One's Life For The Love example essay topic

A comparative study of Sydney Carton in Dickens' novel, A Tale of Two Cities, and Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet in Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet, requires the reader to analyze various aspects that the transforming effect love can have on a personality. As we study each character, it is relatively easy to see that no matter how painful love can be, it is usually to one's betterment to have experienced it. Love affects each person differently. Some become more introspective, searching to better themselves for the sake of themselves or another. Others do not recognize what they are lacking in their lives until they find love. In either event, it permanently redirects the course of one's life.

Or causes one to end it in some cases. We see that all three characters learn to love themselves better, to love others anew and in the end, make the ultimate sacrifice for their love for another. Point A: Both author's illustrate well, that a lack of love can have a profound effect on the behavior of a person. Whether a person has never experienced love by fortune or by design, the initial introduction of love into the personality can be intense. Dickens introduces Sydney Carton to us immediately after a trial, speaking to his client. It is at this point that we get a glimpse of the character of Carton, '... who smelled of port wine, and did not appear to be quite sober...

' (Dickens, 100). Carton is so disillusioned with his own life, that he can't even like his client [who looks like him], 'Do you particularly like the man?' He muttered, at his own image; 'why should you particularly like a man who resembles you? There is nothing in you to like... ' (Dickens 103). Romeo Montague is no less desultory, but youth is his excuse, while alcohol and lifelong disappointment are Carton's. Shakespeare has Friar Lawrence state [about Romeo's multiple infatuations], 'Young men's love then lies not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes' (1.3.

67-68). Having not experienced life yet, Romeo does not yet understand the nature of love. He still sees it as a physical reaction, rather than emotional, 'For beauty, starved with her severity / cuts beauty off from all prosperity' (1.1. 227-228).

Juliet is so immature and unskilled in the ways of love, that she shares her youthful desperation with her nurse, 'Go ask his name; if he is married / my grave is like to be my wedding bed' (1.5. 137-138). She has no concept of what love is, how it feels or how to react to it. She is almost virginal in her understanding of love.

Point B: As each character experiences love for the first time, they react similarly to their newfound feelings. We are able to see how love can make our senses expand to others and the world around us. Sydney Carton recognizes that his love is unrequited, yet it's impact on him is no less profound, '... I have had unformed ideas of striving afresh, beginning anew, shaking off sloth and sensuality... ' (Dickens 187). Romeo is no less affected by love, if in a more juvenile way when he states, 'If I profane with my unworthiest hand / this holy shrine / the gentle sin is this; / My lips, two blushing pilgrims / ready stand / To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss' (1.5.

104-107). Romeo's transformation comes as he realizes that beauty is not just a physical attribute, but a deep, multi-faceted emotion. Juliet's feelings are awakened the night she meets Romeo at a masquerade ball. She has no experience with men and no basis for understanding, yet she is convinced that Romeo is her true love, 'My ears have not drunk a hundred words / of thy tongue's uttering / yet I know the sound. Art thou not Romeo... ?' (2.2. 63-65).

Juliet begins to have feelings of self-worth above the basics of her station. She begins to recognize that her love has a value to another. Therefore, her own self-image is increased. Point C: The overall parallels between these three characters can be unquestionably seen.

The most pronounced is that love is life-altering. Whether is awakens newfound self pride, broadens our emotional horizons, or deepens our introspection of self worth, it forever changes how we view ourselves and the world. Sydney Carton's transformation is the most complete. He is thoroughly changed from his introductory state of slovenly, cynical drunk, to a man willing to sacrifice his own life for the woman he loves and those that she loves, '... I would embrace any sacrifice for you and for those dear to you' (Dickens 189). He does so by secretly trading places with Lucie Manette's husband, who is destined for the guillotine.

Yet he has no remorse or sadness at losing his life. Only joy at being able to share his love in the only way he knows, with the forfeiture of his own life to save Lucie's and those of her family. Carton's eloquent speech at the time of execution, best expresses how deeply he has been changed, 'It is a far, far better thing I do, than I have ever done... ' (Dickens, 470).

Romeo's transformation is almost as abstruse. It evokes the deepest pathos from the reader. His love for Juliet and grief at her apparent death, bring Romeo to the realization that without love, his own life no longer has meaning, 'Will I set up my everlasting rest / and shake the yoke of inauspicious stars / From this world-wearied flesh... ' (3.3. 115). Juliet's metamorphosis is no less spectacular or tragic. She too has been so deeply changed by love that she cannot bear to live without the man who brought it to her.

When she discovers that Romeo has taken his own life, she too feels the depth of grief that can only be alleviated with death, '... This is thy sheath; there rust, and let me die. ' (3.5. 180). At first glance, the characters seem worlds apart.

When in fact, they are each so similar in their final selfless acts of love, that one wonders if this is a true snapshot of being self-sacrificing. To give one's life for the love of another... is this self-sacrifice or cowardice. We now see how love can open one's heart and mind to wonders previously unimagined. We see that it can be a redeeming quality in an otherwise miserable existence. As each character discovers the wonders and joy of love, they learn to love themselves as well.

Yet each character chooses suicide to portray that love of another. It is cause to wonder if this is an expression of love [for one's self or another] or self pity? From the behavior of the three characters, we assume that to truly feel love, we must give ourselves completely to the joy, ecstasy, pain and heartache that are part and parcel of love. Both authors would have one believe that the highest form of love is to sacrifice everything for another. Each of the characters has done that. Carton gave his life for the lives of Lucie and her family, Romeo for Juliet and Juliet for Romeo.

Is this true nature of love? Does it have to be so devastating in the end? The authors would have one believe it is so. That to truly understand the magnitude of effects of love on the human condition, one must be prepared to forfeit it all.

Bibliography

Dickens, Charles. 'A Tale of Two Cities. ' Signet Classics (1859): 3-470. Shakespeare, William. 'The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. ' (1597).