Thursday, December 18, 2008

A Tale of Two Cities THE FINAL WEEK

This was the final week of A Tale of Two Cities and I must say that it did not disappoint. I don't know that I would recommend this book to anyone else because the first 3/4 of the book were not particularly enjoyable, but the ending was definitely good. It picks up with Madame and the Jacques conversing about Defarge. Madame, surprise surprise, wants to kill her husband because he has empathy for the doctor and she feels that he is not a true patriot. This just adds to the whole fact that she is a heartless woman.

As the chapter goes on, we see that Cruncher has made a full transformation. He vows to never rob graves again, as well as to never interfere with his wife's "flopping." I think this change has occured as the result of a couple of different things. First, I think his overall involvement in the events helped because he got to see what it's like to be needed for good things as well as help others. The second thing that I think turned him around in terms of his wife's praying is that she prayed on the night the body of Cly was gone, and while he saw this as a bad thing at first, it actually helped out the Manettes.

The next even that follows, I thought, was quite exciting and Dickens wrote it very well. Madame and Miss Pross come face to face; Madame there to sentence Lucie and the rest of the clan. The two are speaking back and forth to each other in their own native tongues and cannot actually understand what's being spoken. Yet at the same time, the words are so intense they have some sort of an idea. You can tell the fight is coming and when it finally does, it doesn't let the reader down. In the end, Miss Pross shoots Madame and I think this is supposed to be a symbol of good prevailing over evil. This is also probably the first book where I've actually been happy to see a character die. It may always be necessary to the story, but I've never actually enjoyed the death of a character, good or bad. One bad thing that comes of the death is Miss Pross losing her hearing from the gun shot. I think Dickens did this to show that people, not just Carton, will sacrifice anything for Lucie.

In the following chapter, we again catch up with Carton, who is "patiently" awaiting the guillotine. He sits with the blonde girl whom he makes a connection with and actually manages to calm her before she has to face the blade. I think in the time leading up to his death, Carton has become an honorable man and I think that he feels honorable now as well. As soon as the girl is murdered, it is his turn. What I find interesting is that he is 23rd in line. Dickens didn't place him first or fifty-second, he put him in the middle to signify that he is just another person caught under the guillotine.

What I liked about this section is that Dickens wrote it from the present tense as if each event was happening right before my eyes. He also played down Carton's death. It wasn't this extravagant "and the guillotine came crashing down upon his neck spewing blood everywhere" sort of death. It was subdued and classy, and (I know this sounds fruity) I think Carton, as a character, deserved that respect.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

A Tale of Two Cities Week 7

This week's reading started off with what was supposed to say why Dr. Manette was supposidly denouncing Darnay. I must have missed something because I do not understand how that letter denounced Darnay. I understand that it went back to a misunderstanding between the Evremondes and the Defarges, but I have nothing to explain why the letter was interpreted as a death with for Charles. I do, though, have a greater understanding of why Madame is out for revenge against Darnay - his family is responsible for the death of her family and so that makes him responsible as well.

The title of the next chapter, "Dusk" is significant because it shows that a life is coming to an end. At this point, we are still led to believe that all hope is lost and that Darnay will actually die. However, reading on tells us that my theory about the Carton Darnay switcheroo was correct! And so I was able to pick up a line of irony at the very end of the section. "Yes, he will perish. There is no real hope." These are the words of Carton as he goes down the stairs (also ironic, since isn't he figuratively above the other people??) Seeing as how he's about to use himself as a human sacrifice, it's very ironic that Carton says Darnay will perish. To some, this may be misleading, but you can't fool me Dickens!

In the following chapter, Darkness, we are taken to the wine shop with Carton. He stops in, undoubtedly to evesdrop on the Defarges and inadvertantly gauge their feelings toward the Manettes. Again, Dickens is setting up the big "twist" when Madame Defarge questions if Carton is really Darnay.

