This list of A Tale of Two Cities characters includes Sydney Carlton, Charles Darnay, Jerry Cruncher, Lucie Manette, Doctor Alexandre Manette and more.
A Tale of Two Cities Characters
Last Updated September 8, 2024 – Originally Published July 5, 2012
A Tale of Two Cities was the twelfth novel of Charles Dickens. The first chapters of the book appeared in print in April of 1859. The last chapter was printed in November of that same year.
The novel was illustrated by Phiz, better known as Hablot Knight Browne.
This list of A Tale of Two Cities characters is presented in alphabetical order.
Note: Includes spoilers!
Sydney Carton – Sydney is a lawyer with a fondness for strong drink. He meets the love of his life in Lucie (Manette) Darnay. He also bears a strong resemblance her husband, Charles.
Sydney Carton, illustration by Frederick Barnard
Sadly, sadly, the sun rose; it rose upon no sadder sight than the man of good abilities and good emotions, incapable of their directed exercise, incapable of his own help and his own happiness, sensible of the blight on him, and resigning him-self to let it eat him away. – narration about Sydney Carton
“It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.” – Sydney Carton
Roger Cly – Former servant of Charles Darnay who testifies against him at Darnay’s trial for treason. Cly fakes his own death and later surfaces as a spy and informer.
Jeremy (Jerry) Cruncher – Jerry is the porter at Tellson’s Bank. On the side he makes money as a grave robber. He beats his wife for praying or as he calls it “flopping.”
Jerry Cruncher and his son outside Tellson Bank – illustration by Fred Barnard
“I go so far as to say, miss, morehover,” proceeded Mr. Cruncher, with a most alarming tendency to hold forth as from a pulpit–“and let my words be took down and took to Mrs. Cruncher through yourself–that wot my opinions respectin’ flopping has undergone a change, and that wot I only hope with all my heart as Mrs. Cruncher may be a flopping at the present time.” – Jerry Cruncher
Charles Darnay – Charles is a French exile living England. He marries Lucie Darnay. Later he returns to France to make amends for his family’s crimes. He is imprisoned and eventually sentenced to death. He is saved from death by Sydney Carton.
Charles Darnay seemed to stand in a company of the dead. Ghosts all! The ghost of beauty, the ghost of stateliness, the ghost of elegance, the ghost of pride, the ghost of frivolity, the ghost of wit, the ghost of youth, the ghost of age, all waiting their dismissal from the desolate shore, all turning on him eyes that were changed by the death they had died in coming there. – Charles Darnay’s thoughts about his fellow prisoners
Lucie Darnay – See Lucie Manette
Ernest Defarge – A wine shop owner and a leader in the French Revolution. He is the husband of Therese Defarge. He formerly worked as a servant for Doctor Manette.
Therese Defarge – The wife of Ernest Defarge and an eager partner in the French Revolution. She records the names of her enemies with her knitting.
“Tell Wind and Fire where to stop,” returned madame; “but don’t tell me.” – Therese Defarge
Jarvis Lorry – Jarvis Lorry is a manager at Tellson’s Bank. He becomes a very good friend Dr. Manette as well as Charles and Lucie Darnay.
Doctor Alexandre Manette – Doctor Manette was imprisoned at the Bastille for eighteen years before the French Revolution. His crime? He knew too much about the actions of the St. Evrémonde family.
He is the father of Lucie Manette.
During the long years of his imprisonment he made shoes.
Dr Manette in the Bastille
Lucie Manette – Lucie is the beautiful daughter of Doctor Manette. While her father was imprisoned she believed herself to be an orphan. She marries Charles Darnay. She is also loved by Sydney Carton.
Lucie Manette and her governess, Miss Pross – illustration by Fred Barnard
Miss Pross – Lucie Manette’s nurse and companion.
“You might, from your appearance, be the wife of Lucifer. Nevertheless, you shall not get the better of me. I am an Englishwoman.” – Miss Pross
The Seamstress – A young woman sentenced to death. She and Sydney Carton comfort one another on the way to the guillotine..
Marquis St. Evrémonde -The uncle of Charles Darnay. The Marquis is so uncaring that after his carriage runs over and kills a child, he’s more concerned about his horses than the child.
“Repression is the only lasting philosophy. The dark deference of fear and slavery, my friend,” observed the Marquis, “will keep the dogs obedient to the whip, as long as this roof,” looking up to it, “shuts out the sky.”
C. J. Stryver – Sydney Carton’s employer.
Mr. Stryver, a man of little more than thirty, but looking twenty years older than he was, stout, loud, red, bluff, and free from any drawback of delicacy, had a pushing way of shouldering himself (morally and physically) into companies and conversations, that argued well for his shouldering his way up in life.
The Vengeance – Revolutionist and friend of Madame Defarge.
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