Characters In Charles Dickens' Tale Of Two Cities -- January 26, 2026

Sydney Carton is a central character in Charles Dickens' 1859 novel A Tale of Two Cities. He is a shrewd young Englishman educated at Shrewsbury School, and sometime junior to his fellow barrister Stryver. Carton is portrayed as a brilliant but depressed and cynical drunkard who is full of self-loathing because of what he sees as his wasted life. He feels a deep unrequited love for Lucie Manette, who nevertheless inspires him to try to be a better person. Near the end of the novel, Carton manages to change places with Lucie's husband, Charles Darnay, hours before Darnay's scheduled execution in France, giving his life for Lucie's sake. Later, Lucie and Charles name their second son after Carton.
While there's no definitive list of exactly twelve, the core main characters in Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities center around the love triangle and revolution, including Lucie Manette, Sydney Carton, Charles Darnay, Dr. Alexandre Manette, Monsieur & Madame Defarge, Miss Pross, Jarvis Lorry, and Jerry Cruncher, with key supporting figures like C.J. Stryver, Marquis St. Evrémonde, and revolutionaries like Gabelle, forming the essential cast for the story's drama of sacrifice and revolution. 

Here are the key figures, often considered the main players, totaling around 12:

Lucie Manette: The compassionate "golden thread" who unites the characters.
Sydney Carton: The cynical, self-sacrificing lawyer.
Charles Darnay: The French aristocrat who renounces his title.
Dr. Alexandre Manette: Lucie's father, released from the Bastille.
Monsieur Defarge: A wine-shop owner and revolutionary.
Madame Defarge: Ernest's pitiless, knitting wife.
Miss Pross: Lucie's fiercely loyal governess.
Jarvis Lorry: The devoted banker from Tellson's.
Jerry Cruncher: Tellson's messenger and "resurrection man".
C.J. Stryver: Carton's ambitious, blustering friend.
Marquis St. Evrémonde: Charles Darnay's cruel uncle.
Gabelle: The loyal servant Darnay tries to save, sparking the Paris return. 

Another list:
Here are the key characters often considered the top twelve (the order is a bit different but  12 in each list). 

Sydney Carton: The brilliant but self-destructive lawyer who sacrifices himself for love.
Charles Darnay: A French aristocrat who renounces his family's cruelty and marries Lucie.
Lucie Manette: The compassionate "golden thread" who brings hope and healing.
Dr. Alexandre Manette: Lucie's father, a former prisoner of the Bastille.
Madame Defarge: The relentless revolutionary knitting vengeful lists.
Monsieur Defarge: The wine-shop owner, husband to Madame Defarge, a revolutionary leader.
Miss Pross: Lucie's fiercely loyal and strong-willed governess.
Jerry Cruncher: A "resurrection man" (grave robber) and messenger for Tellson's Bank.
Stryver: Carton's ambitious, blustering lawyer friend.
Jarvis Lorry: The dependable, paternal figure from Tellson's Bank.
Marquis Evrémonde: Charles Darnay's cruel, aristocratic uncle.
Théophile Gabelle: A postmaster whose imprisonment triggers Darnay's return to France. 

Other significant figures include Gaspard (the peasant who kills the Marquis) and the revolutionaries known as the Jacques, notes Homework.Study.com and Study.com.