The conversation that the Jacques continue to have is somewhat disturbing. They are questioning when they stop killing off innocent people and Madame says "at extermination." This is rather disturbing to me because they are killing off their own innocent people and I still don't understand how that is helping the poor people evolve. Defarge himself also has issues with the way Madame speaks. He holds the humane side that she does not and it shows when he says that Dr. Manette has suffered too much already. He tries to talk sensibly to her, but it won't work. This woman is simply out for revenge and she even goes so far as to say "tell the Wind and Fire where to stop; not me!" This woman is crazy! She considers herself more powerful and destructive than either wind or fire. I want somebody to slap her and say that the reason living conditions were so horrible is directly because of the kings who believed themselves to be more powerful than any force. Look what happened to them - hopefully the same will happen to Madame.

As the section continues we are taken back to the house where Dr. Manette is again looking for his shoes and bench. Things were looking so good for him but I think it will take a long time for him to recover, if he does at all. The amount of stress that's been put on him combined with the sudden emotional shift from high to low was enough to bring back his second personality. Hopefully seeing that Darnay is alive will be able to snap him out of it and make him return back to normal.

Finally in the last part of the chapter, we sort of find out what Carton has been planning thus far. When he gives Lorry his permission papers, he essentially hands over his identity. By this point, it's impossible to not know where this whole thing is heading and it's as if Carton's fate is sealed when he says good-bye to Lucie's window. Even at this point, she is still placed above him and is considered the light that guides him. He has made his peace with God (as shown in last week's reading) and now he has made peace with Lucie. He knows he must do this, and he will be much happier for it.

The final section of reading begins in Darnay's prison cell where he awaits his death. He begins writing letters to the people he loves e.g. Manette and Lucie / Little Lucie. Dickens makes sure to mention that he does not write anything to Carton, but is this really such a shock. Darnay doesn't know at this point that Carton is going to give his life for him, and the last person I would be writing to if I were on death row is my alcoholic lawyer. Let's get real here. Never-the-less, this is still irony, because Carton is the one person Darnay will come to appreciate most.

Darnay begins to pace around the cell and he begins counting the time 1 - 12. "Twelve 'o clock gone forever" he says as he waits nervously. His pacing helps me understand why that woman in Manette's letter was counting continuously to twelve and stopping. When you're on the brink of death, you always wish you had more time. That woman was a Defarge and Darnay is obviously an Evremonde, yet they think the same thing. I think Dickens wrote this to signify that in death, everyone is the same - this is something I wish Madame would realize.

Suddenly, in like a hero, comes (bum ba da daaa) CARTON!! At first Darnay is so stunned to see this man that he bears little respect for, but then he starts to catch on to the plan. What bothers me about Darnay in this situation is that never once do we hear him put up even a fake protest towards Carton's plan. Never once does he say "Carton, you can't do this" or "Carton, you don't deserve this." No! He just goes along with it. Granted, I would want to be save as well, but I don't know if I could live with myself knowing that somebody else took their life for me. But Darnay doesn't seem to have any problem with the arrangement and lets Carton take the fall.

One thing he does do for Carton is write a brief letter to Lucie. This was a very bitter sweet and touching moment of the book for me because on the inside, Carton does have to be struggling at least a little bit with this decision. However, it's not even a question in his mind that he must do this, and for that he is a true hero.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

A Tale of Two Cities Week 6

In the first section of reading, I came to slightly dislike Madame Defarge even though I liked her up until this point. When she visits Lucie, she has a very cold demeanor and basically says that Darnay will receive no mercy - the revolution will not stop for him. While that was the first part that made me dislike her, the second part was much worse.
She states: "The wives and mothers we have been used to see, since we were as little as this child, and much less, have not been greatly considered? We have known their husbands and fathers laid in prison and kept from them, often enough? All our lives, we have seen our sister-women suffer, in themselves and in their children, poverty, nakedness, hunger, thirst, sickness, misery, oppression and neglect of all kinds?"
There are many reasons I take issue with this statement of hers. A) She is turning Lucie and Darnay into an example for all other wealthy people, even though they're not greedy and mean. B) She says the women of her country have suffered as a result of their husbands being gone - well, what is she doing to Lucie??? and C) Madame's attitude toward the revolution is not one that inspires a better life for others. It seems more like she is only out for revenge. At this point she knows she wants the rich out of power, but what does she intend on doing after she goes on her rampage?

