A Tale of Two Cities Characters
The main characters in A Tale of Two Cities are Sydney Carton, Charles Darnay, and Lucie Manette.
- Sydney Carton is an outwardly cynical barrister who believes he has wasted his life. He ultimately sacrifices himself out of love for Lucie Manette and dies by guillotine in Charles Darnay’s place.
- Charles Darnay is a French aristocrat who has severed ties with his family, the cruel Saint Evremondes. He risks his life to save Gabelle and is saved from execution by Sydney Carton.
- Lucie Manette is a compassionate young woman who devotes herself to caring for her father, Dr. Manette, and eventually marries Charles Darnay.
Characters
Sydney Carton
Sydney Carton is an improbable hero who hides a noble and rather romantic nature beneath a carapace of hard-bitten cynicism. Carton is a barrister of high intelligence and considerable abilities whose career has nonetheless been unsuccessful, largely due to his lack of application and self-belief. He drinks a great deal and regards his life as worthless and wasted, which is one of the reasons why he decides to sacrifice it. The primary reason for his sacrifice, however, is his love for Lucie Manette, and it is his selfless concern for her happiness that finally elevates his deeply flawed character to the level of heroism.
Charles Darnay
Charles Darnay is a French aristocrat, a member of the Saint Evrémonde family, who has renounced his title and taken the name of Darnay in disgust at the cruel and oppressive conduct of the other Sainte Evrémondes. Darnay is physically very like Sydney Carton but psychologically quite dissimilar, as his character is open, honest, and quite free from cynicism. He is also less intelligent than Carton and seems not to grasp that Carton dislikes him principally because they both love Lucie Manette, and Darnay is able to marry her. Darnay is courageous and altruistic, risking his life when he returns to Paris to save Gabelle.
Lucie Manette
Lucie Manette is, in many ways, the archetypal Dickens heroine: young, beautiful, and so perfectly pure and good that she seems practically angelic. This is clearly the impression she makes on Sydney Carton, who loves Lucie but regards her as too far above him for him to think of marrying her. Lucie’s compassion and concern for Carton are a sign of her purity of heart, as is her selfless devotion to her father.
Dr. Alexandre Manette
After eighteen years of unjust imprisonment in the Bastille at the instance of the Sainte Evrémonde brothers, Dr. Manette is a physical and mental wreck, pitifully weak and perpetually terrified. The care of Lucie, the daughter he never met before his release from prison, gradually restores him to health and contentment.
Ernest Defarge
Monsieur Defarge is the former servant of Dr. Manette, who now keeps a wine shop in Paris. He is also a leader of the revolution, to which he has a strong ideological commitment. Defarge is strong, brave, and principled. He hates the aristocracy, and the Sainte Evrémonde family in particular, partly out of loyalty to Dr. Manette. Nonetheless, he is more moderate in his attitude to the revolution than many of his comrades, including his wife. The Defarges take a leading role in the storming of the Bastille, and Sydney Carton foresees that he will eventually die by the “retributive instrument” of the guillotine.
Thérèse Defarge
Madame Defarge, wife of Ernest, shares his commitment to the revolution, though her attitude is far more extreme and bloodthirsty than her husband’s. She is fearless and ruthless, and utterly implacable in her hatred of the Sainte Evrémonde family. Madame Defarge is one of the leading tricoteuses, the women who sit placidly knitting as they watch the public executions.
Jarvis Lorry
Jarvis Lorry is an orderly, methodical, and slightly vain old gentleman of about sixty. He is a manager at Tellson’s Bank and takes charge of the Paris branch during the revolution. Lorry is a loyal friend of the Manette family, providing them with practical, and eventually life-saving, help and support.
Jerry Cruncher
Jerry Cruncher is a messenger for Tellson’s Bank who also turns out to be a body snatcher (or “Resurrection-Man”). He is a rough, even violent character, though he shows loyalty toward Jarvis Lorry and his friends, the Manettes.
The Marquis de Sainte Evrémonde
The Marquis de Sainte Evrémonde is Charles Darnay’s uncle, a haughty and corrupt French aristocrat with a face like a sardonic mask. In his cruelty, arrogance, and complete lack of remorse for a lifetime of oppressive exploitation, including assault and murder, the Marquis symbolizes everything that is wrong with the French aristocracy and which causes the revolution.
