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Thursday, May 8, 2014
Blog 1 - A Tale of Six White Girls - Chapters 1-5, Book II
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1.Why is Lucie the only thing that makes Doctor Manette happy?
Normally, Doctor Manette is generally angry and upset with his life because of the crimes he committed in his past. However, when he sees Lucie, he is reminded of the joyful life he led before his unknown crimes: “she was the golden thread that united him to a Past beyond his misery, and to a Present beyond his misery” (85).
2. What was the disagreement between Carton and Lorry?
It wasn’t exactly a disagreement – Sydney is an ex-prisoner alcoholic who is reckless and mentally unstable, so he’s basically the opposite of Lorry. The two do not get along.
3. What’s going on between Lucie, Sydney, and Charles?
There’s a developing love triangle, which is expected because Lucie is worshipped by the general public. She’s the typical beautiful, dainty blonde that everyone loves and she’s attracted the attention of both men.
4. Why does Carton hate Darnay? Sydney Carton sees a lot of himself in Charles Darnay, and Sydney hates himself. He states, “why should you particularly like a man who resembles you? There is nothing in you to like” (90).
5. Who are the jackal and lion representing?
The jackal is Sydney and the lion was Stryver. The jackal represents Sydney’s sneakiness and laziness, and the lion represents Stryver’s power.
For question number four, did you consider the idea that maybe this idea that has been planted into our minds is one that stems from jealousy? I think that Carton hates Darnay because of this love triangle that has developed between them, which you mentioned before. I think that the fact that Sydney Carton hates Charles Darnay does revolve around the fact that he sees a lot of himself in Darnay, but I think this hatred simply exists because to him it's like, "How can someone be just like me except be so much 'happier' than I am?" And by happier, it's referring to the fact that Darnay is able to get attention from Lucie Manette, and Carton isn't. Thus, this creates feelings of jealousy in Carton's heart, and he displays them through beginning to hate Darnay.
Being the literary luminary, there were a few passages that I found to be important pertaining to the novel as a whole, predominantly in the second book. At the start of the second book, the reader was given a detailed description of the bank: “Tellson’s Bank by Temple Bar was an old-fashioned place...It was very small, very dark, very ugly, very incommodious...moreover…the partners in the House were proud of its smallness, proud of its darkness, proud of its ugliness, proud of its incommodiousness…”(Book the Second, Chapter 1, Page 51). Due to the fact that this is the way that the second section of the book begins, one could predict that the bank will play an important role in the future. This is the place where Jerry Cruncher is an employee. It is also noted that the location of the bank is where the government publicly shows the heads of criminals who were sentenced to death. This scene adds to the drama, mystery and suspense to the chapter as whole. I found it interesting how the bank didn’t want to come into the light; the bank preferred the darkness which could be symbolic of things that have happened in the past. I also thought it was interesting how the people were proud of the imperfections of their appearance. The people were not looking to change the look of the bank that had been standing for many years. Towards the end of the second chapter of the second book, we are struck with the image of the prisoner being shone in the light: “Over the prisoner’s head there was a mirror, to throw light down upon him...Be that as it may, a change in position making him conscious of a bar of light across his face, he looked up; and when he saw the glass, his face flushed and his right hand pushed the herbs away” (Book the Second, Chapter 2, Page 62). This is just one section of the chapter that is presented with a serious tone. The mirror could be symbolic of shame. The prisoner is aware that the mirror is known for its “infamy and disgrace”. When the prisoner saw his reflection he was embarrassed and ashamed, evident through his “face flush[ing]”. The second chapter of the second book also ends on a serious tone in the courtroom. “The Judge, whose eyes had gone in the general direction, recalled them, leaned back in his seat, and looked steadily at the man whose life was in his hand, as Mr. Attorney General rose to spin the rope, grind the axe, and hammer the nails into the scaffold” (Book the Second, Chapter 2, Page 63). This scene creates intensity within the courtroom and the reader can sense both the tension in the court room and the authority that the judge holds due to his position. The fact that the judge “looked steadily at the man whose life was in his hand” can make the reader curious as to what the outcome of the court case will be. At the beginning of the fourth chapter of the second book, we are presented with the strong relationship that exists between Doctor Manette and his daughter, Lucie Manette: “Only his daughter had the power if charming this black brooding from his mind...but they were few and slight, and she believed them over” (Book the Second, Chapter 4, Page 77). The state in which Dr. Manette is in is not one of good nature. When he was reintroduced to his daughter, he was reminded of his poor past. This passage is shedding a positive light on their relationship, giving him hope that his life will soon take a turn for the better rather than staying in the slum that he is currently in. He feels as though the relationship between his daughter and himself “had the power of charming this black brooding from his mind”. For the first time in a long time, he feels comforted by her presence. To a certain degree, he is also at peace with himself for the time being.