In the second chapter we begin to notice a change in Dr. Manette's character. The man is starting to feel that his time spent suffering in prison has turned into strength and worked in his favor. He is being quite confident even without Lucie by his side and he thinks of his actions as a way to pay her back.

While I was reading this section, there was a paragraph about how "the new era began." When I read it I thought that Dickens actually did something cool. The main focus is the Manettes and Darnay, however they are just a few people out of the thousands in France. It's kind of crazy to think maybe something similar to this happened during the revolution - it just shows that time stops for nobody and individuals will live their lives despite what happens around them.

As the chapter goes on, it's stated that the prisons are "gorged with people who had committed no offense." This is another reason why I have problems with Madame. What she and her "patriots" are doing is no different than what the king and wealthy did to them. If Madame were to become the leader of France it would be in just as bad of ruins, if not worse.

Following that, it talks about the guillotine. The invention is finally in the spot-light and the way Dickens describes it is beautiful yet destructive. The guillotine "pollutes the ground, a rotten red" which is a throw-back to the scene at the beginning of the book where the wine spilled everywhere. The guillotine also "hushed the eloquent, struck down the powerful, abolished the beautiful and good." When reading this it's hard to believe that this actually led to a peaceful country. I myself am not into war and it seems that throughout time many things about it have changed, but innocent people will always fall victim to the violence.

In the next chapter, "The Wood-sawyer," we are reunited with the mender of roads who has lost his humanity and appears to be enjoying the killing. By the way he's singing his song about chopping off heads, I imagine it's a representation of the rest of the country as well. His manner fits in with the following line: "Republic One and Indivisible. Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, or Death!" Well, he's obviously part of the republic, but how are some of these people able to fratenize with such murderers? I understand that they want a revolution, but killing innocent people is not the way to go about that. I think the Jacques have gone way to far with their power.

In the following chapter, Darnay is finally called up for trial. He's lucky he has Manette working on his side because 5 people were instantly sentenced prior to his session without being heard. However, with the Dr.'s influence the people are willing to hear him out, if not for Manette, for shear entertainment. Women "ate and drank as they looked on, many knitted."
After many testimonies, and evidence readings it is found that Darnay is innocent. However, this is just a technique used to fool the reader into thinking things are going to be fine when they're really not. It's just a build up so that we can be let down in the next chapter.

Within the first two paragraphs of "A Knock at the Door" there are elements of foreshaddowing. Though her husband has been saved, she still feels a great fear for him, and the second is that "the shadows of the wintry afternoon were beginning to fall." Winter of course meaning death is upon them. Of course there are multiple deaths going on at that moment, I think it's supposed to be specific to the Manettes.

Something that enticed me within this chapter, before the commotion, was the relationship forming between Miss Pross and Jerry Cruncher. They seem to have a little thing for each other, and I think that could be interesting to follow.

Toward the end of the chapter is where the main action happens. Lucie hears footsteps coming on the stairs and is highly shocked by them. What I find interesting is this - at her house in England, the footsteps didn't bother her that much, but now, she is in the middle of the revolution and she has no choice but to look it in the eye and it frightens her. Of course we all know that Darnay is rearrested on order of the Defarges. They are truly horrible people, and I do not understand their reasoning, other than the fact that Darnay is an Evremonde. When the soldiers come for Darnay I think it is a major blow to Dr. Manette. He was so proud that he saved Charles and now they're back at square one.

