Literary Devices in A Tale Of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

Dickens’ use of imagery in the form of allusion, repetitive syntax, and parallel syntax demonstrates his sympathetic tone toward Sydney Carton on pages 340-343 of the passage from Book 3, chapter 15 of  A Tale of Two Cities. 

In the middle of the passage, Dickens’ use of imagery in the form of allusion helps convey his sympathetic tone toward Sydney Carton. An allusion is a reference to a well-known person, place, event, or work of art. Before he dies, he visions long and happy lifes for  Doctor Manette, Mr. Lorry and Darnay’s family, all of whom remember him passionately. Sydney Carton has a vision saying “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”(Dickens 343).  He visions Lucie and Darnay having  a son and names it just like him and who will become the man Carton always wanted to be. Carton seems to be happy due to all the positive visions he has towards that family. As a result, it seems that Dickens also has empathy for Carton and has a sympathetic tone toward him. 

In the next paragraph, Dickens’ use of repetitive syntax continues to characterize Carton as a compassionate man and demonstrates Dickens’ sympathetic tone toward him. Repetition is when words, sounds, or ideas are used more than once for rhythm or emphasis. As Carton keeps having his visions before his death he keeps saying “I see Her with a child upon her bosom, who bears my name” (Dickens 343). Later, after having more visions he again says “I see that child who lay upon her bosom and who bore my name” (Dickens 343). Finally, toward the very end of the passage, he says again “I see Her with a child upon her bosom, who bears my name” (Dickens 343). Dickens’ uses repetition since Carton repeated at least part of the same quote word for word three times. The quote represents one of his allusions and characterizes him as a courageous man for sacrificing his life for Charles Darnay so he can be with Lucie and little Lucie. . By characterizing Carton as someone brave who would do anything for Lucie, Dickens seems to have a sympathetic tone toward Sydney Carton.

Throughout the rest of the passage, Dickens’ use of parallel syntax reveals his sympathetic tone toward Sydney Carton. Parallelism is when sentence parts have similar construction to show equal ideas; for emphasis; for rhythm. Carton is seeking rest in death from a world in which he has been a failure. Before his death Carton says “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” (Dickens 343). This quote represents Carton's last act as selfish in that the focus is on him and his actions. . By telling the reader that Carton’s desire to leave the world having accomplished something other than getting drunk could be viewed as a selfish act on his part,  Dickens gives rise to the reader’s sympathies once more and shows that he has a sympathetic tone toward Sydney Carton. 

In the end, Dickens’ use of imagery in the form of allusion, repetitive syntax, and parallel syntax helps reveal his  sympathetic tone toward Sydney Carton in the passage from Book 3, chapter 15 of A Tale of Two Cities. Carton is someone who sacrifices his life for the person he loves. This act is by far the ultimate sacrifice a human could make. He became the most memorable character in this book. His life transformed drastically because he went from being an alcoholic and having a useless life by doing a selfless act of heroism.