Tale of Two Cities: Illuminator: Blog 4
This is what is believed that Sydney Carton’s final vision (thought) was before being executed:
“I see Barsad, and Cly, Defarge, The Vengeance, the Juryman, the Judge, long ranks of the new oppressors who have risen on the destruction of the old, perishing by this retributive instrument, before it shall cease out of its present use. I see a beautiful city and a brilliant people rising from this abyss, and, in their struggles to be truly free, in their triumphs and defeats, through long years to come, I see the evil of this time and of the previous time of which this is the natural birth, gradually making expiation for itself and wearing out.
“I see the lives for which I lay down my life, peaceful, useful, prosperous and happy, in that England which I shall see no more. I see Her with a child upon her bosom, who bears my name. I see her father, aged and bent, but otherwise restored, and faithful to all men in his healing office, and at peace. I see the good old man, so long their friend, in ten years’ time enriching them with all he has, and passing tranquilly to his reward.
“I see that I hold a sanctuary in their hearts, and in the hearts of their descendants, generations hence. I see her, an old woman, weeping for me on the anniversary of this day. I see her and her husband, their course done, lying side by side in their last earthly bed, and I know that each was not more honoured and held sacred in the other’s soul, than I was in the souls of both.
“I see that child who lay upon her bosom and who bore my name, a man winning his way up in that path of life which once was mine. I see him winning it so well, that my name is made illustrious there by the light of his. I see the blots I threw upon it, faded away. I see him, fore-most of just judges and honoured men, bringing a boy of my name, with a forehead that I know and golden hair, to this place — then fair to look upon, with not a trace of this day’s disfigurement — and I hear him tell the child my story, with a tender and a faltering voice.
“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.”
—-
The quote was a little difficult to understand, but I’ll start out with the explanation of the title. I think that the name of the tile is refering to the incident when Lucie thought that she heard in footsteps on the stairs and the French Revolution events going on in Lucie’s home. I think that the title indicates that Lucie and her family’s troubles are over. I think that Carton is thinking about the future and what will happen in his friends’ lives (Darnay and Lucie). He will be in a way “resurrected” through the birth of Lucie’s son, and later on, through her grandson. Lucie will remember him and cry on the anniversary of his sacrifice and death. He also tells of how good a man Darnay was and how he and Lucie will grow old together happily. He will also be forever remembered because people will pass on the story of his sacrifice and he will be remembered in that way. I think that Carton’s last vision was of his friends Lucie and Darnay and their life. In this way he lives up to his nickname of “Memory” as well.
Do you have any different ideas of what Sydney Carton’s last quote meant? Use evidence from the quote.
-Maddie Zinn
Category: Per 1 ToTC Illum 3 comments »
March 7th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
I’m really glad that you chose this quote because the last sentence of the book really stuck in my mind. My ideas on this portion aren’t really that different than yours. I think you got most of the points right, but there are a few things that I’d like to add. The first “paragraph” is talking about how all the revolutionaries who were trying to make France a better place were being just as oppressive as those in the past were. And so history is doomed to repeat itself and they too will be executed. After that, I think Carton was saying that things would all work out for France and the nation would be put under a leader who could restore things to order and peace. In the next part he is talking about the Darnays having a good, long, life and how they will name their son for him. Also, Dr. Manette will be restored to good health. The third paragraph you got exactly right, the Darnays will always remember Carton’s sacrifice and cry for him. For the fourth part I would like to add that Carton sees his name’s sake becoming the man that he always wished he could be. Carton messed up his life through his numerous problems, but Lucie’s son will do it right. I believe the last sentence is self-explanatory: his last act is the greatest thing he has ever done and will bring him the most rewarding results.
Erin B.
March 8th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
To me it seems that Carton is happy to die for the people of England that he thinks are enjoying life more than he is. He feels that he is making a sacrifice so that there can be peace in everyone else’s life. The proof of this is based off of this part of the quote, “I see the lives for which I lay down my life, peaceful, useful, prosperous and happy, in that England which I shall see no more.”. I do not think that Carton was fully happy even though he appeared to be a wealthy and content man.
-megan campbell
March 8th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
I think that his quote shows that Carton is happy to sacrafic his life for the people like Megan said with the quote,”I see the lives for which I lay down my life, peaceful, useful, prosperous and happy, in that England which I shall see no more.”
I also think that the part that says,”I see that child who lay upon her bosom and who bore my name..” Is referring to Lucie and her children that she will have. I find it intersting that this was said by Carton and he is talking about the child having his name, do you think that this may mean that Lucie will maybe name a child after Carton because she is greatful of his actions. Or is it just supposed to be said by Darnay about his wife naming their child after him. So the question is, is this line said by Carton himself or Carton pretending to be Darnay and putting on an act?
Finally the part that says,”It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done…” I think that Carton is trying to say that he has made mistakes and has done things wrong throughtout this life, but this is the right thing to do and that this is the best thing that he has done.
~Lauren Gress~