Sydney Carton is a 20-something “failure” in the eyes of well-bred British society. He proves a central impetus in the plot progression of A Tale of Two Cities. Despite his behind-the-scenes influence, he is regarded as a disappointment because of his dissoluteness and despondent outlook on life, especially when compared to characters like Lucie and Mr. Lorry. To enhance the image, Dickens orchestrates Carton’s appearance and socioeconomic status as aspects that complement his degraded inner state.
Some examples to highlight these characteristics:
“…the one wigged gentleman who looked at the ceiling…” (Book 2, Chapter 2). The first picture the reader has of Carton describes a man detached from those around him. The wig would suggest that Carton is fully integrated into proper society, but the aloof and persistent stare at the ceiling would argue that he doesn’t quite conform. However, the aloofness serves as a disguise – Carton ends up being the only one in court capable of acquitting Charles Darnay.
“Allowing for my learned friend's appearance being careless and slovenly if not debauched, they were sufficiently like each other to surprise, not only the witness, but everybody present, when they were thus brought into comparison” (Book 2, Chapter 3). Here are details on both Carton’s appearance and status; the two are interconnected. Because of his careless and disheveled appearance, the reader can infer that Carton does not have the status of a gentleman and likely has an ignoble background (orphaned, as a matter of fact).
Carton’s resemblance to Darnay only serves to emphasize the slovenly air about him, set against Darnay’s propriety and genteel dignity. The contrast between the two appearances makes Darnay seem like the “good” guy and Carton the “bad” guy.
“…this one man sat leaning back, with his torn gown half off him, his untidy wig put on just as it had happened to light on his head after its removal, his hands in his pockets, and his eyes on the ceiling as they had been all day. Something especially reckless in his demeanour, not only gave him a disreputable look, but so diminished the strong resemblance he undoubtedly bore to the prisoner…” (Book 2, Chapter 3). This quote emphasizes the one above. Torn gowns and untidy wigs suggest impoverishment, while the recklessness and disreputable aura point to a man who has been made bitter and hardened by life, and who could not be more different from his angelic doppelgänger.
“Looking gently at him again, she was surprised and saddened to see that there were tears in his eyes” (Book 2, Chapter 13). As the novel progresses, Carton’s expression changes. He becomes a man capable of tears; such a change in appearance can only be attributed to a change in heart, and a radical development in character.
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