Another enticing thing about Miss Pross is that she continuously calls Lucie Ladybird. I know she's called her this before, but she's doing it more frequently now. I'm guessing that this means Lucie is free in some way or maybe that the key to freedom lies with Miss Pross (?) something along those lines...

The next chapter was quite an eventful follow up to the previous one. Miss Pross and Jerry are out to buy wine (hmmm wonder why they want that *wink *wink) and Miss Pross runs into her brother Solomon. It seems like a great thing at first, but Jerry, though he can't remember the man's name, recognizes him. He begins questioning him about his name when suddenly, a 4th party breaks in - it's Carton(!) who says the man is Barsad, the English spy. Barsad is the same man we saw a while back at the wine shop whose name Madame knitted. This is big news when we find out he is involved in the arrest of Darnay.

In this chapter, I was very impressed with both Jerry and Carton. Jerry played a key roll in getting the confession when he stated that Roger Cly (Barsad's associate) was not actually dead. He seems to play mind games with Barsad and we haven't yet seen the intelligent side of Jerry. Carton, though he was drunk, was also quite cunning. He knew he could work the cards in his favor to make Barsad talk and succeeded. Now he's basically blackmailing him into helping save Darnay. What I question is how Carton was able to come to France. He would be considered an emigrant, would he not? Never-the-less, I think my prediction may be coming true; Darnay and Carton will switch places and Carton will become the sacrifice.

I found the final chapter of this week's reading to be the best chapter in the entire book. It wasn't necessarily the most action packed, but I was finally able to appreciate Dickens's writing, as well as Sydney Carton as a character.

Clearly, Carton has a secret plan that will save Darnay which he won't tell anybody else (pretty sure it's mine!) but it's in this chapter that we get to see how Carton spends his final night alive. Carton's final journey begins when he "stopped in the middle of the street under a glimmering lamp." In sacrificing himself for Lucie, he has found an inner energy within himself as well as with God and it's when he comes into this light that he can be considered a good person.

It's obvious that the man is suicidal when he stops into the chemistry shop and buys two different chemicals which are lethal when taken together, it's only a matter of time before he dies and the journey he makes around town is beautiful, heart breaking, and also reassuring that he will be okay with his decision. When Sydney crosses "over the Seine to lighter streets" he is crossing over into a new spiritual place where he can do nothing but serve others. He even helps a small child by carrying her across the muddy street. The fact that he is willing to get himself dirty in order to keep her pure shows that the is a true Christ figure.

"I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die." Carton repeats this statement continuously and I think it's his way of saying he will be more alive after he dies than he ever was on earth. In his current state, he's viewed by many as a belligerant fool, but if he sacrifices himself for Darnay and Lucie, he will be seen as a wonderful man by all - even though Lucie's opinion is the only one that truly matters. This is why lights continue to fall on him. Instead of the sun setting on his death on page 294, it rises signifying that the man is starting a new life in a better place.

Of course the end of this chapter has a good twist to it, but I think Carton's last night was the best part of the book.

Monday, November 24, 2008

A Tale of Two Cities Week 5

The start of this week's reading is where the revolution really takes off. The women are frantically knitting and preparing for their duty when it's found out that the Foulon actually faked his own death in an attempt to save himself. Well, this obviously didn't work out too well for him because the people are instantly out to get him. It's here that we also Madam Defarge as the lead organizer of the revolution. I find it interesting that she calls the "soldiers" patriots because they really are. This comment makes me feel like she is so far ahead of her time to know what great things will come of the revolt. It doesn't take much before the Foulon is captured by Madam and the patriots and it is clear that they are out for a full on revenge. The Foulon didn't care if the people starved to death and treated them as animals saying they should eat the grass if they're hungry. They take their anger out on him by tying him up and stuffing grass in his mouth. They then proceed to string him up not once, but twice before they actually kill him. Something symbolic that I notcied in this passage was the sun rise. It signifies the revolution is just beginning and it's the dawn of a new day. There was also quite a contrast after this epic scene when it talked about the wailing and breadless children. It shows that yes, this one battle was great, but there is so much more ground left to be covered. Madame realizes this when she says the the battle has "almost come."