In chapter one of book II Jerry Cruncher’s son displays qualities much like his father’s. This reminded me of how often times today the way in which children act is influenced by their upbringing. Many children strive to be like their parents and want nothing more than to make their parents proud. In society today, this pressure on kids to please their parents can lead to extreme stress and can be unhealthy. It is also not uncommon for children to incorporate qualities of their guardians into their own personalities or to imitate their actions. For example, someone whose parents have bad habits such as drinking, drugs, etc. tend to copy their parents and develop the same issues, though this is not always the case. This in turn leads me to believe that young Jerry may end up being aggressive towards women, just like his father.
In chapter one of book II Mr. Cruncher is seen being abusive towards his wife when he yells at her for praying and even goes to far as to viciously throw a shoe at her. Abuse such as this can often be seen in modern times. Even in today’s society women are often viewed as inferior to men. It is not abnormal for us to hear a story about a man abusing his wife or unfair treatment of a woman in a place of work by a male. I found an article in which it is stated that at least 25% of women admit to being treated unfairly or discriminated against at their job by either someone of a higher position or a coworker. The gap between men and women with regards to equality is constantly becoming smaller, yet the gap is still apparent. This continuation in the belief of male superiority among many causes the following question to come forth: Can complete gender equality ever be achieved? While Dickens shows us clearly that it was not achieved in the eighteenth century, is it possibly for this advancement to occur now or in the near future? http://query.nytimes.com/search/sitesearch/#/inferiority+of+women/365days/ (link to article)
In chapter four of book II the line “business mind is divided between good natured impulse and business appearances” is spoken (79). This line caused me to form a connection of how businesses have always been corrupt, and continue to be corrupt. It can be observed all throughout history that greed can overcome the “good natured impulse” or good intentions that a company has when it begins. Often times these companies exchange their morals for money and stop doing what is believed to be best for the client. In world history we learned that at one point the United States wanted to have free trade with Mexico. This connects because the reason for the rejection of free trade was that without the tax on trade many company owners would stop hiring American workers and would instead set up factories and such in Mexico, hire workers there, and pay them less. This in turn would have led to a higher rate of unemployment in the United States and cause economic decline. Despite this, many company owners were still in favor of free trade because they did not care about what would benefit the country overall. They only cared what would cause them to receive the largest possible profit. However, many of those who would benefit from free trade would try to keep up the façade of it being a policy that would be helpful to all Americans.
