Dickens doubles up pairs of people in order to show that history repeats itself. The life of one in the pair will always effect the other, and the person being effecting will be doomed (or in some places blessed) to walk in the other's footsteps. "Carton was the first stranger to whom little Lucie held out her little arms, and he kept his place with her as she grew." Older Lucie's love and compassion for those that have been considered outsiders or misunderstood has been passed on to little Lucie.
The excessive trend of doubling in A Tale of Two Cities encourages the idea that being independent is less desirable and two people bring far more happiness to each other and those around them then one does. This is shown in Stryver's conversation with Lucie, he yearns to be a part of a pair and feels the sorrow of being alone. "If it had been possible, Miss Manette, that you could have returned the love of the man you see before you- self-flung away, wasted, drunken, poor creature of misuse as you know him to be- he would have been conscious this day and hour, in spite of his happiness, that he would bring you to misery, bring you to sorrow and repentance, blight you, disgrace you, pull you down with him. I know very well that you can have no tenderness for me; I ask for none; I am even thankful that it cannot be." (Dickens Ch13)
Sydney Carton is befriending Darnay, in hopes of replacing Stryver. Carton knows he cannot compete with Stryver, so he told Darnay, "I wish we might be friends." (Chapter 20, 215)Carton is on his way in replacing Stryver because,"he no more thought of emerging from his state of lion's jackal, than any real jackal may be supposed to think of rising to be a lion." (Chapter 21, 220) Carton thought about leaving Stryver's side, just as many times as he thought of being the leader. Since Carton can not become the lion, he is trying to replace the Stryver by befriending Darnay.
Doubling in this novel is almost like an omen of death or replacement. Like seeing your doppleganger before you die, it's showing bad luck for the person who spots it. In the case of Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton, Darnay's appearance in Carton's life begins to slowly replace him. "Change places with him, and would you ave been looked at by those blue eyes as he was, and commiserated by that agitated face as he was? Come on, and you have it out in plain words! You hate each other." Carton wants Lucie, but is beginning to feel that after Darnay's appearance he will be pushed farther and farther away from that goal. Darnay is Carton's doppleganer, his omen of replacement. After Darnay's appearance in Carton's life he will continue to be shoved out of what he wants and into a deeper background.
Dickens doubles up pairs of people in order to show that history repeats itself. The life of one in the pair will always effect the other, and the person being effecting will be doomed (or in some places blessed) to walk in the other's footsteps. "Carton was the first stranger to whom little Lucie held out her little arms, and he kept his place with her as she grew." Older Lucie's love and compassion for those that have been considered outsiders or misunderstood has been passed on to little Lucie.
ReplyDeleteThe excessive trend of doubling in A Tale of Two Cities encourages the idea that being independent is less desirable and two people bring far more happiness to each other and those around them then one does. This is shown in Stryver's conversation with Lucie, he yearns to be a part of a pair and feels the sorrow of being alone. "If it had been possible, Miss Manette, that you could have returned the love of the man you see before you- self-flung away, wasted, drunken, poor creature of misuse as you know him to be- he would have been conscious this day and hour, in spite of his happiness, that he would bring you to misery, bring you to sorrow and repentance, blight you, disgrace you, pull you down with him. I know very well that you can have no tenderness for me; I ask for none; I am even thankful that it cannot be." (Dickens Ch13)
ReplyDeleteSydney Carton is befriending Darnay, in hopes of replacing Stryver. Carton knows he cannot compete with Stryver, so he told Darnay, "I wish we might be friends." (Chapter 20, 215)Carton is on his way in replacing Stryver because,"he no more thought of emerging from his state of lion's jackal, than any real jackal may be supposed to think of rising to be a lion." (Chapter 21, 220) Carton thought about leaving Stryver's side, just as many times as he thought of being the leader. Since Carton can not become the lion, he is trying to replace the Stryver by befriending Darnay.
ReplyDeleteDoubling in this novel is almost like an omen of death or replacement. Like seeing your doppleganger before you die, it's showing bad luck for the person who spots it. In the case of Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton, Darnay's appearance in Carton's life begins to slowly replace him. "Change places with him, and would you ave been looked at by those blue eyes as he was, and commiserated by that agitated face as he was? Come on, and you have it out in plain words! You hate each other." Carton wants Lucie, but is beginning to feel that after Darnay's appearance he will be pushed farther and farther away from that goal. Darnay is Carton's doppleganer, his omen of replacement. After Darnay's appearance in Carton's life he will continue to be shoved out of what he wants and into a deeper background.
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