A Tale Of Two Cities
Charles Dickens
Genre: Social Criticism, Fiction Novel, Historical Novel
Number of pages read: 209/321
Summary: On the day of Lucie's and Darnay's wedding, Doctor Manette recalls some of his old memories and turns pale. Because of his health, he couldn't join them on their honeymoon. Later that day, Lorry and Ms. Pross found Doctor Manette working on his shoemaker's bench, scared, lost and incoherent. Lorry and Doctor Manette talked about what triggers him to recall his haunting memories. Lorry accused his shoemaker's bench and his tools, while Doctor Manette stated that those were his stress relievers. At the end of the argument, Doctor Manette reluctantly agreed to dispose of his bench and tools. When Lucie and Darnay returned home from their honeymoon, Carton plead Darnay for his friendship. He wanted to be an honored guest in their household. When Carton left, Darnay told Lucie that Carton is careless and reckless, but Lucie showed a large amount of sympathy towards the poor man. Darnay liked Lucie's empathy. After a few years of peaceful life, Lucie still kept the tradition of sitting on the parlor. She gave birth to her daughter named Lucie and a son that died at a young age.One day, she hears the echoing footsteps from France in the year 1789. She knew something was wrong. Her fears were confirmed when Lorry told Darnay that there is an unusual number of French sending money and property to England. The Bastille in Paris is being Stormed by mob of people led by the Defarges. Monsieur Defarge searched the cell in 105 North Tower and rejoined the mob after he was finished. Madam Defarge cut off the head of the governor that defended the fortress. A week later, Defarge tells his wife that Faulon was captured. He was the Marquis who faked his own death and escaped to the countryside after he said that the hungry should eat grass if they have nothing to eat. Madam Defarge and a unnamed woman called "The Vengeance" were the leaders of the mob when they set of to meet Foulon. The first two attempts to hang Foulon failed because the rope kept breaking. while the third attempt succeeded. Then, they cut off his head, put it on a pike and filled his mouth with grass. When they came back to Saint Antoine, a man asked the Mender of Roads where the chateau is. After they identified themselves as revolutionaries, the Mender of Roads answered. Later that night, the chateau was set on fire. The peasants put a candle in every window. Then, they try to kill Gabelle, the Local tax collector, but he escapes to the roof of his house. More and more French aristocrats move to England. Tellson's Bank becomes the "great gathering of Monseigneur". In order to save their property in Paris from destruction, they send Lorry and Jerry Cruncher as his bodyguard to their branch in Paris. Charles Darnay tries to convince him not to go, but Lorry insists. Lorry receives a letter with careful instructions to give it to the Marquis St. Evremonde. Not wanting to give himself away, Darnay said that he knows the Marquis and that he will be glad to give him the letter. Secretly, Darnay read the letter. It was from Gabelle who was imprisoned by the revolutionaries. He begged Darnay to come back to Paris and save him. Then, Charles writes a letter to the Manettes and departs.
Reflection: This part of the book is my favorite. It was filled with action. Great changes took place. I think this is the highest peek of the plot. I wonder what will happen to Darnay. Will they kill him, or will he succeed? And will they kill Gabelle? I am very eager to finish the book. I am very satisfied with the novel. It went over my highest expectations. The only problem I have is understanding old, sophisticated, high level English.
Passage: "As was natural, the head-quarters and great gathering-place of Monseigneur, in London, was Tellson's Bank. Spirits are supposed to haunt the places where their bodies most resorted, and Monseigneur without a guinea haunted the spot where his guineas used to be. Moreover, it was the spot to which such French intelligence as was most to be relied upon, came quickest. Again: Tellson's was a munificent house, and extended great liberality to old customers who had fallen from their high estate. Again: those nobles who had seen the coming storm in time, and anticipating plunder or confiscation, had made provident remittances to Tellson's, were always to be heard of there by their needy brethren. To which it must be added that every new-comer from France reported himself and his tidings at Tellson's, almost as a matter of course. For such variety of reasons, Tellson's was at that time, as to French intelligence, a kind of High Exchange; and this was so well known to the public, and the inquiries made there were in consequence so numerous, that Tellson's sometimes wrote the latest news out in a line or so and posted it in the Bank windows, for all who ran through Temple Bar to read."
I chose this paragraph because it describes the situation in the two countries and in Tellson's Bank the best. I like the language used in it and I love how in depth Dickens thought when he wrote this.
