Period 5
10-31-12
Book 2 Chapters 1-4
Summary: In chapter 1, It is now five years later, in 1780. Jerry Cruncher was known as the "odd-job man" at the bank and was always running errands.The scene starts at Jerry's dingy apartment, and he wakes up to see his wife praying and tells her to stop because he thinks that praying will make God stop his successful grave-robbing business. In chapter 2, an old clerk tells Jerry to go to the court, and give a message to Mr. Lorry and to wait for further instruction. When he goes in, he sees a 25 year old man on trial for treason, Charles Darnay. He supposedly told France info about England . A whisper runs through the room on who a lady and her father is, but Darnay figures out these people are the witnesses against him. In chapter 3, The attorney- general and the solicitor-general battle and they examine the witnesses, John Barsad and Roger Cly and both are considered untrustworthy witnesses. Mr. Lorry takes the stand and Lucie is brought to the stand and says how Mr. Darnay helped her with her sick father, but she thought he was guilty. The jury deliberates to find Mr. Darnay not guilty. In chapter 4, Darnay, Lucie, Mr. Manette, Mr. Stryver, Mr. Carton, and Mr. Lorry leave the courthouse and the book says Mr. Manette is now a proud civilized citizen and Lucie is the "golden thread" to his past. Mr. Carton and Darnay head to a tavern and talk about how Darnay is the source of Lucie's compassion. Carton comments that no one loves him and he loves no one, and Darnay leaves.
Quotation: "There is nothing in you to like; you know that. Ah, confound you! What a change you have made in yourself! A good reason for taking to a man, that he shows you what you fallen away from, and what you might have been."
Quotation Significance: Mr. Carton says this to himself once Darnay leaves and he thinks that there is nothing inside himself to like, which is why he drinks so much. He thinks he has changed and that Darnay is who he used to be and who he always wanted to become. This is basically saying that Mr. Carton wishes he was someone else and that he could be a better person.
Reflection: So far, it seems that Lucie and Darnay have something. They will fall in love, and live together hopefully. It seems that Mr. Carton has a self-image problem and desperately wants to improve himself and Darnay reminds him of the young man he used to be. Mr. Lorry thinks that life has no meaning and that he is a simple machine, only useful for one thing, and having no feeling or no meaning to his life. Lucie feels bad for Darnay and pities him. She wants to help him but knows he is ultimately guilty. Lucie also has a little crush on him too. Darnay likes Lucie and thinks she is beautiful but he doesn't enjoy being the source of her pity. Mr. Manette is now a happy distinguished citizen and Lucie is "golden thread" that links from safely from his past to the future and keeps him happy and not in misery anymore. It was hard for him to adjust though, after being in prison for 18 years. But he has gotten over it and is ready to live a new life. Jerry has a sucessful job as a grave-robber and doesn't like his wife for praying for him because he fears God will take away his sucessful job because Jerry knows it is wrong. I think that next Darnay and Lucie will fall in love and Mr. Lorry will find someone, but something then will go wrong so the plot of the book is revealed.
Discussion Question: Why do you think Mr. Carton is so hard on himself?
60/60
ReplyDeleteYou seem to be understanding this difficult opening part pretty well. The only error I see is that Lucie did not think Darnay was guilty. She testified that she saw him on the boat talking with some Frenchmen, but she never thought he was guilty. You're right. She is starting to like him!