The next chapter, "Fire Rises" shows the revolution in full swing.
Here's my theory: The Marquis was a horrible ruler who controlled who of the paupers lived and died. He was rich and had food and allowed only a small bit to be distributed to them so he was their life source. Now that he's dead the country is in ruins but people are still returning to the fountain. Thus, I believe that the fountain symbolizes life. Not a life that one is in control of, but one that somebody else is.
Now tying in with the rest of the theory: When the people burn down the Chateau and the fountain is destroyed and they move on to start the revolution, they are taking full control over their lives. They no longer feel that they need Marquis to give them life, but instead are living and dying on their own terms.

Also the way the fire is described fits in with the thought that the people are taking over their lives. The way the "village was illuminating" signifies that the people are coming out of their dark oppression and into the light of a new day. Also the blatent statement about the house burning "as if it were the face of the cruel Marquis, burning at the stake and contending with the fire" adds to the thought as well.

In the next chapter, we find out a little more about Darnay's character. While it's true that we know he is the heir to the Marquis, nobody else is aware because of his name. However, when he intercepts a letter from a man who has done nothing but try to keep up the Marquis chateau for the heir that is in prison, he vows that he must go to France and correct the situation. He's "confident that he will be in no real danger there," but I am pretty sure this is where the whole story is about to unravel. Prediction: Darnay will attempt to save Gabelle's life. In the process, Lorry will find out his true identity and report it back to Lucie. It's because people will know his identity that he will be in danger and he will come close to death until our Christ figure, Carton, saves him and dies in a passionate way that Lucie will cherish forever. The end!

In the following chapter, Darnay has gone to France but he finds that much has changed since he left. Emigrants now have no rights and he is almost immediately thrown in jail. What I find interesting is that he's using his real name now that he's in France thinking that it will do him good when really, it's what hurts him most - irony at its best. As he's being taken to jail, he is escorted by Defarge who shows no sympathy despite the fact that he knows Lucie and Dr. Manette. He must know that it was Darnay's family who put Manette in jail. One line that really caught my eye was when Darnay asked if he was going to be burried and Defarge replies that many people have been burried before. Darnay's response: "Yes, but never by me." He's not ignorant to his family's doings and I agree that it's not specifically Darnay's fault that Manette was burried but for Defarge to be on Darnay's side is impossible because of what his family stood for. At the end of the chapter, while in the jail, Darnay starts remembering about Manette's time in jail and the paces. I'm curious to see what's going to happen with this.

In the final chapter of reading, Manette and Lucie have come to Paris. This was a very intense few pages because we can tell that Darnay is at a huge risk of being murdered by the mob of people. This is also where we finally see Manette show his true identity to the world. Yes, we knew he was a prisoner of the Bastille, but he had yet to say it aloud, let alone announce it to a crowd of people in an attempt to influence them against murdering Darnay. He must really love his son in law.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

A Tale of Two Cities Week 4

The first chapter of this week's reading takes place in the Wine Shop. It is here that John Barasad and Madame Defarge have their first encounter. It's carefully made mention that Barsad is a French name, however, it turns out that he's a British spy. In the way that Barsad talks to Madame we get a sense of him being pompous. He has talks to her about business deliberately saying that her "business is bad." What confused me about this section was her knitting. Is she knitting his name on because he is part of the Jacques, or is she knitting his name because he's next to die?? As the conversation goes on, he brings up Dr. Manette and Lucie saying that he knew them back in England. What I want to know is why everyone is so interested in the Manettes. What secret do they have? Both the Dr. and Lucie appear to be kind loving people, but there's much more to them than meets the eye.

In the second chapter, we see Lucie and Dr. Manette having a final moment with each other the night before the wedding. It's evident that Lucie is in love with Darnay and Dr. Manette surprisingly seems to accept it. However, in the next chapter, we see a sharp character transition in the doctor.

