“Read, every day, something no one else is reading. Think, every day, something no one else is thinking. Do, every day, something no one else would be silly enough to do. It is bad for the mind to continually be part of unanimity.”
Christopher Morley
Great literature should do more than entertain us. It should provide a roadmap to improving our lives.
In A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens introduced readers to Sydney Carton, one of literature's most compelling and deeply flawed characters. Dickens also gives him an unusual title: the Jackal.
His struggles raise questions that remain relevant today.
Are we defined by our past mistakes? Can we overcome our weaknesses? What separates the people we are from the people we could become?
Lessons From the Jackal is a 25-day character study exploring these questions through Sydney Carton’s life, decisions, relationships, and personal development.
This is not a traditional course on A Tale of Two Cities. Our reading assignments will focus specifically on Carton, with sufficient background provided to understand his story. No previous knowledge of the novel is necessary.
Each day will feature selected readings, historical comparisons, reflection questions, discussions, and practical challenges ...
John Newton (1725–1807)
John Newton was an English sailor, slave trader, Anglican minister, and eventual opponent of the transatlantic slave trade.
He is best remembered for writing the hymn Amazing Grace, which reflects his understanding of human failure, forgiveness, and the possibility of redemption.
Newton's early life was characterized by recklessness, personal difficulties, and participation in the brutal transatlantic slave trade. In 1748, while aboard a ship caught in a violent Atlantic storm, Newton experienced a religious awakening that profoundly influenced his understanding of his life. Yet his transformation was neither immediate nor complete.
Despite his developing religious convictions, Newton continued participating in the slave trade for several years, eventually commanding slave ships himself. Only later did he become an outspoken opponent of the institution in which he had participated.
In 1788, he published Thoughts Upon the African Slave Trade, describing its cruelty and acknowledging his own ...
“Can I not save you, Mr. Carton?”
Lucie and Carton have both experienced hardship, yet their experiences have shaped their outlooks on life in remarkably different ways. Lucie has endured loss and discovered resilience. Carton has experienced disappointment and surrendered himself to despair.
Having grown up believing both of her parents were dead, Lucie nevertheless maintained her capacity for hope. When she discovered that her father was alive after eighteen years of imprisonment, she devoted herself to his recovery. Through patience, compassion, and perseverance, she helped restore a man whose life had seemingly been destroyed. Perhaps this experience helps explain her response to Carton.
After professing his love for Lucie, Carton explains why he believes a future together is impossible. He describes himself as a man beyond redemption, convinced that his life will only continue to deteriorate. Lucie listens, but she does not accept his assessment without question. Just as she helped her father ...
