DewyCarr CollegePrep2,2ndhour Mrs.Magel 18Feb.2013 TheDynamicSydneyCarton Inmanymotionpicturesandnovels,aprevalentthemeistheuseofdynamiccharactersor charactersthatserveandtakeonmultiplerolesthroughoutthecourseofastory.Inthenovel,ATale ofTwoCities,CharlesDickensmasterfullyusesdynamiccharacters.Althoughtherearemanydynamic charactersinthenovel,themainshowcaseofthisisthroughthecharacterSydneyCarton.Sydney Cartonisportrayedinthreedifferentwayinthenovel:anoutcast,anintellectual,andahero. SydneyCartonsfirstcharacterpersonalityisanoutcast.Heisseenbythecommonpeopleas adrunkenlowlifewhoshowslittletonocareforanything.Sydneylivesuptohisoutcastpersonality whenhestates,Thenyoushalllikewiseknowwhy.Iamadisappointeddrudge,sir.Icarefornoman onearth,andnomanonearthcaresforme(Dickens81).ThisquoteshowsthatCartonisanoutcast becausehehasnocareintheworldforanyonebesideshimselfandhisliquor.

Dickensalsopaintsthe imageofadrunkencarelessmanthroughthisquote.Anotherquotethatgivesstronginfluenceof Cartonspersonalityis,Heresortedtohispintofwineforconsolation,drankitallinafewminutes, andfellasleeponhisarms,withhishairstragglingoverthetable,andalongwindingsheetinthecandle drippingdownuponhim(Dickens82).Dickensincorporatesthisquotetoshowthereaderhow scummyCartonlookedattimes.Inmoderndayetiquette,adrunkenmanpassedoutonatablewould beseenasverydisrespectfulandunmannerly.Cartonshowsthroughthesequoteswhyheisanearly outcastinthenovel.

TheseconddynamicpersonalityCartonportraysistheintellectual.Anintellectualpersonisone whoshowsnoemotion,andonewhousesreasoninstead.Manycharactersincommonstoriestakeon moreofthepassionaterolepassioniswhatsparksthemainfocusofmostreaders.Intellectual charactersarecreatedtoshowthedifferenceinthesesocalledpassionatecharacters.Agreatexample ofatimewhenCartontakesontheroleofanintellectisinDarnaystrial.IknowIknow,rejoined Mr.Cartoncarelessly.Dontbenettled,Mr.Lorry.Youareasgoodasanother,Ihavenodoubt better,Idaresay(Dickens79).Thisquoteshowsthecareless,emotionlesspersonalityofMr.Carton. Heisatthetrialofamanwhocouldbesenttotheguillotinehowever,hehasverylittlecareand continuestoactuninterestedinthematter.AnothertraitofanintellectualpersonishumblenessCarton showsthatheneedslittleornorecognitionforsavingthelifeofDarnay.Atlast,itbegantogetabout, amongsuchaswereinterestedinthematter,thatalthoughSydneyCartonwouldneverbealion,hewas anamazinglygoodjackal,andthatherenderedsuitandservicetoStryverinthathumble capacity(Dickens84).ThisquoteshowsthereaderthatMr.Cartonisahumblemanwhouseshis patienceandreasontodealwithdifferentproblems.Thisquotealsostatesthathegoesabouthiswork inahumblemanner.Sydneyisanintellectualbecauseofhispassionless,humblepersonalitythroughout thenovel. ThethirdandmostmemorablerolethatCartonplaysinATaleofTwoCitiesishero.Dickens foreshadowedtheendingofthenovelwhenheputthesceneinwhereCartonvisitsLucieandtellsher thathewilldoanythingforher.SydneyisfacedwiththerealitythathewillnotbeabletobewithLucie andthatthebestthinghecandowithhislifeissacrificeitforherfamilyshappiness.Itisafar,far betterthingthatIdothanIhaveeverdoneitisafar,farbetterrestthatIgotothanIhaveever known(Dickens343).Thisquotationistakenfromtheverylastsceneofthenovel.Cartonhas

changedplaceswithCharlesDarnay,whoisnowLucieshusband,tobeexecutedforhiscrime.This showstheheroicpersonalityofCarton,becausenowLucieandherfamilyareensuredafreshstartand newoutlookonlife.Cartonisalsoputateaseandfindshisinnerpeacefromthisheroicact.Cartons sacrificecanbecomparedtothatofJesusChrists,heensuresthelongevityandlivelihoodofthe people,orinCartonscaseLuciesfamily. CharlesDickensusesmanydynamiccharactersinhisnovel,ATaleofTwoCities.Themost pronounceddynamiccharacterisSydneyCartonhowever.Cartontakesonthreemainroles:outcast, intellectual,andahero.Heisexpressedfirstasamanofbaddemeanorandlittlecare,andthenasa herobecauseofhisheroicsacrificehemakes.Cartoncanbecomparedtomanycharactersinmodern storiesthat,abandontheirmainunit,onlytoreturnintimesofdireneedandmaketheultimatesacrificail save.ThisiswhySydneyCartonisthemostdynamiccharacterinATaleofTwoCities.