Throughout this week, we have considered several different expressions of courage. We examined the courage required to speak honestly, the courage to seek reconciliation, and the importance of distinguishing courageous action from reckless behavior. Now, as we conclude our study of courage, Sydney Carton provides us with another example.
He has come to France.
This decision may appear relatively simple when compared with the dramatic events unfolding around him. Carton has not rescued anyone. He has not defeated an enemy or overcome the institutions threatening Charles Darnay's life. He has simply arrived.
Yet his arrival represents something important. For years, Carton has insisted that he is incapable of accomplishing anything worthwhile. He has repeatedly described himself as a disappointment and suggested that meaningful change is beyond his reach. But when someone he cares about faces grave danger, Carton does not use his own inadequacies as an excuse for remaining uninvolved. He acts.
We should not overlook the fact that he has waited approximately fifteen months before doing so. Why did Carton not come sooner? Perhaps he recognized that Doctor Manette possessed influence he did not. Perhaps he believed his presence would accomplish nothing while Darnay remained imprisoned. Perhaps he simply failed to appreciate the possibility that his abilities might eventually prove useful.
We cannot know with certainty. What we do know is that Carton has now chosen to act.
Even then, he does not immediately announce his presence or demand an opportunity to participate in the family's affairs. Instead, he agrees to remain out of sight unless his assistance becomes necessary. Perhaps this is one of the most important lessons we can learn about courage. Courage is not simply the willingness to act. It is the willingness to act when circumstances require it, accompanied by the judgment to recognize when our involvement can accomplish something worthwhile.
We do not need to believe ourselves capable of extraordinary accomplishments before we begin attempting worthwhile things. We do not need complete confidence in our abilities or certainty that our efforts will succeed. But we must be willing to recognize opportunities when they arise.
Carton has not suddenly become more intelligent. He has not acquired abilities he previously lacked. The qualities that might allow him to accomplish something meaningful have been present throughout the novel. What appears to have changed is his willingness to use them. We should remember that Carton's decision to travel to France was entirely voluntary. He could have remained in England. He could have allowed his promise to Lucie to remain nothing more than words. Instead, he has come. Perhaps Carton's greatest demonstration of courage is not simply that he has accepted danger, but that he has finally recognized an opportunity to make his life useful to someone else.
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 ...
“I arrived at Mr. Lorry’s, to his surprise, yesterday evening; we agreed that I would not present myself elsewhere until all was well or unless I could be useful.”
Charles Darnay has spent fifteen months imprisoned in France. During that time, Lucie has remained in Paris, hoping that her husband might eventually regain his freedom. Doctor Manette has used his influence among the revolutionaries in an effort to secure Darnay's release, while Mr. Lorry has continued providing assistance to the family. Their efforts have required great patience and perseverance.
Now Sydney Carton has arrived in Paris.
Carton's decision to travel to France is remarkable because he has no formal responsibility for Darnay's predicament. He has not been involved in the family's prolonged struggle to obtain his release. He has no apparent reason to believe that his arrival will resolve the difficulties they have encountered. Yet he has come. Perhaps the more interesting question is why he did not come sooner.
For fifteen ...
During the eighteenth century, travel between England and France was relatively common among merchants, diplomats, aristocrats, and other individuals with the financial means to make the journey. The English Channel separated the two countries, but established maritime routes connected English ports with French destinations such as Calais.
The outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789 dramatically changed the political environment confronting travelers. By 1793, France was at war with Great Britain. The conflict made travel between the two countries considerably more complicated and dangerous. Foreign travelers could attract suspicion, particularly when revolutionary authorities feared that foreign governments were attempting to undermine the Republic.
Individuals entering France might encounter passport requirements, identity examinations, and restrictions on movement. Political circumstances could change rapidly, and a person who entered the country legally might subsequently find it ...