The day of the wedding everything is quite simple. Given that the Manettes hold an elite social status, it's nice to see that they are having a small wedding with their closest friends. I thought it was funny how Miss Pross is the maid of honor for Lucie. She's clearly jealous that Lucie is marrying Darnay, yet, even though she does slip up, she has to act supportive. The day seems to be going along pleasantly until, after having a conversation with Darnay, Dr. Manette makes his change.

We all knew it was coming, that on the day of the wedding Darnay was going to reveal his secrets to Dr. Manette, but we still don't know what that secret is and it is driving me crazy. Manette is able to keep it together for the rest of the wedding, though which was quite honorable. He obviously wants his daughter to be happy. What I wonder is this: if Darnay's secret was so stunning that it would generate such a radical reaction, why doesn't Manette tell Lucie? If the secret is so horrible and he wants his daughter to be happy, what stops him from telling her? Is it the promise that he made to Darnay?

After the wedding is over and Lucie and Darnay leave, Manette has a total breakdown and he goes back to his old prisoner self by making shoes. Lorry instantly goes into protector mode by announcing that neither Lucie, nor anybody else can get word of this and he goes on to take care of Manette. In a way, I think he's doing the right thing because Lucie is so happy. However, it's because of her current state that I think it's a horrible idea not to tell her. When she gets back, she's going to go from happy to worrisome in 2.5 seconds. This cannot be good for Lorry who, even though he's always been loyal to the Manettes, is going to get repremended for his actions.

One thing I would like to mention about Manette from a psychological (yes I know!) point of view is that he exhibits the signs of multiple personality disorder. The disorder occurs when a person is put through something horrible (like we know Manette has) and he or she cannot handle it. Subconsciously, they then create a character (or personality) that is strong enough to stand up to the situation. It is used as an escape. When Manette goes into his shoemaking self, he isn't his same jovial self. He focuses solely on shoes and ignores even Lorry. Whatever Darnay said to him to make him revert back into this personality must have been pretty severe.

Within "The Opinion" Lorry is taking a new approach to get Manette to talk about his past and what causes his relapses. He makes it appear as though he has a friend who needs the help and by doing so he brings out the natural Doctor part of Manette. Luckily his approach works as Manette catches on to the fact that he's the "friend" in question. It is from there that Lorry, who's still trying to be a "businessman" all but importunes Manette for answers about his past. When it's found that this gentle approach to snapping him out of it won't work, Lorry, along with Miss Pross decide to destroy the shoe making equipment in hopes that it will turn Manette back.

The last chapter of this week's reading contained both foreshaddowing and an insight into Darnay's Character. Carton comes to Darnay asking to be his friend. Of course Darnay goes on about how he is considered a friend and that he has nothing but respect for him. But then, later that night when Carton's not around, Darnay says exactly the opposite about him. This tells us that Darnay is not as sincere as he comes across. This is something I've always thought of him, but now there is solid proof.

The foreshaddowing comes in two different lines of the Carton / Darnay convo. The first element is when Darnay states he "forgot it [the drunken night]" and Carton replies that "oblivion is not so easy to me, as you represent it to be to you." This is meant to say that Carton knows Darnay has a past and it will eventually get brought out. The second element happens when Carton states that he's a "dissolute dog who has never done any good, and never will." Darnay replies "I don't know that you 'never will.'" First I would like to point out that this is kind of a backhanded compliment because Darnay didn't deny that Carton is a "dissolute dog." Second the foreshaddowing is that Carton eventually will do something good.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

A Tale of Two Cities Week 3

The first three sections of this week's reading all have a common theme - Miss Manette is a wanted woman. In the first section we see Darnay honorably go to Dr. Manette and profess his love for Lucie. Something about Darnay seems almost too perfect, though. He's very smooth and always has the right thing to say. Scenario 1 Darnay is a good guy who can be trusted and will end up with Lucie. Scenario 2 Darnay is a traitor who wants Lucie for reasons mysterious at this point but has control over Dr. Manette that has to do with that remark about being burried under the Eiffel Tower.