Kaila Cerbone aka LANGUAGE LOVER Book II chapter 4-5 Ok hey everyone! So what I have done is put the vocab in this order: (a.)Word, Location, Definition, and Connotation. Then the ( b.) quote and finally my (c.) opinion on the significance of the word in that particular line! So Enjoy! AND COMMENT or else I’ll send Jack after you! 1. (a.) Fervently, Pg 118, to be enthusiastic, Mr. Darnay is very excited and shows his thanks/Positive Connotation (b.) “Mr Darnay had kissed her (Lucie) hand fervently and gratefully, and had turned to Mr Stryer, whom he warmly thanked.” (c.) Darnay kisses Lucie’s hand and then turns to Stryver to thank him for his work. The use of the word “fervently” gives this action of kissing Lucie’s hand more of a positive connotation. Mr. Darnay is extremely thankful for Lucie and possible foreshadows a future love interest between them. This one action of an excited kiss on the hand could lead to future romance and drama within the novel. 2. (a.) Acquitted, Pg 119, declare not guilty, The prisoner was proved innocent/ Negative Connotation (b.)“The friends of the acquitted prisoner had dispersed, under the impression- which he himself had originated- that he would not be released that night” (c.) I really liked this quote. I thought that it was ironic that the prisoner is acquitted and finally free yet he still has to remain the night in prison. This is a lovely example on how Charles Dickens was able to give words, such as “acquitted”, with usually positive connotation and result in the exact opposite. I also felt that this line represented this time period and how even innocent people mistaken for being guilty will forever be judged like they were indeed guilty because they had a run in with the law. The part of the quote “… he would not be released that night” could be compared to how the assumed guilty are never released from others judgments.
Language Lover cont. STILL MUST COMMENT: 3. (a.) Minutely, Pg 124, occurring every minute, Negative Connotation (b.) “When he was left alone, this strange being took up a candle, went to a glass that hung against the wall, and surveyed himself minutely in it. (c.) The word “minutely” within this quote tells the reader that Sydney Carton keeps looking into the mirror for the purpose to question himself and his worth. He goes on comparing himself to Mr. Darnay and brings his self-esteem down. By doing so Mr Cartons is reveling more about his motives and past. This also shows Mr Cartons envy for Mr Darnay since he was won everyone’s affection while Mr Cartons has none. This quote and the ones to follow foreshadow a possible conflict between the two characters, Mr Darnay and Mr Cartons, for pride and love purposes. 4. (a.) Detriment, Pg 125, loss and damage, Negative Connotation (b.) Those were the drinking days, and most men drank hard. So very great is the improvement time has brought about habits, that a moderate statement of wine and punch which one man would sallow in the course of a night, without any detriment to his reputation as a perfect gentleman, would seem, in these days, a ridiculous exaggeration.” (c.) I personally love this quote because it can apply to mostly any situation in life. How people may think one thing while others think the complete opposite. Like how in this quote these men who drink their troubles away believe that their alcoholism won’t affect how they’re viewed in society but they are wrong. And since these upper class men are wrong about the judgments towards them, the word “detriment” has a negative connotation. 5. (a.) Commiserated, Pg 124, To show sympathy, Negative Connotation (b.) “’Change places with him, and would you have been looked at by those blue eyes as he was, and commiserated by the agitated face as he was? Come on, and have it out in plain words! You hate the fellow’” (c.) This quote just supports the last claim I had make about Mr Cartons immense jealous towards Mr Darnay. Since Mr Darnay has just been acquitted, Mr Cartons feels left out and decides to drink instead of celebrating. Then he confesses to himself that he hates Mr Darnay clearly from the quote, “’You hate the fellow’”. I don’t think these confessions or talking to himself makes Mr Cartons look like a trustworthy, stable character, but the complete opposite. This could be Dickens’ way of characterizing Mr Cartons.
It is very noticeable through his dialogue that Jerry Cruncher has a negative attitude or temper. As he speaks with his wife you can see Cruncher’s anger and also see his wife’s concern for him. “‘What do you mean by flopping yourself down and praying against me?’ ‘I was not praying against you, I was praying for you.’”(p.54). His wife only seems to be concerned for him, not doing anything wrong, yet he responds by calling her a “conceited female” which seems like a bit of an over reaction to me (p. 54).
