Sherlock Holmes, possibly modern literature's best example of an enigmatic genius, is beautifully characterized through a complete lack of empathy, no desire for friends, disregard for societal norms and a strong desire for being right. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle demonstrates such a timeless genius by portraying a protagonist with strong antagonizing characteristics. Sherlock is a cynical sociopath with a habit for drugs and disregard for almost everything except his work. These characteristics blend to create an air of mystery. When confronted with this style of character, I usually hate, love and am intrigued by their seemingly contradictory and complicated minds. They are also candy for my mind; one never knows everything about their psyche. Dickens' insertion of one such character caught my eye. Being self-absorbed, genius and cynical, Sydney Carton immediately conjured an image of Sherlock Holmes. A Sherlock 45 years before Sherlock was dreamed into existence.

Mr. Carton, like Sherlock, seems to have no empathy for anyone in the world except for a choice few. Mr. Carton's Watson is Miss Mannet. While supposedly spacing out in the courthouse, he took special notice to how Miss. Mannet was feeling and said, "Officer! look to that young lady. Help the gentleman to take her out. Don't you see she will fall!". A midst him not caring for anyone else, he took an extreme notice to a young ladies head falling on her father's chest. That indicates that he is paying a lot of attention to her, therefore he cares. He doesn't, however, seem to care that an innocent man's life may be ended or any other usual external stimuli.

While it is not of the arrogant kind, Mr. Carton displays self-pity is his demonstration of self absorption; He puts his own pity in front of every other thing that is occurring around him. Some how he is more important than anyone else in his own world. He even has his own weird dialog with himself on page 89, "Why should you particularly like a man who resembles you? There is nothing in you to like; you know that." Stuck up in his own self-pity and hatred, he doesn't realize that people indeed like him. Sherlock, on the other hand, has too much of a liking for himself. He prides himself to the point of hatred on how well he does his work. He manages to get so absorbed into himself that he completely doesn't regard any other human besides Watson, himself and Ms. Hudson as worth his time.

Such an eccentric character related to Sherlock Holmes makes me wonder if Conan Doyle borrowed much of the character from Dickens. the complications in persona that Carton displays is delicious to read. He can constantly going from what we consider to be in a good mood (his kind anyway) to a bout of self hatred and loathing. The detail that Darnay and Carton are similar looking, but opposite in personality makes think that there will be a strong clash and a bitter ending for Mr. Carton. Such brilliant and complicated characters tend to end in a similar struggle. Moriarty, Sherlock's counter part, was going to be the person to kill him off.

Dichotomy with in Tales of Two Cities.

Dickens is trying to get us to relate to his characters by using contrast and dichotomies in their nature to bring to life the humanity in them. The definition of a dichotomy is the stark contrast between two related ideas. Secrecy and truth illustrate such a literary device. Early on in chapter three, we learn about how Dickens sets the mood. "...every human creature is constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other." Contrasting with secrecy, truth floods from Jarvis Lorry to Miss Manette when talking about her supposedly deceased father, "But he has been- been found. He is alive. Greatly changed, it is too probable; almost a wreck, it is possible; though we will hope the best." A truth revealed after 17 years of a girls life as well as an offer of hope to a girl who previously thought she was orphaned. Such is a dichotomy of secrecy and truth.

These chapters showed me a spectrum of human emotions and reactions. With varying levels of the different dichotomies, such being truth vs secrecy, fear versus hope and wealth versus crippling poverty, Dickens is able to characterize almost every major player. Dickens shows, not tells. Many of the actions up until now have gone with the conflicting moods. The aforementioned contrast between secrecy and truth with Jarvis Lorry brought him to life. From his fear of the others and his own secrecy, we can tell he is a man that is normally kept to himself. His encounter with the rider demonstrated his secrecy. Speaking in code makes one think that there is something afoot that may have sinister implications. His speech to Miss Manette gives another impression. This is one of dedication to his work, empathy to the young ladies emotions and sympathy for her reaction to the news.

By far, the dichotomies and contrasts that will be seen in the book are located on page one, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of dispair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way...". Dickens, through these contrasts allows me relate to the characters by employing human reactions in them. I believe he intended for the book to be about strong contrast. The beginning of the story confirmed this for me.