Monseigneur
Monseigneur is a generic French aristocrat of a similar type to the Marquis de Sainte Evrémonde, though the two are not on good terms, as it becomes clear that Sainte Evrémonde is out of favor in court circles. Monseigneur also symbolizes the extreme decadence of the French aristocracy and the luxury in which they live. He has four gorgeously-liveried footmen to serve him his chocolate every morning, and Dickens sardonically observes that he would have been terribly ashamed to be waited on by only three servants and “must have died of two.” When the revolution begins, he has to escape ignominiously, disguised as a cook.
Mr. Stryver
Stryver is a pompous and talentless barrister, always shown pushing and shouldering his way to greater professional success through a throng of other lawyers. He relies on the intelligence of Sydney Carton, who “devils,” or prepares cases, for him.
John Barsad
John Barsad is a spy whose real name is Solomon Pross. He is an obviously unreliable witness at Charles Darnay’s trial in London and later serves as a police spy in Paris. Dickens describes him as a terrible scoundrel, comparing him to Judas Iscariot. He cynically exploits his sister, the kind-hearted Miss Pross, who is Lucie Manette’s governess.
Roger Cly
Roger Cly is a collaborator of John Barsad’s, also a spy and also untrustworthy, though less fully described. Cly is thought to have died, and his funeral procession is described, but when Jerry Cruncher digs up his coffin, it turns out to be full of rocks, meaning that Cly is alive and probably still working as a spy. Sydney Carton foresees his eventual death by guillotine.
Théophile Gabelle
Gabelle is an employee of the Sainte Evrémonde family whose letter to Charles Darnay, written from prison, brings Darnay to Paris. He is named after the gabelle, a very unpopular tax on salt, which was repealed in 1790, in the midst of the revolution, but reinstated by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1806.
Miss Pross
Miss Pross is the sister of Solomon Pross, also known as John Barsad, and governess to Lucie Manette. Her principal quality is her loyalty: she is strongly attached to Lucie and continually defends her brother, who shows her no consideration in return.
Expert Q&A
How would you describe the character "The Vengeance" in A Tale of Two Cities?
The character "The Vengeance" in A Tale of Two Cities symbolizes the retribution exacted by peasant revolutionaries against the French aristocracy. She represents the savage turn of the revolution, embodying revenge and violence. As Madame Defarge's companion, she illustrates the cycle of oppression and violence, showing that the oppressed, when in power, can become as brutal as their oppressors.
Describe the character Charles Darney from A Tale of Two Cities.
Charles Darnay, a main character in Charles Dickens's A Tale of Two Cities, is a French noble who renounces his aristocratic heritage due to his family's cruelty. Despite the dangers of the French Revolution, he embodies virtue and compassion, often risking his life for others. Darnay's honesty and bravery are evident when he reveals his background to his future father-in-law and returns to France to rescue a family servant, illustrating the novel's theme of good arising from evil.
What is the function of female characters in A Tale of Two Cities?
In A Tale of Two Cities, female characters play significant roles, reflecting the diverse impacts women had during the French Revolution. Madame Defarge epitomizes ruthless vengeance, embodying revolutionary zeal through violence. In contrast, Lucie Manette represents steadfast virtue and emotional strength, inspiring others' sacrifices. Miss Pross, offering comic relief, displays fierce loyalty and heroism, notably in her confrontation with Madame Defarge. These characters highlight women's varying influences on the novel's political and personal realms.
Which character in A Tale of Two Cities fits the temptress archetype?
In A Tale of Two Cities, Madame Defarge can be seen as fitting the temptress archetype. Although she does not seduce in the traditional sense, her manipulative and vengeful nature leads her husband and others into acts of cruelty beyond their own desires. Her relentless pursuit of revenge against the Evremonde family illustrates her role as a driving force behind the revolutionary violence, embodying both the temptress and devil archetypes.
Sydney Carton's Character Analysis in A Tale of Two Cities
Sydney Carton in Charles Dickens's A Tale of Two Cities is a well-rounded and dynamic character. Initially portrayed as a dissolute alcoholic with little ambition, Carton evolves significantly due to his unrequited love for Lucie Manette. This love inspires him to transform from a self-loathing, apathetic man into a self-sacrificing hero, ultimately redeeming himself by taking Charles Darnay's place at the guillotine. Carton's journey from despair to noble sacrifice illustrates his complex character development and highlights themes of redemption and love.