In the second section it is Stryver who says he is actually going to marry Lucie. This is the one guy who really doesn't stand a chance, but he doesn't care, he's way too self centered to realize that a woman might not want him. Dickens sets the scene up perfectly; he and Carton are together drinking. Carton has been worked to his brink by Stryver, yet he still gets no appreciation. Then, out of no where, Stryver announces that he's going to marry Lucie! Of course this is a major internal struggle for Carton because he loves her more than anything. Still, Stryver is his "friend" and he feels he must do whatever he can to serve him...even if it means giving up the love of his life. At this point, I was somewhat disappointed in Carton because he finally had the opportunity to stand up to Stryver, yet he sat back and said he could have her.

Of course in the third section, Carton actually does go to Miss Manette and profess his love, but not in the way we expect it. He tells her he loves her, but that he doesn't want to be with her because he would only drag her down. WHAT?? I was not expecting this delivery at all. While, yes, it is fitting to Carton's character, I really was expecting some romantic-hero moment where he swoops in and sweeps her off her feet. I still do think that there's hope for Carton in this love (what is it?) hexagon(?) by now. I really think Darnay is going to turn out to be an enemy of some sort and Stryver won't get far with her. I think Carton will come back into her life and in the end they will be together.

In The Honest Tradesman, we finally get to see what has been making Jerry's boots muddy. One night, young Jerry follows Cruncher as he goes "fishing." What he comes across is his father fishing in graves. I'm not sure if he's doing it for money or if he's removing the people themselves, but either way, it's good to finally know what's been going on. We also know now why he gets so viscious when his wife prays; it's as the result of the church looking down upon him. Jerry claims he doesn't believe in the Christian religion (if we look back to his A.D. comment) but his problem is that he overly believes in it. He believes his wife's prayers are heard and carried out to him by the "ghost of a giant" that looks upon him.

That next morning, young Jerry witnesses his father beating up on his wife again for he thinks she's prayed. The scene is quite disturbing and it's definitely not a sight that a young boy should be watching. Never-the-less, young Jerry tells his father that he would like to be a Ressurection man one day. This is sick! Young Jerry has just watched his father beat his mother senseless yet he still wants to be like him. I think Dickens does this to show that tradition carries on; that the king with the strong jaw and the queen with the fair face will perservere throughout time.

In the following chapter, Knitting, we are taken back to the wine shop where the Jacquess are meeting. The scene is quite melancholy and it's meant to show the sadness of the poor people. The Jacquess are planning a revolt against the king and it's the people in that bar whom they are revolting for. As the Jacquess are going up to the room above the wine shop, Dr. Manette is mentioned. What connection do they have with him other than he living up there? Was he involved with their treasonous activities?

One of the main reasons the Jacquess are meeting is because they have aquired a new member - the man who killed Marquis. He describes to them in vivid detail what can happen if somebody even attempts to kill the king. Some might think that this would deture the Jacquess from attempting to revolt, but instead it encourages them. The Jacquess will make a revolution happen and it's because the people are so oppressed that they will be successful.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

A Tale of Two Cities Week 2

In the beginning of this week's reading, we are introduced, when Mr. Lorry goes to visit the Manettes, to Miss Pross who is Lucie's sister. It's very evident that she's jealous of Lucie. Mr. Lorry believes that she is a different type of jealous woman, though because she is willing to cling to "beauty she never had and accomplishments she never gained." Basically, she believes that she should be the one getting the attention that Lucie gets, even though she doesn't fully deserve it. Miss Pross even goes so far as to say that Lucie should have married Brother Soloman who was a "heartless scoundrel" because she didn't want her sister to be happy. However, I don't think anything good could have come from this because Lucie still would have receieved the same attention.

