“When the newly-married pair came home, the first person who appeared, to offer his congratulations, was Sydney Carton. They had not been at home many hours, when he presented himself. He was not improved in habits, or in looks, or in manner; but, there was a certain rugged air of fidelity about him, which was new to the observation of Charles Darnay.” (214)
Dickens describes Carton to be as similar in resemblance and manner as before, but now, he seems to have loyalty and respect for the married “pair”. In this passage, I think Dickens is almost hinting to the fact that Darnay and Carton could be the pair because Carton is becoming a much more mature person. Not only did they always share physical characteristics, but they are now beginning to share emotional and mental traits. Carton has slowed down his drinking and is beginning to change from the crazy drunk he used to be. Lucie has respect and sympathy for Carton, and one must imagine that Darnay is somewhat happy he has cleaned up his act. This new, emerging version of Carton is beginning to seem more like a twin to Darnay than an opposite.
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4 comments:
Although I see where you're coming from, I think the meaning of "pair" in context is much more literal, meaning Lucie and Charles, as they are described as "newly married." I'm pretty sure that Carton and Darnay are not the two that are newlyweds...
I think that the old Carton and the new Carton are more of a pair, and though it doesn't hint at this completely in the passage, I think it may be more of a pair than what you're thinking of. I agree with Jill, Carton and Darnay are definately not the newlyweds
"... a new, rugged air of fidelity about him ..."
Sweet Carton. What's "fidelity"? What does this say about how the more disheveled half of this guy-pair is evolving?
Sorry, I did not mean to make it sound like Carton and Darnay were the maried couple. I was just implying that the two are becoming more and more similar.
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