Some mystery is seen when Cruncher’s “rusty fingers” and “muddy boots” are referred to, at this point in the book we don’t know the reasons for these things and neither do other characters. “‘Al-ways rusty! His fingers is al-ways rusty!’ muttered young Jerry. ‘Where does my father get all that iron rust from? He don’t get no iron from here!’”(p.57). This is said by Cruncher’s son, showing he is keeping something from his family, which could explain some of the fighting going on at home. Also Cruncher’s muddy boots seen in book II, add to the mystery of his character. “It was a very muddy boot, and may introduce the odd circumstance connected with Mr. Cruncher’s domestic economy, that, whereas he often came home after banking hours with clean boots, he often got up the next morning to find the same boots covered with clay.” (p.54). This shows that Jerry Cruncher is going some where after regular work, we just don’t know where or why, but we may find out later in the novel. These factors leave the reader questioning: Where are the iron rust and muddy boots coming from? What is he hiding?
Charles Darnay:
Charles Darnay is described as a young, handsome young man who is being tried for treason. at this point in book II, he is facing death in trial. During this trial as everyone is staring at him he remains “otherwise quite self-possessed, bowed to the judge, and stood quite.” (p. 61). There is also some mystery in this character due to the fact that we don’t know much about him and his past. We question if he is really a traitor and what he will do in the future of the book.
Miss Manette speaks as a witness for Charles Darnay in his trial. There seem to be some sort of a connection between them when she talks about meeting him on the boat. Miss Manette describes him as “gentle” and “kind” towards her and her father. But she does say anything bad about him, trying to prevent him from being killed.
Brooke, you made some really fantastic connections to the modern world in your analysis! I think it's wonderful the way you've pointed out that a lot of the social problems faced by the characters in A Tale of Two Cities still plague our society in the modern age. I was especially struck by the dynamics in the Cruncher family. The child is left torn between two parents, while the father takes out his frustration on a loving wife. Domestic abuse is never excusable, but it can cause a vicious cycle of abusers when from a young age individuals are exposed to violence without seeing the immorality of it and without being exposed to just consequences for abusers. It is especially damaging when instead the abuser tries to justify violent actions to the young witness, as Jerry Cruncher does with his son. I can't help but think that the parts of Jerry's frustrations are coming from whatever it is we don't know about him. There is a lot of mystery surrounding his character and what things he might be doing on the side of being a messenger. My suspicion draws from the rust on his fingers and the mud on his boots.
I was thinking the exact same thing about Jerry Cruncher as I was reading. I feel bad for his wife because all she is doing is looking out for his well-being and making sure he is protected,which,thanks to young Jerry, he seems to need some guidance because he most likely is doing something shady outside of work and home if he now has rusty fingers. He probably is contributing to the corruption in society in some way and maybe he's nervous that he wife is catching on to her actions which would explain her constant prayers. As for Charles Darnay, I also noticed the connection between him and Miss Manette, as well. Maybe they will find love in the near future.
Brooke-your connections were fantastic! I was especially affected by the one about domestic violence within the Cruncher home. I did characterizations on Jerry Cruncher, but I didn't even think about the effect on his son. The way Jerry Cruncher acts towards his wife shows his son that that is the appropriate way to treat women. Not only is he showing his son that that is the right way to treat a wife, but he is encouraging him at his young age, to act towards his mother in the same way he does. This is added to by the way that Cruncher's son looks up to him in a way where he can do no wrong in his son's eyes. His son places him on a pedestal above all other people, and watches after him with admiration in everything he does. His son strives to be like him in every way, and I believe that Dickens has made it up to the readers to discover if he will see the truth in his father or become just like him, and if that is the right or wrong thing. So far, I believe that Cruncher is not the best role model, particularly when he interacts with his wife, but perhaps Dickens will reveal something that we do not know, that may not justify his actions, but may give us more insight into what kind of person he truly is, and so what kind of person his son is really aspiring to be.
Kaila- With regards to number 3, I believe "minutely" is referring more to great attention to details than occurring every minute. I do however agree that he may be comparing himself to Darnay and the rest of your explanation. As for your fourth one, I agree wholeheartedly with what you said. You could say something and I could take it in one direction while someone else may go completely opposite that.
