STRYVER AND CARTON :
Both
Stryver and Carton attended Shrewsbury School and studied law in Paris.Both
became barristers in London.
Stryver was agressive in his career, Carton was
unmotivated.Stryver excelled in arguing his cases, but lacked the
talent necessary to prepare them. Carton's talent lay
in the preparation, and the work he did behind the scenes for
Stryver became the foundation for Stryver's success.
Both would have liked to marry Lucie Manett.
Stryver saw her as a trophy wife.He never considered her feel -
ings at all, but presumed she would want him because
he was sucessful.When he realized she did not, he referred
to her as a "mincing fool".He later claimed that she
had tried to trap him into marraige but that he was too smart
to fall for such feminine wiles.This was of course
an outright lie.
Carton knew from the start he had no chance of marrying
Lucie.But he always considered her feelings first.She is
the only one to whom he reveals his true feelings,and
promises that he will always be ready to do anything for her
-even to give his life .
CARTON AND DARNAY:
They
are alike physically but very unlike in character.Darnay is neatly dressed,
Carton is always careless and
rather sloppy. Darnay is modestly sucessful
in his work as tutor, Carton is a failure in his career.Darnay has a
happy family life, Carton is alone. Carton
sees in Darnay the man he might have been, and at first is envious.
But he later apologises to Darnay for his
former rudeness and asks if they might be friends. Darnay seems like
the strong one,Carton the weak one,unable
to deal with life. In the end, Carton emerges as the strong one,while
Darnay leaves the story weak and helpless.
DARNAY AND THE MARQUIS:
The
Marquis considers the poor as being of no worth as human beings. Darnay
believes in the "rights of man"
which should extend to all. He refuses
to live as the Marquis does, extravagantly and at the expense of the
poor. He is considerate to all, regardless
of their station in life, while the Marquis is considerate toward none.
MISS PROSS AND CARTON:
Both
Miss Pross and Carton are devoted to Lucie and will do anything for her.Carton
sacrifices his life so that
Lucie and her family can escape safely. Miss
Pross is ready to sacrifice her life in her struggle with Madame
DeFarge so that Lucie can escape.
MISS PROSS AND MADAME
DEFARGE:
Both
are very strong,determined women. Miss Pross is determined to protect Lucie
no matter what the cost.
Madame DeFarge is just as determined to destroy
Darnay's family.
MR. LORRY AND CARTON:
Mr.Lorry
is a "man of business", Carton says of himself that he "has no business".
Carton's indifferent attitude
seems to annoy Mr.Lorry. Over time, Carton recognises
Mr.Lorry as a "good man and a true friend".
. Years later, Mr. Lorry is the first one Carton seeks
out when he reaches Paris. During those difficult last days,
Carton reveals to Mr.Lorry some of his
deepest feelings, and Mr. Lorry begins to see him in a different
light
for the first time.
ERNEST AND THERESE DEFARGE:
As
a youth, Ernest DeFarge was a servant for the young Dr.Manette. Therese
DeFarge's sister, father ,brother,
and brother-in-law all died because of the St.Evrémonde
brothers. As a result, Therese was determind to punish
the entire St.Evrémonde family. She could
be compared to the extremists then in power who suspected enemies
were lurking around every corner.Ernest could
not see exterminating the whole family, and called for moderation,
just as there was a political cry for clemency
at that time.
LUCIE AND MADAME DEFARGE:
Lucie
was the image of the perfect woman:devoted daughter and wife, compassionate,
caring,creating a peaceful
home for her family. Madame DeFarge is
pictured as bloodthirsty,leading women in battle,defying her husband's
wishes.Lucie has two children,Madame DeFarge
has none,which at that time was thought to be defective,inferior
and not measuring up to real womanhood.
Lucie is "golden-haired", angelic; Madame DeFarge is dark-haired,
a tigeress, absolutely without pity.
CARTON AND DR.MANETTE:
Both
had dark secrets that made life sometimes difficult. Dr.Manette's long
imprisonment caused him to lose his
reason, and even after he recovered, times of
great stress would cause him to relapse.The real reason for his
imprisonment is not revealed until Darnay's second
trial in Paris. Carton is in a figurative prison ,from which he
can find no escape ,except in death. The reasons
why he changed from a "youth of great promise" to "a
disappointed drudge" are never revealed.
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