Tale of Two Cities Book 2 Ch. 5-6 Litblog

Mary Ann MacDonald
Period 5
11-5-12

Book 2 Chapters 5-6

Summary: In chapter 5, Mr. Carton and Mr. Stryver drink at Stryver's appartment. Stryver is the "lion" and Mr. Carton is the "jackal". Stryver says that Carton has no direction and is always up and down. Stryver calls Lucie beautiful and Mr. Carton shakes off his comment about her. In chapter 6, four monthes later, dozens come everyday to ask to marry Lucie and Miss Pross thinks her brother Solomon is the only man worthy of her, but in fact Solomon robbed Miss Pross and left her in poverty. A story from Darnay about the prison and a message in the dirt surprises him but he recovers, then Lucie and Mr. Carton talk. 

Quotation:"I have sometimes sat alone here of an evening, listening, until I have made the echoes out to be the echoes of all the footsteps that are coming by-and-bye into our lives."

Quotation Significance: Lucie says this to Mr. Carton about how she hears the footsteps of people going by and how she dreams about what way they will come into her lives and in what way. 

Reflection: So far it seems that Mr. Carton really likes Lucie. He sought her out after everyone leaves in chapter 6 and in chapter 5 he talks about how beautiful she is to Darnay. Darnay shrugs off his comment in chapter 5 but Mr. Carton knows he liked her more than he really lets on. Lucie doesn't totally realize that Mr. Carton likes her but she has an idea that maybe Darnay does and that she likes him too. Mr. Carton is upset because he doesn't credit for winning the case for Darnay and Stryver gets all the credit. I think that Mr. Carton believes that if he was a better man, like Darnay, he would be able to be good enough to stand about to Mr. Stryver and get credit for his work. Mr. Stryver knows that he has Mr. Carton under his belt, this is why he is the "lion" and Mr. Carton is the "jackal". Mr. Carton does all the work and Mr. Stryver gets all the credit and glory. I think that next something will happen between Darnay and Lucie and Mr. Carton will be hurt. 

Discussion Question: Why is Mr. Carton jealous of Darnay?