Charles+Darnay

Tim D.

Throughout the book, __A Tale of Two Cities__, by Charles Dickens, Charles Darnay is made out to be a bad man of the aristocracy by many people of the French revolution. He is also thought to be a part of the many wrongdoings his father and uncle had done in the past. Darnay does several things to escape his past and his ancestors' history, such as changing his name from Charles St. Evremonde to Charles Darnay, fleeing France for England, and renouncing his status as a Marquis. It seems that everyone is against Darnay even though he has never done anything wrong. Charles Darnay is put on trial three times. Once in England and twice in France. He goes on trial in England because he is suspected of treason but is found innocent because of his shocking resemblance to Sydney Carton. As the revolution is going on in France, Darnay's old servant Gabelle sends him a letter asking for his help because Gabelle has been arrested. Darnay goes to France, but he is immediately arrested because of his roots in the aristocracy and considered an enemy of the republic. While on trial in Paris, Darnay pleads his case and tells them that he is not a part of the aristocracy. He also tells the court that his father in-law is Doctor Manette, which seems to change the attitude of the people in Darnay's favor, "This answer had a happy effect upon the audience. Cries in exaltation of the well-known good physician rent the hall. So capriciously were the people moved, that tears immediately rolled down several ferocious countenances which had been glaring at the prisoner a moment before..." (289). Darnay is then found innocent and leaves with Lucie, Doctor Manette, and little Lucie in joy. However, a brief period after returning to their living quarters, four "police" men show up and tell them that Darnay is to be put back on trial, accused by three people. "I seek him. We seek him. I know you, Evremonde; I saw you before the tribunal to-day. You are again the prisoner of the Republic (297)." Two of the accusers are Madame Defarge and Monsieur Defarge, and the other is to be revealed the next day at the trial. At the trial, the third accuser is revealed to be Doctor Manette. Manette is considered an accuser because of a letter he wrote about Darnay's uncle and father and what the terrible things they did. Darnay is found guilty of being an enemy of the Republic and will soon be sent to the guillotine. On the day Darnay is supposed to die, Sydney Carton contrives a plan with Doctor Manette. Mr. Lorry, Manette, Lucie, and little Lucie will attempt to leave France and Sydney Carton will go to the prison after making an arrangement with Barsad the French spy. When Carton arrives at the prison, he goes to Darnay's cell. Carton then tells Darnay to start switching clothes with him. After swapping, Darnay looks like Carton and vice versa. Darnay is carried out of the prison believed to be Carton, and is taken to Mr. Lorry and his family. "They raised the unconscious figure, placed it on a litter they had brought to the door and bent to carry it away" (359). They then escape France and Carton makes the ultimate sacrifice for Charles Darnay. Throughout this book, Charles Darnay, the former aristocrat, is made out to be a criminal by many people, such as the English for treason, and the French for being an enemy of the Republic. Darnay is a good man because he escaped his past and made up for his ancestors' mistakes.