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.