A TALE OF TWO CITIES BOOK CLUB - WEEK 4 - BOOK 2 - CHAPTERS 3 - 6

A TALE OF TWO CITIES by Charles Dickens

Welcome back! I hope this post finds you all trucking along in A Tale of Two Cities. I'm going to start things a little bit differently today. Let's start off with a quick recap and some questions.

Chapter 3 - A Disappointment

Recap moment - we are in England and Charles Darnay is on trial for treason. Testifying against him against their will are Mr. Lorry, Dr. Manette, and Lucie Manette.

Remember last time, I encouraged you to land on something out of each chapter that you know happened. Use that as your point of reference and build on it as we discuss the chapters together.

Who are the main witnesses against Darnay? What are the flies that are buzzing around the courtroom? Why do Lucie, Dr. Manette, and Lorry have to testify? What is the outcome of the case? Did you notice any great literary devices used in this chapter?

The main witnesses are Roger Cly, Darnay's servant, and John Basard. Honestly, as the Attorney-General goes through and questions the two of them, you have to laugh about what "reputable" people they are. Dickens' just pours the sarcasm on.

"Ever been in prison?'

"No."

"Debtor's Prison?"

"Well, yes."

"How many times?"

"Maybe 5-6 times."

Like I said, reputable witnesses. Basard borrowed money from Darnay. Never paid it back. Didn't know him well but saw him with the "incriminating documents." You get the idea. of what's going on here. Cly never stole a silver teapot, but he had been accused about a mustard pot, but it turned out to only be silver-plated. Yes, he knew the previous witness (Basard) but only for 7 or 8 years. (not well - just 7-8 years - lol)These two are seriously cooking it up. Then Stryver (Darnay's lawyer) has his turn with these two. You have to love Dickens use of similes. He gives us a beautiful one comparing laying out the evidence to a suit of clothes that he is fitting on the jury. He accuses Basard of being a spy and Cly his friend helping him.. It is a fabulous comparison, and to hit it home, the prosecution steps up and tries to turn those "clothes inside out." I don't know about you, but I just ate it all up.

What are the flies that are "buzzing" around the courtroom? It's the murmuring of the people in attendance watching the case unfold. With every fact and every point made the crowd erupts in a buzz as they comment to one another. Can't you just picture all of them in their top hats and bonnets leaning to one and other whispering?

Why did Lorry, Dr. Manette, and Lucie have to testify? Because they saw Darnay traveling from France. Lorry may have had 2 run-ins with him. The first was possibly in the carriage the night he travelled to meet Lucie. Remember how bundled up the travelers were? There was no way Lorry could identify if Darnay was one of them. The other time was when Lucie and Lorry were bringing Dr. Manette home to England by boat. Darnay was a passenger on the boat. He was helpful to Lucie and Dr. Manette, and he took the time to explain the American Revolution to her. Back to the courtroom, I love the way Dickens describes the scene when Lucie stands to testify and faces Darnay. "Standing, as it were, apart with her on the edge of his grave, not all the staring curiosity that looked on, could, for the moment, nerve him to remain quite still." She holds his life in her hands. We have this ongoing them of "Recalled to life," and we find ourselves standing on the precipice of death with Darnay wondering if he's going to die or if he will be "recalled to life."

Of course, Darnay is acquitted. And there is a very important fact that comes to light in this case. Remember Sydney Carton from last week ? it is brought to the court's attention that he and Darnay bear a striking resemblance to each other. Tuck that in the back of your mind. We'll return to that later.

Great literary devices - there are tons, but a couple of my favorites are the "buzzing flies" as already mentioned, the simile already mentioned about the evidence presented compared to fitting the jury out in clothes, and I loved the personification of the time as they wait for the verdict - "an hour and a half limped heavily away."

Chapter 4 - Congratulatory

Since I spent so much time on the last chapter, I'm just going to highlight a couple of points from this chapter.

-Dr. Manette has made an amazing recovery, but there are still times that he lives in the shadow of the Bastille (French prison). The only person that can pull him out of the moods that overtake him sometimes is Lucie.

-After the trial. Dr. Manette has an intense look of dislike on his face when looking at Darnay. I think we can safely assume two things from this. 1- There's something budding between Darnay and Lucie. 2 - There's something connected to his past.

-The chapter ends with a discussion between Darnay and a drunk Sydney Carton. Lucie is mentioned, but ultimately, it's the end of the chapter that has significance. Carton decides he doesn't like Darnay, because he clearly represents everything that he could have been and is not.

Chapter 5 - The Jackal

Who is the jackal? Who is the lion? Think of the character traits of each animal and compare them to the two men in the chapter. Clearly, Carton is the jackal while Stryver is the lion. I think one thing to grab onto in this chapter is that in the past chapters Carton has been shown as an annoying, uncaring, drunk-most-of-the-time individual. There is truth to this, but he is INVALUABLE to Stryver even though he lives in his shadow.. As the two of them sit and drink and reminisce about their school days, it's Sydney that is doing most of the work. going over casework. However, he lives in Stryver's shadow. He doesn't have as ruthless a personality as Stryver does, so he's not out front, but he's clearly the more intelligent one in analyzing cases. For someone who seems to not care, why when he goes home and throws himself upon his bed does he cry himself to sleep?

Chapter 6 - Hundreds of People

it's now 4 months since the trial. You have to love the metaphorical comparison of the passed time to the ocean as the waves carry the memory of the case out to sea to be forgotten. Dr. Lorry is on his way to the Manette's house to enjoy an evening with his friends. As he arrives at their house, he notices the neat little corner the house is tucked back into. It's a place off the busy area of Soho - a sort of respite, but it catches the echoes of the town in it's little corner. The sounds of people's footsteps bounce off the walls making the area sound as if hundreds of people are passing. So what is this chapter really about? Who are the "hundreds of people?" Is it about all the supposed suitors that are coming to see Lucie Manette that a jealous Miss Pross complains about or is it something a bit deeper? Are there hundreds of men coming to see Lucie? No, There are a select few. (Gotta love the hyperbole, right? ) Side note for a moment - who's the only man good enough for Lucie in Miss Pross's eyes? That would be her scoundrel of a brother.

Only two men come over the course of the day: Darnay and Carton. Darnay tells an interesting story of when he was imprisoned awaiting his trial. There was a deep dungeon that had been built over that some workmen uncovered. Inside were the letters DIG on the wall. Initially thought to be initials, it was later figured out that it was the word "DIG" which they did. Paper and ash and the remnants of a burnt leather bag are found. Dr. Manette goes pale at this story. It clearly reminds him of something in his past. It takes a moment, but he recovers. (Remember though this is not his previous prison cell. He was imprisoned in France while Darnay was imprisoned in England.)

As they all sit and talk, a storm approaches and the people on the streets move as one to find shelter. This isn't the only storm coming. There's another on the horizon.. One composed of a multitude of people that are acting in solitude - as one. Carton remarks that he sees and hears a "great crowd bearing down on them." The rumblings on another shore (France) are happening and before they know it, they will all be swept up in its fury.

The chapter ends with a conversation between Lorry and Jerry as they head home. Lorry remarks that it is a night "to bring the dead out of their graves." We have to chuckle at this on one hand, because we know Cruncher is a grave robber. On the other hand, we know that the ongoing theme of being "recalled to life" strikes again. The peasants in France are starting to awaken from the graves they've been in for too long now.

Any thoughts or comments on the reading? I'd love to hear about it!