14 comments:
Discussion Questions (chapters 4-5, book II)
1.Why is Lucie the only thing that makes Doctor Manette happy?
Normally, Doctor Manette is generally angry and upset with his life because of the crimes he committed in his past. However, when he sees Lucie, he is reminded of the joyful life he led before his unknown crimes: “she was the golden thread that united him to a Past beyond his misery, and to a Present beyond his misery” (85).
2. What was the disagreement between Carton and Lorry?
It wasn’t exactly a disagreement – Sydney is an ex-prisoner alcoholic who is reckless and mentally unstable, so he’s basically the opposite of Lorry. The two do not get along.
3. What’s going on between Lucie, Sydney, and Charles?
There’s a developing love triangle, which is expected because Lucie is worshipped by the general public. She’s the typical beautiful, dainty blonde that everyone loves and she’s attracted the attention of both men.
4. Why does Carton hate Darnay?
Sydney Carton sees a lot of himself in Charles Darnay, and Sydney hates himself. He states, “why should you particularly like a man who resembles you? There is nothing in you to like” (90).
5. Who are the jackal and lion representing?
The jackal is Sydney and the lion was Stryver. The jackal represents Sydney’s sneakiness and laziness, and the lion represents Stryver’s power.
For question number four, did you consider the idea that maybe this idea that has been planted into our minds is one that stems from jealousy? I think that Carton hates Darnay because of this love triangle that has developed between them, which you mentioned before. I think that the fact that Sydney Carton hates Charles Darnay does revolve around the fact that he sees a lot of himself in Darnay, but I think this hatred simply exists because to him it's like, "How can someone be just like me except be so much 'happier' than I am?" And by happier, it's referring to the fact that Darnay is able to get attention from Lucie Manette, and Carton isn't. Thus, this creates feelings of jealousy in Carton's heart, and he displays them through beginning to hate Darnay.
Being the literary luminary, there were a few passages that I found to be important pertaining to the novel as a whole, predominantly in the second book.
At the start of the second book, the reader was given a detailed description of the bank: “Tellson’s Bank by Temple Bar was an old-fashioned place...It was very small, very dark, very ugly, very incommodious...moreover…the partners in the House were proud of its smallness, proud of its darkness, proud of its ugliness, proud of its incommodiousness…”(Book the Second, Chapter 1, Page 51). Due to the fact that this is the way that the second section of the book begins, one could predict that the bank will play an important role in the future. This is the place where Jerry Cruncher is an employee. It is also noted that the location of the bank is where the government publicly shows the heads of criminals who were sentenced to death. This scene adds to the drama, mystery and suspense to the chapter as whole. I found it interesting how the bank didn’t want to come into the light; the bank preferred the darkness which could be symbolic of things that have happened in the past. I also thought it was interesting how the people were proud of the imperfections of their appearance. The people were not looking to change the look of the bank that had been standing for many years.
Towards the end of the second chapter of the second book, we are struck with the image of the prisoner being shone in the light: “Over the prisoner’s head there was a mirror, to throw light down upon him...Be that as it may, a change in position making him conscious of a bar of light across his face, he looked up; and when he saw the glass, his face flushed and his right hand pushed the herbs away” (Book the Second, Chapter 2, Page 62). This is just one section of the chapter that is presented with a serious tone. The mirror could be symbolic of shame. The prisoner is aware that the mirror is known for its “infamy and disgrace”. When the prisoner saw his reflection he was embarrassed and ashamed, evident through his “face flush[ing]”.
The second chapter of the second book also ends on a serious tone in the courtroom. “The Judge, whose eyes had gone in the general direction, recalled them, leaned back in his seat, and looked steadily at the man whose life was in his hand, as Mr. Attorney General rose to spin the rope, grind the axe, and hammer the nails into the scaffold” (Book the Second, Chapter 2, Page 63). This scene creates intensity within the courtroom and the reader can sense both the tension in the court room and the authority that the judge holds due to his position. The fact that the judge “looked steadily at the man whose life was in his hand” can make the reader curious as to what the outcome of the court case will be.
