While Darnay is a rather lackluster character, Carton certainly has potential and deserves to fulfill his life. And, there are those readers who feel Therese Defarge does deserve revenge for the heinous acts against her family, so perhaps a satisfying ending for these readers would have Darnay going to the guillotine in expiation for the "sins of the father." Having failed to rescue Darnay, Sydney Carton can rescue Lucie--thus redeeming himself--and drag Madame Defarge to the sight of Darnay's death, releasing her from her vengeful desires as she witnesses the fulfillment of them, and, thereby attaining a certain resurrection of herself, as well. But, she must pay for her hatred of all aristocrats, so she slips and has her skirt caught under a tumbril, rolling to her death under the cart of aristocrats, metaphorically demonstrating Dickens' prevalent theme of the inability of people to escape their social class.
After Carton rescues Lucie, they ride in the carriage on their escape to London. Carton reaffirms his unending love for her, and Lucie, as the true Victorian heroine, weeps in his arms both in gratitude for his love and in anguish for the loss of her husband. As they ride along, Carton ponders what the future will bring and vows to break from C. J. Stryver and now be his own man regardless of what Lucie decides.
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