Further on into the conversation with Miss Pross and Mr. Lorry, Dr. Manette is brought up. It's stated that he will not talk about his time in prison, and even though he's gone back to work, he is putting up a front to how he really feels. But is this any surprise? He was locked away for so many years he has every right to continue feeling scared and oppressed. He even sleep-walks because he relives his experience every night. One thing that strikes me, though, is that we don't actually know the true reason why he was put in jail to begin with. Mr. Lorry inquires about it, but we never really find out.
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"The corner had been mentioned as a wonderful corner for echoes." This is not the first time that echoes have been brought up in the chapter, and I would like to know what they mean. It sounds like they're just footsteps, but what does an echo in a corner symbolize?
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As the chapter continues on, it appears that the Manettes are having some sort of a visitation. (Are they currently considered the "it" elite people?) They appear to be different than the rest of the elitists of the time because they're actually humane and kind to those around them. Or is it really just an act? My guess is probably not, but I have to throw it out there.

Of course, Mr. Darnay has come to visit Miss Manette. (I wonder what he wants...wink wink!) The conversation that they then have is somewhat out of character for somebody who is trying to make a girl fall in love with him, though. He makes mention of being at the Eifel Tower and workmen digging up a forgotten dungeon with the word DIG on it. Now, why does Dickens keep having his characters talk about things being burried and dug up? What is he trying to say??? Regardless of what Dickens is trying to say, it must be noted that Dr. Manette became faint while talking about the dungeon. This clearly ruffles his past memories and this very dungeon could be from his past.

On a completely different note, though, I did notice that when Darnay came into the room, Miss Pross began to twitch and had to leave the scene. I think she's in love with Darnay and that's the reason why she wanted Lucie to marry that Soloman guy. So now we have a love square going!

As the day continues, Mr. Carton drops in to visit Lucie as well, but it's clear he feels awkward and envious around Mr. Darnay. Darnay is sitting right beside Lucie, while Carton is standing up against a window. I can only imagine what the poor guy's thought process is! It's too bad that he has yet to tell Lucie how he really feels about her...Maybe he'll get drunk one night and tell her.

The next chapter, Monseigneur in Town, begins with the introduction of Monseigneur - one of the great lords in power at the Court. We see him eating lots and lots of chocolate which I think is meant to parallel his character. The chocolate they eat in France is very bitter and I think that his mass consumption of it shows that he is a bitter man.

The description of Monseigneur continues by giving us a little bit of a background on his life. He goes to the balls and operas. But most importantly, he took his sister from a convent because it wasn't the high life and forced her to marry a rich man so he could gain respect! One line that really gets to me about his character is this: "The leprosy of unreality disfigured every human creature in attendance upon Monseigneur." People hate him, yet he is so powerful, he has the right to sway peoples thoughts and make them believe that nothing horrible is going on in the world.

There is also another character involved toward the end of this chapter, Monsuier the Marquis. He comes across as just as bad, if not worse than, Monseigneur. He calls the lower class people "dogs" and says he would gladly run over each of them had he known who threw the coin back. What an arrogant power driven man he is. I think this could be taken as foreshaddowing / irony, though because don't the people eventually rebell against the people of power? He's got it coming to him.

As the section of reading progresses, we are taken to Monseigneur's home where he is drinking bordeaux and awaiting the arrival of his nephew, Darnay. It's kind of interesting that everything he does, such as the wine he drinks, is a symbol of his power. The people in the earlier chapter are sipping cheap wine from the street, yet he just sits at home drinking his bordeaux like there's nothing major about it.

The chapter moves on and we are taken to a conversation with Darnay. We find out that Darnay is the heir to the family fortune, but his disagreement with the family about government leads him to believe that he's going to give it up once he inherits it. I had a difficult time understanding what the rest of the conversation was about. Once again, Dickens has left me wondering at the end of a chapter. Partly because of mystery and partly because I just don't get it. Frustrating!!