Identify Charles Darnay's role in the novel, physical description, and adjectives to describe the character's traits.A Tale of Two Cities by...

Essentially a passive character, Charles Darnay is the
double of Sydney Carton, who rescues him from prison twice.  He is a young gentleman of
twenty-five when the novel begins,

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...well-grown and well-looking, with a sunburnt
cheedk and a dark eye.....He was plainly dressed in black, or very dark grey, and his
hair, which was long and dark, was gathered in a ribbon at the back of his neck:  more
to be out of his way than ornament.....the paleness which his situation engendered came
through the brown upon his cheek, showing the soul to be stronger than the sun.  He was
otherwise quite self-possessed....(Bk.2,
Ch.2)

When Darnay is brought
to his first trial on a charge of treason, over his head is a mirror which later serves
to help create doubt in the jurors' minds as to whether or not he has committed the
crime of which he is accused. For, Sydney Carton has noticed, after having closely
examined Darnay, that they possess a strong resemblance to one another.  And, C.J.
Stryver manages his release based upon this doubt.

With his
passivity and penchant for imprisonment, Darnay is perfect for Lucie as an outlet for
her compassion.  When Carton realizes that Lucie has become so found of Darnay, he
becomes immediately jealous, recognizing in Darnay what he "has fallen away from....You
hate the fellow!"

Once Darnay has become the love of Lucie,
Sydney Carton pledges his devotion as well, and Darnay continues as Carton's mirror
image.  Darnay also acts as a connecting character of the two cities as, having lived in
England with Lucie, he is then drawn to the "Lodestone Rock" and returns to France, this
time to rescue Gabelle the former tax collector on the Evremonde estate.  In addition,
his revelation of his family name of Evremonde connects him with Dr. Manette's
imprisonment. But, again, Darnay cannot save himself; Dr. Manette's powerful testimony
sets him free, however, as the physician is recognized as a hero, having been "the
Bastille captive." 

After Darnay's second arrest,  Dr.
Manette is unable to save him.  It is then that Sydney Carton's act of sacrifice to take
his place again presents the motif of doubles as Carton gains access to the prison where
Darnay is. Then, Carton becomes the sacrificial victim for the phlegmatic and passive
Darnay who is slipped from the prison to escape France with his family members. Drugged
as he is removed from the prison, Darnay cannot attempt to thank Carton for the
tremendous sacrfice which he has made by sending someone to carry this message to
him.

Despite his passivity, Darnay's character connects the
actions of the novels in both London and in Paris.  His resemblance to Sydney Carton as
his double allows Darnay to act as a catalyst for Carton's noble deeds toward Lucie, and
to commit his heroic act to save the Darnay family from fate and
unhappiness.