In Western literature, sacrifice is often considered a noble act because it evokes the powerful image of Christ's death. Many writers throughout history have used this familiar association to rebuke the prevalence of selfishness in human society. Overall, humanity views sacrifice solely as a generous and altruistic act. Indeed, the act of sacrifice often yields unexpected and valuable rewards in return, as observed in the masterful works of Bronte, Shakespeare, and Dickens. In Jane Eyre, Bronte praises Jane for giving up her desire to protect the princes by generously rewarding the heroine in the end. Meanwhile, the martyrdom of the prince in Shakespeare's Hamlet acquires the clarity of sight of the tragic hero in return. And finally in A Tale of Two Cities, Dickens fully elevates the ideal of sacrifice in Sydney Carton's Christ-like death as a noble means of achieving life. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Sacrificing her only love in the name of her principles, Jane Eyre is rewarded with a family and her independence. Before the early wedding, Rochester reveals his cunning plan for Jane after their marriage, "...I will seek a cave in one of the white valleys between the tops of the volcanoes, and mademoiselle will live with me there and with me alone" ( Bronte 272 ). Rochester wants to take his innocent bride away from the world into the paradise he perceives. The image of volcanoes here evokes a certain association with religious human sacrifice. Often in these rituals, the gift-bearer desires the assistance or blessings of the gods; here, in Rochester's case, he desires peace and forgiveness, so much so that he is willing to offer Jane to the flame of temptation. Understanding her master's corrupt intentions, the cunning and proud Jane must look within herself and choose her own path. Jane, to protect her integrity, decides to sacrifice her ardent love for Rochester even though this pains her deeply. In exchange for her virtuous act, as Jane later discovers, the heroine is rewarded with the two gifts that any grieving orphan would aspire to, autonomy and familial love. After losing the dominant member of his family, his father, Hamlet's sacrifice of his life to save Denmark causes the prince to acquire an all-seeing eye. After learning of his father's horrific murder, the prince finds himself stuck on an edge of indecision, staring into the abyss of nothingness. Faced with this terrifying sea and the reality of his death, Hamlet is faced with a difficult decision, “To be or not to be” (Shakespeare 53). Should he sacrifice his life to save Denmark's collapsing state? Or should he continue a gilded life where conniving criminals and misguided fools rule, where deception and corruption proliferate? Hoping to purify the sins in his beloved kingdom, the prince accepts and embraces the reflection of his downfall, unaware that he has now been bestowed with an extraordinary gift, sight. Unlike the commoners of “Fortune,” Hamlet can now perceive life more clearly than anyone else in the court of Denmark. Comparing Polonius to Jephthah and anticipating Claudius' insidious plans, Hamlet is now able to discern through people's seductive masks and see their true nature in plain sight. And through those lenses, Hamlet can now clearly see himself and also his life's mission to save Denmark. By saving the life of his romantic rival, Sydney Carton, in A Tale of Two Cities, he finally achieves life through his death. While he stands on top of the scaffold,.