A Tale of Two Cities · Character

Mr. Stryver

A shoulder-first barrister who rides Sydney Carton's brains to fortune, then mistakes another man's brilliance for his own heart's entitlement.

supporting

Also known as Stryver, Bully Stryver

First appearance: The Jackal

As a supporting figure in A Tale of Two Cities, Mr. Stryver is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Darnay's defense attorney; Carton does the actual work.

In the storyBook the Second: The Golden ThreadOpen this moment free

See Mr. Stryver in Book the Second: The Golden Thread Book page

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Stryver bullies his way through the Old Bailey and the Temple, dragging Carton behind him like a towed boat, and grows rich on verdicts his jackal actually won. Encouraged by a courtroom triumph, he decides to marry Lucie Manette and is quietly, firmly refused. His blundering self-regard throws Carton's self-loathing into sharper relief and clarifies exactly what kind of man the story's heroine will not have.

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The fuller portrait of Mr. Stryver sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Mr. Stryver in The Jackal

Character Web

12 connections

A slice of how Mr. Stryver sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Professional
Other

Character groups

Revolutionary and Aristocratic Forces
Protagonist

+7 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

In this chapter, the emotional and psychological peak occurs as Lucie, the story’s emotional anchor, hears the…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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Relationships

Sydney Carton
professional · ambivalent
Stryver is Carton's legal superior and friend, relying on Carton's legal brilliance to… How this plays out →
Charles Darnay
professional · ambivalent
Sydney Carton
professional · ambivalent
Stryver is Carton's legal superior and friend, relying on Carton's legal brilliance to… How this plays out →
Charles Darnay
professional · ambivalent
Sydney Carton
professional · ambivalent
Stryver is Carton's legal superior and friend, relying on Carton's legal brilliance to… How this plays out →
Charles Darnay
professional · ambivalent

Sydney Carton
Stryver is Carton's legal superior and friend, relying on Carton's legal brilliance to win cases while taking the credit.
Charles Darnay
Stryver is Darnay's defense attorney during his treason trial, and later a rival for Lucie's hand, but they remain civil.
Sydney Carton
Stryver is Carton's legal superior and friend, relying on Carton's legal brilliance to win cases while taking the credit.
Charles Darnay
Stryver is Darnay's defense attorney during his treason trial, and later a rival for Lucie's hand, but they remain civil.
Sydney Carton
Stryver is Carton's legal superior and friend, relying on Carton's legal brilliance to win cases while taking the credit.
Charles Darnay
Stryver is Darnay's defense attorney during his treason trial, and later a rival for Lucie's hand, but they remain civil.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Mr. Stryver in The Jackal

In the story

Mr. Stryver appears across 7 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Book the Second: The Golden Thread
Darnay's defense attorney; Carton does the actual work.
IV: Congratulatory
Proud of his role in Darnay's acquittal, he is boisterous and self-important.
The Jackal
The 'lion' of the partnership, Stryver is a successful but unscrupulous lawyer who relies on Carton's legal acumen while bullying him about his lack of ambition.
X: Two Promises
Mentioned as having visited Doctor Manette recently with Sydney Carton.
A Companion Picture
Boastfully announces his plan to marry Lucie Manette, patronizing Carton and inflating his own sense of worth.
The Fellow of Delicacy
Resolves to propose to Lucie Manette and consults Mr. Lorry, but is dissuaded and rationalizes the outcome as fortunate.
The Fellow of No Delicacy
Referenced as having 'carried his delicacy into Devonshire' after deciding against marrying Lucie.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Mr. Stryver unlock in the free preview.

See Mr. Stryver in The Jackal

See Mr. Stryver in Book the Second: The Golden Thread