Going along with the idea that the revolution acts as an agent of resurrection for the whole town I remembered this quote about releasing the prisoners. “Of all these cries, and ten thousand incoherencies, ‘The Prisoners!’ was the cry most taken up by the sea that rushed in, as if there were an eternity of people, as well as of time and space” (225).
Although this quote is about the recalling of prisoners, I think it means so much to the people because it is about recalling themselves as well, by releasing the power that the aristocrats have over the prisoners and the whole town. The people are freed from all of the problems that the aristocrats bring to the people, and so they are essentially there own agents of resurrection. The freeing of the prisoners can then be seen as a symbolic act of freeing of themselves, which leads to their joy and happiness.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Darnay's second coming
Like Dr. Manette, Darnay has had terrible experiences in France, but even so, "...through the painful anxiety to reviving old associations of France in his mind, he did not discuss with himself." (p 252-53) As long as we've known him France has been dead to him, he hates his family, and is trying to make a new life in england, but now as another's life rests in the balance he must resurrect his old ties to France and the Marquis he forsook.
By doing this he risks some of the same things Dr. Manette does whenever prisons are mentioned. But like Dr. Manette he has to eventually come to terms with that part of his life and come to peace with it, or else his own well being and the well being of others could be risked.
By doing this he risks some of the same things Dr. Manette does whenever prisons are mentioned. But like Dr. Manette he has to eventually come to terms with that part of his life and come to peace with it, or else his own well being and the well being of others could be risked.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Resurrection-man
I found that the scene where Young Jerry tells Jerry that he wants to be a resurrection-man great to read because it looked at Jerry in a bit of a different light. Although it is an obvious reference to our motif, it is a great character development passage.
Earlier in the chapter, The Honest Tradesman, Jerry slapped his son and I thought, wow he's hitting his son! What an awful guy! However, at the same time I felt that it fit Jerry's personality to do such a thing. It also made me think that Jerry probably did not love his son very much. I thought that because it's possible for him to despise his wife, it would make sense for him not to like his son either. But, I was wrong.
Jerry is happy to hear that his son wants to be a resurrection-man when he grows up. This is heartwarming to him and he remarks that Young Jerry may be a blessing and a recompense to him for the awful wife he claims to have (ha!). I then realized that I had underestimated Jerry. It had seemed to me that he was incapable of loving somebody and was only concerned about himself. It turns out that he is just as capable of expressing feelings of love towards his family as the average person. The scene showed a lighter side of Jerry. The loving side. His joy in hearing his son expressing his wish to become just like his dad shows how much he loves his son. It also shows how proud he is of him. After all, he's turning out to be a fine chap, just like his old man. It is a perfect scene of father-son bonding. We are treated to more insight into Jerry's personality as we find out that he is more caring than we thought. He loves his son and is proud to hear that he wants to be just like his father, which shows just how tender he really is.
Also, I found Rebecca's comment interesting which led to another conclusion of mine. She said that the whole Revolution itself is an agent of resurrection. The peasants will begin their lives anew. I think that although my blog topic doesn't have to do with the Revolution, the same observation can be made. Originally, it seemed like Jerry was often mean to his son. He used him as an assistant and slapped him on the head for barely any reason at all. I believe that their whole relationship is an agent of resurrection because they also have the opportunity to begin anew. They have developed a stronger relationship now that Jerry has learned that his son wants to have the same shady career.
The Revolution
"Yet, human fellowship infused some nourishment into the flinty viands, and struck some sparks of cheerfulness out of them. Fathers and mothers who had had their full share in the worst of the day, played gently with their meagre children; and lovers, with such a world around them and before them, loved and hoped" (Page 235).
Emily, you said that the women are overjoyed when Foulon is found because justice can then be served. That is very true. The people have waited for the time when they could stand up for themselves and revolt against the cruel aristocracy. In the quote above, it is stated that the people were coming together. They were finding a sense of "nourishment" in the unity even though they may not have had plentiful amounts of food or great living conditions. Before, the people were under the rule of the careless leaders. Now they are being somewhat freed. They can now hope for a better future for themselves and their people. The Revolution is serving as an agent of ressurection. The people's hope is restored and they can all take in the long lost sense of cheer that the Revolution is bringing them.
Emily, you said that the women are overjoyed when Foulon is found because justice can then be served. That is very true. The people have waited for the time when they could stand up for themselves and revolt against the cruel aristocracy. In the quote above, it is stated that the people were coming together. They were finding a sense of "nourishment" in the unity even though they may not have had plentiful amounts of food or great living conditions. Before, the people were under the rule of the careless leaders. Now they are being somewhat freed. They can now hope for a better future for themselves and their people. The Revolution is serving as an agent of ressurection. The people's hope is restored and they can all take in the long lost sense of cheer that the Revolution is bringing them.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
A Sea Still Rises
"...The women were a sight to chill the boldest. From such household occupations as their bare poverty yielded, from their children, from their aged and their sick crouching on the bare ground famished and naked, they ran out with streaming hair, urging one another, and themselves, to madness with the wildest cries and actions" (232).