At the beginning of the fourth chapter of the second book, we are presented with the strong relationship that exists between Doctor Manette and his daughter, Lucie Manette: “Only his daughter had the power if charming this black brooding from his mind...but they were few and slight, and she believed them over” (Book the Second, Chapter 4, Page 77). The state in which Dr. Manette is in is not one of good nature. When he was reintroduced to his daughter, he was reminded of his poor past. This passage is shedding a positive light on their relationship, giving him hope that his life will soon take a turn for the better rather than staying in the slum that he is currently in. He feels as though the relationship between his daughter and himself “had the power of charming this black brooding from his mind”. For the first time in a long time, he feels comforted by her presence. To a certain degree, he is also at peace with himself for the time being.
Critical Connector (Chapters 1-5, Book II)
In chapter one of book II Jerry Cruncher’s son displays qualities much like his father’s. This reminded me of how often times today the way in which children act is influenced by their upbringing. Many children strive to be like their parents and want nothing more than to make their parents proud. In society today, this pressure on kids to please their parents can lead to extreme stress and can be unhealthy. It is also not uncommon for children to incorporate qualities of their guardians into their own personalities or to imitate their actions. For example, someone whose parents have bad habits such as drinking, drugs, etc. tend to copy their parents and develop the same issues, though this is not always the case. This in turn leads me to believe that young Jerry may end up being aggressive towards women, just like his father.
In chapter one of book II Mr. Cruncher is seen being abusive towards his wife when he yells at her for praying and even goes to far as to viciously throw a shoe at her. Abuse such as this can often be seen in modern times. Even in today’s society women are often viewed as inferior to men. It is not abnormal for us to hear a story about a man abusing his wife or unfair treatment of a woman in a place of work by a male. I found an article in which it is stated that at least 25% of women admit to being treated unfairly or discriminated against at their job by either someone of a higher position or a coworker. The gap between men and women with regards to equality is constantly becoming smaller, yet the gap is still apparent. This continuation in the belief of male superiority among many causes the following question to come forth: Can complete gender equality ever be achieved? While Dickens shows us clearly that it was not achieved in the eighteenth century, is it possibly for this advancement to occur now or in the near future?
http://query.nytimes.com/search/sitesearch/#/inferiority+of+women/365days/
(link to article)
In chapter four of book II the line “business mind is divided between good natured impulse and business appearances” is spoken (79). This line caused me to form a connection of how businesses have always been corrupt, and continue to be corrupt. It can be observed all throughout history that greed can overcome the “good natured impulse” or good intentions that a company has when it begins. Often times these companies exchange their morals for money and stop doing what is believed to be best for the client. In world history we learned that at one point the United States wanted to have free trade with Mexico. This connects because the reason for the rejection of free trade was that without the tax on trade many company owners would stop hiring American workers and would instead set up factories and such in Mexico, hire workers there, and pay them less. This in turn would have led to a higher rate of unemployment in the United States and cause economic decline. Despite this, many company owners were still in favor of free trade because they did not care about what would benefit the country overall. They only cared what would cause them to receive the largest possible profit. However, many of those who would benefit from free trade would try to keep up the façade of it being a policy that would be helpful to all Americans.
Kaila Cerbone aka LANGUAGE LOVER
Book II chapter 4-5
Ok hey everyone! So what I have done is put the vocab in this order: (a.)Word, Location, Definition, and Connotation. Then the ( b.) quote and finally my (c.) opinion on the significance of the word in that particular line! So Enjoy! AND COMMENT or else I’ll send Jack after you!
1. (a.) Fervently, Pg 118, to be enthusiastic, Mr. Darnay is very excited and shows his thanks/Positive Connotation
(b.) “Mr Darnay had kissed her (Lucie) hand fervently and gratefully, and had turned to Mr Stryer, whom he warmly thanked.”
