sydney Carton

Sydney Carton, the legal assistant to Mr. Stryver, a successful London barrister. A drunkard and a
misanthrope, he has no aim or purpose in his life until he meets Lucie Manette and falls secretly in love
with her. Because of his remarkable physical resemblance to Charles Darnay, who becomes Lucies
husband, he is able to sacrifice himself on the guillotine in Darnays place, a deed that finally gives a real
meaning to his life in his own eyes.

Charles Darnay

Charles Darnay, in reality Charles St. Evrmonde (shahrl sah[n]-teh-vray-MOHN), an migr and an
antiaristocrat who has renounced his title. In England, where he becomes a teacher of languages, he
finds happiness and success as the husband of Lucie Manette. When he returns to France to aid an agent
of the St. Evrmonde family who has been captured by the revolutionists, he himself is arrested and
condemned to the guillotine. He escapes because Sydney Carton takes his place in prison. Darnay
returns to England with his wife and her father.

Lucie Manette

Lucie Manette (lew-SEE mah-NEHT), a beautiful young French woman, closely connected with political
events in France. Her father, a physician, had been a prisoner in the Bastille for many years, sent there
because he had acquired knowledge of the hidden crimes of the St. Evrmonde family. Her husband,
Charles Darnay, is a member of that family and is condemned to the guillotine during the Revolution. He
escapes death through the efforts of his wife, her father, and Sydney Carton. Throughout these trials,
Lucie remains level-headed, practical, and devoted.

Dr. Alexander Manette

Dr. Alexander Manette, Lucies father, a doctor imprisoned for many years in the Bastille in France
because he aided a poor servant girl who was forced to become the mistress of the Marquis St.
Evrmonde, Charles Darnays uncle. Dr. Manette loses his mind in the Bastille and becomes obsessed
with making shoes. His mind mends after his release, but whenever he is reminded of his prison days, he
seeks out his shoe bench and begins work. He tries to free Charles Darnay from the French prison by
appealing to the sympathies of the revolutionists, but he is unsuccessful. At Darnays trial, a document
written by the doctor while in prison is presented as evidence to secure the young aristocrats conviction
and sentence of death.

Lucie

Lucie, her mothers namesake, the small daughter of Charles Darnay and his wife.

Ernest Defarge

Ernest Defarge (deh-FAHRZH), a wineshop keeper in St. Antoine, a suburb of Paris. A former
houseservant of Dr. Manette, he cares for his former master after he is released from the Bastille and
before he goes to England. He is also one of the most radical of the revolutionists. With his wife, he tries
to get Charles Darnay executed by producing the document Dr. Manette had written years before.

Madame Thrse Defarge

Madame Thrse Defarge (tay-REHZ), the wife of the wineshop keeper, a ruthless, cold woman who
hates all aristocrats. Madame Defarge attends every guillotining and knits a stitch for each head that
drops. She dies while struggling with Miss Pross, Lucie Darnays maid.

Mr. Stryver

Mr. Stryver, a self-centered, proud lawyer employed as Charles Darnays counsel when the young
language teacher is accused of carrying treasonous papers between France and England. He is Sydney
Cartons patron and employer, a shrewd, determined man who looks years older than his actual age.
Miss Pross

Miss Pross, the devoted housekeeper who has looked after Lucie Manette from childhood. She is
intelligent and physically strong. Left behind to cover their flight when the Manettes escape from Paris,
she struggles with Madame Defarge, who tries to make her confess where the Manettes have gone.
Madame Defarge is killed accidentally when her gun goes off. Miss Pross, deafened by the explosion,
escapes with Jerry Cruncher and follows her master and mistress to freedom.

Monsieur the Marquis St. Evrmonde

Monsieur the Marquis St. Evrmonde, a cruel French aristocrat and Charles Darnays uncle. He kills a
child when his coachman drives his horses too fast. The childs father gains admittance to the chateau
and kills the arrogant nobleman. The marquis and his breed are responsible for the peasants uprising,
causing the French Revolution.

Gaspard

Gaspard (gahs-PAHR), the father of the child who was killed by the marquis fast horses. He succeeds in
murdering the marquis by plunging a knife into the sleeping noblemans heart.

Thophile Gabelle

Thophile Gabelle (tay-oh-FEEL zhah-BEHL), a village postmaster and keeper of rents. Arrested by the
revolutionists, he appeals to Charles Darnay in England for aid. In response to his plea, Darnay goes on
his dangerous errand in France.

Solomon Pross

Solomon Pross, alias John Barsad, Miss Prosss brother. A complete scoundrel, he abandons his sister
after obtaining all of her money. Calling himself John Barsad, he becomes a spy for the English. He
informs Madame Defarge of Charles Darnays marriage to Lucie Manette. He is a turnkey at the
Conciergerie in Paris while Darnay is imprisoned there. Sydney Carton recognizes him but does not
reveal his identity.

Jerry Cruncher

Jerry Cruncher, an employee at the London banking house of Tellson and Company by day, a resurrection
man (grave robber) by night. Devoted to Lucie and her father, he aids in Charles Darnays escape from
France.

Mrs. Cruncher

Mrs. Cruncher, his abused wife, whom he calls Aggerawayter. A pious woman, she thinks her husbands
night occupation unspeakably sinful, and she prays for his reformation.

Young Jerry Cruncher

Young Jerry Cruncher, their son. Guessing shrewdly, he has a good idea of the grim trade his father
follows at night.

Jarvis Lorry

Jarvis Lorry, the confidential clerk of Tellson and Company. He is instrumental in getting Dr. Manette out
of France into England, and he goes with the Manettes to Paris during the dark days of the Revolution
while Charles Darnay, in prison, awaits his execution.Jacques Four, the name taken by Defarge, and

Jacques Five, a group of revolutionists in the suburb of St. Antoine.The Vengeance

he Vengeance, a female revolutionist, Madame Defarges lieutenantRoger Cly

Roger Cly, Solomon Prosss partner and Charles Darnays former servant. He testifies falsely when Darnay
is on trial at the Old Bailey. He is supposed to be dead and buried, but Jerry Cruncher knows that his
coffin was empty.