Essay # 9

Jade

English 9

Mr. Salsich

11/30/10

Main Point/Thesis of Essay- Sydney Carton knows what he is, doesn't try to change it. However, is still changing.

Bell Word- Change

Paragraph 1 -- Opening

TS- Kind of person who thinks cant be changed

     CM- Doesn't know how to live any other way

     CM- Changing, not realizing

CS- Becoming someone better

Paragraph 2 -- First Body

TS- Does not think he can/will ever change.

     SD- Thinks he is a bad person 

          CM- Repeatedly tells people this (Lucie, Darnay etc)

          CM- Does not think too much of it, almost accepts it

     SD- Inside he wants to change

          CM- Doesn't know how

          CM- Subconsciously reaches out to people

     SD- Doesn't realize he's changing

          CM- Loves Lucie, started to change when he realized this

          CM- Becoming different person, Lucie might like more

CS- Starting to change because of one person

Paragraph 3 -- Second Body

TS- I would tell Carton to stop fighting what's happening

     SD- Though he doesn't realize completely, he is changing

          CM- Needs to learn to let go, stop trying to be the recluse

          CM- Go with whats naturally happening

     SD- Acting like a martyr, needs to stop

          CM- Behavior not good, drawing neg. attention from everyone 

          CM- Everyone except Lucie, who cares for him 

     SD- Lucie is making him a more sensitive person

          CM- Needs to use that, become that person fully

          CM- Stop pushing feelings away (for Lucie) try to get her by being better

CS- Need to accept what's going on, denial not good

Paragraph 4 -- Closing

TS- Everything always changing

     CM- Even if same pattern still changes

     CM- Learn to embrace change, part of everything

CS- Make him (and us) find new us

TS There are people in our world, both fictional and non fictional, who believe they will never change. In the book A Tale of Two Cites, by Charles Dickens, Sydney Carton is one of those characters. SD He is forever seeing himself as a bad person, and on more than one occasion has not refrained from expressing these thoughts. CM Both Charles Darnay and Lucie Manette have witnessed first hand his rants on how he is a  "self-flung away, wasted, drunken, poor creature of miss use" (Dickens, 156). CM With this being said, most would strive to become something else, something better. However, Carton is different. He acts with indifference, almost acceptance when this subject is brought up. SD Even with this being said, deep down inside he craves to be a better person. CM The only thing prohibiting him from doing do is his lack of information regarding how to make connections with people. CM However, since his conscience is not strong enough to pull him out of his dark little hole, his sub conscience still reaches out the only way it knows how, by spending time with Lucie. SD This small action is one that proves he is changing. CM Lucie has been the key since he realized he loved her. CM It is this love that is changing Carton into a different person, whether he struggles against it or not. CS And it is because of this one person, a seemingly boring character in Dickens entire plot, that is provoking such large reactions out of some of the more regular characters in the novel.

TS I only have a few pieces of advice for Sydney Carton, for I only see a few things that I feel need improvement. He may choose to live his life as an antisocial misanthrope, ignoring those around him and the advice they give, but he must not avoid or try to put a stop to who he is changing into to. SD Even if he doesn't realize it now, Carton is changing into someone else. Who this person is, only time can reveal. CM He needs to accept the fact that change is on the way for him and not put up a fight, for it will only disfigure his personality further. CM By letting go of his grasp on his version of "control" he will be able t flow more freely down the path he is destined to take. SD Being the modern day martyr is something that Carton also needs to work on. CM Though he is opening up to people like Lucie and Charles, he is working diligently to make sure he sounds like the one suffering constantly. His behavior is drawing negative attention to all those except for Lucie, who is remarkably able to see the good in him.