In book three, Sydney Carton becomes a very important person in the story. Sydney is a more complicated character than what is on his cold, depressed, alcohol-soaked exterior. He has multiple layers to his character that include personalities of joy and empathy as clearly illustrated in the middle of Book 3. Lorry and he break down in tears at the realization that Charles Darnay is most likely going to be executed for reasons that don’t make a ton of sense. Carton could care less about the well-being of Darnay; however he is truly a friend to Lorry and shows empathy and compassion for him in this hard time. I truly believe that Carton dislikes Darnay on multiple levels. First, he said at one point, while thoroughly intoxicated, he says straight out of the blue, “I don’t like you”. Ignoring the blatant and seemingly unprovoked hatred that he has for Darnay, it doesn’t help when Carton is in love with his fiancé. That is really the only valid reason Carton has for disliking him. Carton should be jumping for joy at the idea that his main competition for Lucy will soon be out of the picture. However, contrary to what would happen nine times out of ten, he is sad. This sadness is in NO WAY caused by Darnay’s imamate death, but rather because his friend, a man who very seldom shows emotions is weeping.
I do not think, due to the context clues, that Carton is a very religious man. Nonetheless, a bible verse has made a huge effect on him; said at his father’s funeral, the verse shows that faith in God shows a path to never ending life. After thinking about this verse, Carton has an epiphany. He comes to the conclusions as to why he was put on this earth and what his “calling” will be. Typically, this conjures up images of Carton doing something horribly reckless, and dangerous, that will end someone’s life, possibly his own. If I had to predict what this act will be, I would say it involves himself, Darnay and a guillotine. His one and only love, Lucy, is about to watch her husband be killed for something that he doesn’t really deserve. I put this together by compiling the two realizations that Carton has had recently, his love of Lucy, and his calling in life. Long story short, Carton is going to risk his life to make the woman he loves happy.
