Tale of Two Cities

When the book was written, I believe that Dickens really intended Darney and Lucy to be the hero and heroine of the tale.  They were the ideal Victorian characters, although I find them somewhat boring.  To me, Carton is the hero for his love for Lucy and of course for the final act of sacrifice which brings about his redemption from a life full of vice and sin. Any comments?

i'd say carton is definately the hero. i would have to agree that charles and lucie are very boring characters. I think carton is not only an interesting character, but he is a hero for giving up his life to save charles.

Most definitely Carton is the hero. Who would willingly take the place of a man who is about to be executed? There is no indication in the rest of the story that he is suicidal or has a death wish. He truly means it when he says, "Tis a far, far better thing I do...." I don't think I could do it!

Carton is not only the hero, he is also the figure Dickens intendes to liken to Christ himself. Similar to how Christ gives up his life in exchange for all of humanity, or all those he loves, Carton also gives his life for the people he loves. The final words of the book are some of the most popular in literature, for this reason. He also finds value in his otherwise wasted existence in this sacrifice. The other comment made here is the question of fate vs. destiny. Did Carton alter fate by taking the place of Charles at the guillotine? Or was it his fate to die in this way all along? This is a much debated topic.