Mr. Lorry's character traits and their significance in "A Tale of Two Cities."
Mr. Lorry's character traits include loyalty, compassion, and practicality. These traits are significant as they guide his actions throughout A Tale of Two Cities. His loyalty to the Manette family drives much of the plot, his compassion aids in the emotional support of key characters, and his practicality helps navigate the turbulent times of the French Revolution.
Comparing and contrasting Madame Defarge and Lucie Manette in A Tale of Two Cities
Madame Defarge and Lucie Manette in A Tale of Two Cities contrast sharply in their motivations and actions. Madame Defarge is driven by vengeance and hatred, seeking retribution for her family's suffering, while Lucie Manette embodies compassion and love, striving to reunite and protect her family. Their opposing natures highlight the novel's themes of revenge and redemption.
What impression does Dickens want to give about the main character?
Charles Dickens uses the motif of doubles to contrast Sydney Carton and Charles Darnay, representing the darker and better sides of a man. Carton, initially portrayed as immature and directionless, gains nobility through his love for Lucie Manette, ultimately redeeming himself by sacrificing his life to save Darnay. Dickens wants readers to see Carton as capable of redemption and honor, embodying the idea that love is stronger than hate.
Doctor Manette's Character, Secrets, and Identity in "A Tale of Two Cities"
In A Tale of Two Cities, Dr. Manette is a complex character embodying resilience and love. Initially portrayed as a broken man due to his 18-year imprisonment by the aristocratic Evremonde brothers, he suffers from PTSD and obsesses over shoemaking. Despite his trauma, he is rational, honest, and deeply loves his daughter, Lucie. His backstory reveals the cruelty of the aristocracy, as his incarceration stemmed from witnessing their crimes. Dr. Manette's journey from a traumatized prisoner to a loving father highlights themes of redemption and the enduring human spirit.
Internal and external conflicts of the main characters in A Tale of Two Cities
In A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Darnay faces internal conflict over his aristocratic heritage and external conflict with the revolutionary forces in France. Sydney Carton struggles internally with his wasted life and unrequited love for Lucie Manette, while externally he faces the oppressive social structures of the time. Lucie Manette deals with the external conflict of her family's safety amidst the Revolution.
Jerry Cruncher's Character and Secret Activity in A Tale of Two Cities
Jerry Cruncher, a character in Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities, is depicted as a comic figure whose dialect reflects his lower socio-economic status and provides humor amidst the novel's seriousness. His unkempt appearance, notable for his spiky hair, mirrors his chaotic life. Cruncher's secret nighttime activity of grave robbing, or being a "resurrection man," underscores the novel's themes of resurrection and duality. His actions, though criminal, are metaphorically linked to the broader narrative of characters being "recalled to life," such as Dr. Manette and Sydney Carton.
Character Analysis and Defining Quotes in A Tale of Two Cities
In A Tale of Two Cities, Sydney Carton is often viewed as the hero due to his ultimate sacrifice, likened to a Christ-like figure. Despite a life marked by wasted potential, Carton redeems himself by taking Charles Darnay's place at the guillotine, ensuring happiness for Lucie, whom he loves. However, some argue that Miss Pross, with her patriotic determination, is the true hero, as she confronts Madame Defarge, preventing further revolutionary violence. Characterization in the novel is achieved through both direct and indirect means, with characters like Madame Defarge symbolizing revolutionary fervor.
Character Analysis and Development in A Tale of Two Cities
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens features a complex cast of characters whose development varies throughout the narrative. Key figures include Sydney Carton, a dissolute lawyer who ultimately redeems himself through self-sacrifice; Charles Darnay, a noble yet flat character; and Lucie Manette, a stereotypical Victorian heroine. Other significant characters include Dr. Manette, Madame Defarge, and Mr. Jarvis Lorry. Characters like Jerry Cruncher and Ernest Defarge provide comic relief and moral complexity, respectively. While some characters remain static, Sydney Carton undergoes significant transformation, highlighting themes of redemption and sacrifice.
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