Sydney Carton: A Dynamic Character by Katerina
Katerina's entry into Varsity Tutor's October 2021 scholarship contest
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Sydney Carton: A Dynamic Character by Katerina - October 2021 Scholarship Essay
Although my sophomore year in high school is long gone, it still stands out to me the most. During this year, I was able to read some of the best works of literature including Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare, The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, and Night by Elie Wiesel. My personal favorite was A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. This novel is filled with history, action, and romance with numerous plot twists throughout the book.
One of my favorite characters in the book is Sydney Carton, who is the definition of a hopeless romantic. Carton is a lawyer who has a drinking problem. He has a very meaningless outlook on life and is often very depressed. He is a talented lawyer, representing Charles Darnay. Darnay is going on trial for espionage against the British King. These two men have two things in common. First off, they look exactly alike. Secondly, they both are in love with Lucie Manette, who is a young, blonde, kind woman. Darnay has Lucie's affections and they are planning to get married soon. Darnay is later found guilty at his trial, with his punishment being executed by guillotine. Carton, knowing Lucie is in love with Darcy, comes up with a crafty plan to pretend to be Darnay. He was willing to sacrifice his life to make Lucie happy. Carton's last words were "It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.” This means his sacrifice has redeemed him in some way.
Sydney Carton is a character I look up to and admire. Despite being rejected by Lucie, he still had a deep love and admiration for her. So much, he was willing to die for her and her husband if that meant she lived a happy life. Carton has taught me that sacrifices need to be made to maintain relationships with friends, family, and my partner. If my boyfriend wants to get Italian for dinner, even though I do not want that. I might sacrifice my choice for his. Although these types sacrifices are minuscule compared to Carton's, it is important that they will be made to make sure the relationships are successful.