(c.) Darnay kisses Lucie’s hand and then turns to Stryver to thank him for his work. The use of the word “fervently” gives this action of kissing Lucie’s hand more of a positive connotation. Mr. Darnay is extremely thankful for Lucie and possible foreshadows a future love interest between them. This one action of an excited kiss on the hand could lead to future romance and drama within the novel.
2. (a.) Acquitted, Pg 119, declare not guilty, The prisoner was proved innocent/ Negative Connotation
(b.)“The friends of the acquitted prisoner had dispersed, under the impression- which he himself had originated- that he would not be released that night”
(c.) I really liked this quote. I thought that it was ironic that the prisoner is acquitted and finally free yet he still has to remain the night in prison. This is a lovely example on how Charles Dickens was able to give words, such as “acquitted”, with usually positive connotation and result in the exact opposite. I also felt that this line represented this time period and how even innocent people mistaken for being guilty will forever be judged like they were indeed guilty because they had a run in with the law. The part of the quote “… he would not be released that night” could be compared to how the assumed guilty are never released from others judgments.
Language Lover cont. STILL MUST COMMENT:
3. (a.) Minutely, Pg 124, occurring every minute, Negative Connotation
(b.) “When he was left alone, this strange being took up a candle, went to a glass that hung against the wall, and surveyed himself minutely in it.
(c.) The word “minutely” within this quote tells the reader that Sydney Carton keeps looking into the mirror for the purpose to question himself and his worth. He goes on comparing himself to Mr. Darnay and brings his self-esteem down. By doing so Mr Cartons is reveling more about his motives and past. This also shows Mr Cartons envy for Mr Darnay since he was won everyone’s affection while Mr Cartons has none. This quote and the ones to follow foreshadow a possible conflict between the two characters, Mr Darnay and Mr Cartons, for pride and love purposes.
4. (a.) Detriment, Pg 125, loss and damage, Negative Connotation
(b.) Those were the drinking days, and most men drank hard. So very great is the improvement time has brought about habits, that a moderate statement of wine and punch which one man would sallow in the course of a night, without any detriment to his reputation as a perfect gentleman, would seem, in these days, a ridiculous exaggeration.”
(c.) I personally love this quote because it can apply to mostly any situation in life. How people may think one thing while others think the complete opposite. Like how in this quote these men who drink their troubles away believe that their alcoholism won’t affect how they’re viewed in society but they are wrong. And since these upper class men are wrong about the judgments towards them, the word “detriment” has a negative connotation.
5. (a.) Commiserated, Pg 124, To show sympathy, Negative Connotation
(b.) “’Change places with him, and would you have been looked at by those blue eyes as he was, and commiserated by the agitated face as he was? Come on, and have it out in plain words! You hate the fellow’”
(c.) This quote just supports the last claim I had make about Mr Cartons immense jealous towards Mr Darnay. Since Mr Darnay has just been acquitted, Mr Cartons feels left out and decides to drink instead of celebrating. Then he confesses to himself that he hates Mr Darnay clearly from the quote, “’You hate the fellow’”. I don’t think these confessions or talking to himself makes Mr Cartons look like a trustworthy, stable character, but the complete opposite. This could be Dickens’ way of characterizing Mr Cartons.
Character Captain
Jerry Cruncher:
It is very noticeable through his dialogue that Jerry Cruncher has a negative attitude or temper. As he speaks with his wife you can see Cruncher’s anger and also see his wife’s concern for him. “‘What do you mean by flopping yourself down and praying against me?’ ‘I was not praying against you, I was praying for you.’”(p.54). His wife only seems to be concerned for him, not doing anything wrong, yet he responds by calling her a “conceited female” which seems like a bit of an over reaction to me (p. 54).
