# Mr. Stryver — A Tale of Two Cities character guide

> Mr. Stryver in A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Stryver, Bully Stryver

**First appearance:** 0014-v-the-jackal

## Snapshot

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

## Who they are

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.

## Relationships

### [Sydney Carton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/characters/sydney_carton)

_professional_

Stryver is Carton's legal superior and friend, relying on Carton's legal brilliance to win cases while taking the credit.

### [Charles Darnay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/characters/charles_darnay)

_professional_

Stryver is Darnay's defense attorney during his treason trial, and later a rival for Lucie's hand, but they remain civil.

### [Sydney Carton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/characters/sydney_carton)

_professional_

Stryver is Carton's legal superior and friend, relying on Carton's legal brilliance to win cases while taking the credit.

### [Charles Darnay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/characters/charles_darnay)

_professional_

Stryver is Darnay's defense attorney during his treason trial, and later a rival for Lucie's hand, but they remain civil.

### [Sydney Carton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/characters/sydney_carton)

_professional_

Stryver is Carton's legal superior and friend, relying on Carton's legal brilliance to win cases while taking the credit.

### [Charles Darnay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/characters/charles_darnay)

_professional_

Stryver is Darnay's defense attorney during his treason trial, and later a rival for Lucie's hand, but they remain civil.

## In the story

### [Book the Second: The Golden Thread](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/book-the-second-the-golden-thread)

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

### [IV: Congratulatory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/iv-congratulatory)

Proud of his role in Darnay's acquittal, he is boisterous and self-important.

### [The Jackal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/v-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/x-two-promises)

Mentioned as having visited Doctor Manette recently with Sydney Carton.

### [A Companion Picture](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/xi-a-companion-picture)

Boastfully announces his plan to marry Lucie Manette, patronizing Carton and inflating his own sense of worth.

### [The Fellow of Delicacy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/xii-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/xiii-the-fellow-of-no-delicacy)

Referenced as having 'carried his delicacy into Devonshire' after deciding against marrying Lucie.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/characters/mr_stryver
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/characters