From: David Parker (cdickens@RMPLC.CO.UK)
Date: Tue Feb 09 1999 - 06:32:50 PST
My Dear Miss Cox, It was the contrast in their characters, I suppose, that most interested me in Carton and Darnay, that urged me most strongly to develop them: the contrast initially, that is, and the final concord. Darnay is all honour and renunciation. He renounces his wicked family, his birthright his country. He puts himself at risk to assist old Gabelle. His enemies - Cly,. the Defarges - are sinister or obsessive. Carton in contrast is deeply self-indulgent, devoid not only of a sense of honour but of any higher aim. When he does good he does it carelessly, indifferently. His worst enemy is himself. But the two come together in their love for Lucie. If Darnay's sense of honour places her happiness at risk, Carton's self-sacrifice rescues it. And rescues him. He is redeemed by it, and cherished in the memory of those for whom he offers it. Faithfully yours, Charles Dickens ____________________________________________________________________________ _________ -----Original Message----- From: coxde@hotmail.com <coxde@hotmail.com> To: cdickens@RMPLC.CO.UK <cdickens@RMPLC.CO.UK> Date: 09 February 1999 04:39 Subject: Re: http://www.rmplc.co.uk/eduweb/sites/chatback/index.html >Dear Mr. Dickens: > >My eleventh grade English class is currently studying your novel A Tale of Two Cities. In the midst of Book II, the differences and similarities between Sydney Carton and Charles Darnay are becoming more intricately woven. While most of my students are aware of the fact that you are using these characters as a "small scale" metaphor for the interconnectedness between France and England, I was hoping you might discuss in more detail your reasons for intertwining the lives of these two characters. > >Sincerely, > >Deborah Cox >Ontario, Canada >