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.

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.

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.

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!!