At first glance, A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens, and To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, appear to be different books. Written over one hundred years apart, the two books focus on completely different times. But upon further analysis of an essential character in each of the two texts, it becomes evident that the authors try to convey a very similar virtuous trait through their writings. Although Atticus Finch and Sydney Carton seem like completely different people at first, they both portray courage when they are faced with life changing situations. Both of these books express that because of the acts of courage committed by Atticus Finch and Sydney Carton, the world around each of these characters is positively affected, and that their legacy lives on to have a positive impact on the world. Through the results of Atticus’s bold choice to defend Tom Robinson, despite public disapproval, and Sydney Carton’s long lasting legacy after his valiant decision to sacrifice his life to save Charles Darnay, they both show the positive ripple effects of courage. 

Atticus Finch and Sydney Carton are portrayed as very different people from the beginning. Their moral values are completely different. For example, Atticus Finch has strong morals and principles, and is respected by the Macomb community for them. As Ms. Maudie says, when she talks about him, “We’re so rarely called on to be Christians, but when we are, we’ve got men like Atticus to go for us” (215). Atticus’s values are shown in his exemplary actions and the way he treats other people. For instance, Atticus never holds a grudge against other people, and he makes it a habit to always admire the good in people, and to forgive the bad. He teaches and implements these values into Scout and Jem by preaching to them, and always telling them to think from the perspective of others. When Bob Ewell spat in his face, Atticus did not react angrily, and all he said was “I wish Bob Ewell wouldn’t chew tobacco” (217). On the other hand, Sydney Carton is portrayed as a completely different type of person. The people around him loathe him. He does not have good moral values, which is shown various times by his actions. For example, at night, while Atticus Finch reads books and the newspaper, and uses any opportunity to teach his kids something that is morally correct, Sydney Carton spends his nights out in the town getting drunk and doing bad things. He is a lazy and frustrated alcoholic who agrees that he is a “waste of life”, and he always says that he “care[s] for no man on earth, and no man on earth cares for me”(63). The two men, Atticus Finch, and Sydney Carton, are shown as completely different, and almost opposites of each other. But, when one looks at the bigger picture, and the message that the authors each convey, we begin to see the striking similarity between the two characters, and in the effects of their actions.

In To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch expresses his bravery through the bold choices that he makes. For example, when Atticus is with Scout, Scout asks him why he is defending Tom Robinson’s rape case. It is case about a black man who allegedly raped a white woman. Atticus’s replies by saying, “For a number of reasons…the main one is, if I didn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this country in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again…and simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win” (75-76). Atticus says that he is defending the man because he thinks that what he is doing is right, and that he doesn’t care if everybody else is against his choice. He also acknowledges that he knows that he will probably lose the case, but he is still going to try his best in defending Tom Robinson. By saying this, and with his decision to defend Tom Robinson, Atticus displays courage. Despite the majority of people in the community being against his decision to defend a black man, Atticus thinks that it is correct to do what he is doing- and has the courage to do so. He is standing all the harassment that he and his children receive from his decision because he wants to do what he thinks is right. Even though people call him a “nigger lover”, he agrees that he is and says that “it’s never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name…I certainly am. I do my best to love everybody” (108). This is very courageous, and shows that Atticus will do anything for what he believes is right. Furthermore, Atticus admits that he is most likely going to lose the case because he will be up against a white jury. This further exemplifies his courage, as he is still going to try his best in what he does- without thinking of what the outcome will be.  Through these displays of courage by Atticus, Maycomb, and people around him benefit. His children benefit from all the advice he gives them, while standing up to defend Tom Robinson. They learn to see people as what they are from the inside, and not to judge them from the outside. Through Atticus’s courage, he gives Scout and Jem correct moral values, which go on with them forever. Atticus’s courage also indirectly has a positive impact on the town of Maycomb. With the trial of Tom Robinson, Atticus is able to prove that the black man is in fact, not guilty, and that the white person is at fault. Although Tom still lost the case, Atticus has been able to convince many people that the verdict was incorrect, and that it is wrong to be prejudiced against black people. As Miss Maudie said, “We’re making a step-it’s just a baby-step, but it’s a step.” (216).

Similarly, Sydney Carton, although first shown as a person who would not be able to commit any act of courage, changes greatly throughout the book. At the end, he too commits an extreme act of courage- to sacrifice his life for Charles Darnay. Sydney Carton makes the decision to offer his life, for the sake of others and the world. He dies for Darnay, and does what he truly believes is the greatest thing he can do to make his life significant. When he steps up to the guillotine, to die, he says,

“I see a beautiful city and a brilliant people rising from this abyss, and, in their struggles to be truly free, in their triumphs and defeats, through long years to come, I see the evil of this time and of the previous time of which this is the natural birth, gradually making expiation for itself and wearing out…I see that child who lay upon her bosom and who bore my name, a man winning his way up in that path of life which once was mine. I see him winning it so well, that my name is made illustrious there by the light of his” (292)

Sydney Carton’s legacy lived on after his death. Lucie and Charles daughter was named after him, and the great acts that he did, went to honor Carton. This shows that even through his act of courage, he had a positive impact on the world, and that he was finally able to do what he had always wanted- to make a difference in the world. He was able to become a glorious person, who is recognized, after living a wasted life. Sydney Carton is able to live on, as Lucie and Charles Darnay’s child- who is named after him. He makes a difference in the world, and generations to come honor Cartons memory.

            Acts of courage, such as those of Atticus Finch and Sydney Carton, have a positive ripple effect in the future, sometimes beyond one’s death. Both characters, although first portrayed as completely different people, and in very different settings, show with their courage that their legacies can indeed outlast them, and have a positive impact on them, the characters around them, and the world.