Summary: On the day of Lucie's and Darnay's wedding, Doctor Manette recalls some of his old memories and turns pale. Because of his health, he couldn't join them on their honeymoon. Later that day, Lorry and Ms. Pross found Doctor Manette working on his shoemaker's bench, scared, lost and incoherent. Lorry and Doctor Manette talked about what triggers him to recall his haunting memories. Lorry accused his shoemaker's bench and his tools, while Doctor Manette stated that those were his stress relievers. At the end of the argument, Doctor Manette reluctantly agreed to dispose of his bench and tools. When Lucie and Darnay returned home from their honeymoon, Carton plead Darnay for his friendship. He wanted to be an honored guest in their household. When Carton left, Darnay told Lucie that Carton is careless and reckless, but Lucie showed a large amount of sympathy towards the poor man. Darnay liked Lucie's empathy. After a few years of peaceful life, Lucie still kept the tradition of sitting on the parlor. She gave birth to her daughter named Lucie and a son that died at a young age.One day, she hears the echoing footsteps from France in the year 1789. She knew something was wrong. Her fears were confirmed when Lorry told Darnay that there is an unusual number of French sending money and property to England. The Bastille in Paris is being Stormed by mob of people led by the Defarges. Monsieur Defarge searched the cell in 105 North Tower and rejoined the mob after he was finished. Madam Defarge cut off the head of the governor that defended the fortress. A week later, Defarge tells his wife that Faulon was captured. He was the Marquis who faked his own death and escaped to the countryside after he said that the hungry should eat grass if they have nothing to eat. Madam Defarge and a unnamed woman called "The Vengeance" were the leaders of the mob when they set of to meet Foulon. The first two attempts to hang Foulon failed because the rope kept breaking. while the third attempt succeeded. Then, they cut off his head, put it on a pike and filled his mouth with grass. When they came back to Saint Antoine, a man asked the Mender of Roads where the chateau is. After they identified themselves as revolutionaries, the Mender of Roads answered. Later that night, the chateau was set on fire. The peasants put a candle in every window. Then, they try to kill Gabelle, the Local tax collector, but he escapes to the roof of his house. More and more French aristocrats move to England. Tellson's Bank becomes the "great gathering of Monseigneur". In order to save their property in Paris from destruction, they send Lorry and Jerry Cruncher as his bodyguard to their branch in Paris. Charles Darnay tries to convince him not to go, but Lorry insists. Lorry receives a letter with careful instructions to give it to the Marquis St. Evremonde. Not wanting to give himself away, Darnay said that he knows the Marquis and that he will be glad to give him the letter. Secretly, Darnay read the letter. It was from Gabelle who was imprisoned by the revolutionaries. He begged Darnay to come back to Paris and save him. Then, Charles writes a letter to the Manettes and departs.
Reflection: This part of the book is my favorite. It was filled with action. Great changes took place. I think this is the highest peek of the plot. I wonder what will happen to Darnay. Will they kill him, or will he succeed? And will they kill Gabelle? I am very eager to finish the book. I am very satisfied with the novel. It went over my highest expectations. The only problem I have is understanding old, sophisticated, high level English.
Passage: "As was natural, the head-quarters and great gathering-place of Monseigneur, in London, was Tellson's Bank. Spirits are supposed to haunt the places where their bodies most resorted, and Monseigneur without a guinea haunted the spot where his guineas used to be. Moreover, it was the spot to which such French intelligence as was most to be relied upon, came quickest. Again: Tellson's was a munificent house, and extended great liberality to old customers who had fallen from their high estate. Again: those nobles who had seen the coming storm in time, and anticipating plunder or confiscation, had made provident remittances to Tellson's, were always to be heard of there by their needy brethren. To which it must be added that every new-comer from France reported himself and his tidings at Tellson's, almost as a matter of course. For such variety of reasons, Tellson's was at that time, as to French intelligence, a kind of High Exchange; and this was so well known to the public, and the inquiries made there were in consequence so numerous, that Tellson's sometimes wrote the latest news out in a line or so and posted it in the Bank windows, for all who ran through Temple Bar to read."
I chose this paragraph because it describes the situation in the two countries and in Tellson's Bank the best. I like the language used in it and I love how in depth Dickens thought when he wrote this.
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