Some mystery is seen when Cruncher’s “rusty fingers” and “muddy boots” are referred to, at this point in the book we don’t know the reasons for these things and neither do other characters. “‘Al-ways rusty! His fingers is al-ways rusty!’ muttered young Jerry. ‘Where does my father get all that iron rust from? He don’t get no iron from here!’”(p.57). This is said by Cruncher’s son, showing he is keeping something from his family, which could explain some of the fighting going on at home. Also Cruncher’s muddy boots seen in book II, add to the mystery of his character. “It was a very muddy boot, and may introduce the odd circumstance connected with Mr. Cruncher’s domestic economy, that, whereas he often came home after banking hours with clean boots, he often got up the next morning to find the same boots covered with clay.” (p.54). This shows that Jerry Cruncher is going some where after regular work, we just don’t know where or why, but we may find out later in the novel. These factors leave the reader questioning: Where are the iron rust and muddy boots coming from? What is he hiding?
Charles Darnay:
Charles Darnay is described as a young, handsome young man who is being tried for treason. at this point in book II, he is facing death in trial. During this trial as everyone is staring at him he remains “otherwise quite self-possessed, bowed to the judge, and stood quite.” (p. 61). There is also some mystery in this character due to the fact that we don’t know much about him and his past. We question if he is really a traitor and what he will do in the future of the book.
Miss Manette speaks as a witness for Charles Darnay in his trial. There seem to be some sort of a connection between them when she talks about meeting him on the boat. Miss Manette describes him as “gentle” and “kind” towards her and her father. But she does say anything bad about him, trying to prevent him from being killed.
Brooke, you made some really fantastic connections to the modern world in your analysis! I think it's wonderful the way you've pointed out that a lot of the social problems faced by the characters in A Tale of Two Cities still plague our society in the modern age. I was especially struck by the dynamics in the Cruncher family. The child is left torn between two parents, while the father takes out his frustration on a loving wife. Domestic abuse is never excusable, but it can cause a vicious cycle of abusers when from a young age individuals are exposed to violence without seeing the immorality of it and without being exposed to just consequences for abusers. It is especially damaging when instead the abuser tries to justify violent actions to the young witness, as Jerry Cruncher does with his son. I can't help but think that the parts of Jerry's frustrations are coming from whatever it is we don't know about him. There is a lot of mystery surrounding his character and what things he might be doing on the side of being a messenger. My suspicion draws from the rust on his fingers and the mud on his boots.
@ Madison
I was thinking the exact same thing about Jerry Cruncher as I was reading. I feel bad for his wife because all she is doing is looking out for his well-being and making sure he is protected,which,thanks to young Jerry, he seems to need some guidance because he most likely is doing something shady outside of work and home if he now has rusty fingers. He probably is contributing to the corruption in society in some way and maybe he's nervous that he wife is catching on to her actions which would explain her constant prayers. As for Charles Darnay, I also noticed the connection between him and Miss Manette, as well. Maybe they will find love in the near future.
Brooke-your connections were fantastic! I was especially affected by the one about domestic violence within the Cruncher home. I did characterizations on Jerry Cruncher, but I didn't even think about the effect on his son. The way Jerry Cruncher acts towards his wife shows his son that that is the appropriate way to treat women. Not only is he showing his son that that is the right way to treat a wife, but he is encouraging him at his young age, to act towards his mother in the same way he does. This is added to by the way that Cruncher's son looks up to him in a way where he can do no wrong in his son's eyes. His son places him on a pedestal above all other people, and watches after him with admiration in everything he does. His son strives to be like him in every way, and I believe that Dickens has made it up to the readers to discover if he will see the truth in his father or become just like him, and if that is the right or wrong thing. So far, I believe that Cruncher is not the best role model, particularly when he interacts with his wife, but perhaps Dickens will reveal something that we do not know, that may not justify his actions, but may give us more insight into what kind of person he truly is, and so what kind of person his son is really aspiring to be.
Kaila-
With regards to number 3, I believe "minutely" is referring more to great attention to details than occurring every minute. I do however agree that he may be comparing himself to Darnay and the rest of your explanation. As for your fourth one, I agree wholeheartedly with what you said. You could say something and I could take it in one direction while someone else may go completely opposite that.
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