This passage shows the opinions and wants that the women of the town always had, but that were muted in society up until now. All this time, they had the devastatingly difficult role as housewives to see their babies die, and to see the many people of their town become greatly weakened by hunger. They also saw Foulon (an example of the aristocrats) cruelly, and inappropriately suggest them to eat grass if they were hungry. (as if he had any idea what they were going through!) This excerpt is showing these housewives after they hear of Foulons existence. They are overjoyed, because now justice can be served. Even more then the men, it is their chance to become more than housewives; they can be the commanders of justice, and they can finally stuff grass into the wealthy snobs' faces, and not be killed in return. It is their chance to do what is right!
This passage reminded me of a passage in Monsieur the Marquis in town:
"So cowed was their condition, and so long and so hard their experience of what such a man could do to them, within the law and beyond it, that not a voice, or a hand, or even an eye, was raised. Among the men, not one. But the woman who stood knitting looked up steadily, and looked the Marquis in the face. It was not for his dignity to notice it; his contemptuous eyes passed over her, and over all the other rats..." (117).
This passage shows the foreshadow that Madame Defarge made of the women's fearlessness, and true defeat over the aristocrats. In this passage, you see Marquis as an intimidating aristocrat with all the power over the poorer "rats". Because of this, no man will speak up, or even look at the man. But, in this case, a women looks him straight in the eye. He might not know it yet, but the woman knows that soon she will have the power to serve justice, and kill and torture the aristocrats who, for so many years, practiced so much injustice to her, and the other poor people of the town.
This passage shows the opinions and wants that the women of the town always had, but that were muted in society up until now. All this time, they had the devastatingly difficult role as housewives to see their babies die, and to see the many people of their town become greatly weakened by hunger. They also saw Foulon (an example of the aristocrats) cruelly, and inappropriately suggest them to eat grass if they were hungry. (as if he had any idea what they were going through!) This excerpt is showing these housewives after they hear of Foulons existence. They are overjoyed, because now justice can be served. Even more then the men, it is their chance to become more than housewives; they can be the commanders of justice, and they can finally stuff grass into the wealthy snobs' faces, and not be killed in return. It is their chance to do what is right!
This passage reminded me of a passage in Monsieur the Marquis in town:
"So cowed was their condition, and so long and so hard their experience of what such a man could do to them, within the law and beyond it, that not a voice, or a hand, or even an eye, was raised. Among the men, not one. But the woman who stood knitting looked up steadily, and looked the Marquis in the face. It was not for his dignity to notice it; his contemptuous eyes passed over her, and over all the other rats..." (117).
This passage shows the foreshadow that Madame Defarge made of the women's fearlessness, and true defeat over the aristocrats. In this passage, you see Marquis as an intimidating aristocrat with all the power over the poorer "rats". Because of this, no man will speak up, or even look at the man. But, in this case, a women looks him straight in the eye. He might not know it yet, but the woman knows that soon she will have the power to serve justice, and kill and torture the aristocrats who, for so many years, practiced so much injustice to her, and the other poor people of the town.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
The Dr. Manette Uber Regression Thoughts
In chapter 17, we find that the Doctor has finally come to terms with his imprisonment and can freely speak about it. He has been completely restored to life. Almost in a sick sence of humor, he looses his progress less than a day later when he learns about Charles D'Aulnais true identity. I suspect that the Doctor may be more involved with matters in France that he has currently led us to believe since his former servant Defarge was also surprised when he learned this information. Something must have happened between the Manettes and the D'Aulnais before that the Doctor becomes completely regressed again. Did he do something to the D'Aulnais that led to his imprisonment? Afterall, we have seen how unforgiving the French nobility is from the previous chapters. (Excluding Charles of course).
Sorry it is kind of confusing to read, its hard to explain what i'm thinking about this situation. :-/
Sorry it is kind of confusing to read, its hard to explain what i'm thinking about this situation. :-/
Knitting
In Monsieur Defarge’s wine shop the patrons taste with every sip but, “No vivacious bacchanalian flame leapt out of the pressed grape of Monsieur Defarge; but, a smouldering fire that burnt in the dark, lay hidden in the dregs of it” (p 171). For now it lies in wait; only smoldering, hidden away in the dregs, until it bursts forth, a phoenix reborn in the cleansing fire. The phoenix is a mythical creature that bursts into flames when the time has come for it to die, but in the ashes created from his death, he is reborn again. The smoldering ashes in this wine is not only the smoldering ashes of the phoenix, but also the smoldering ashes of the revolutionaries. When it is time for them to die, they will be reborn from the ashes once more, except this time they will be younger and stronger than ever before. This smoldering fire is the fire of the revolution, driven forth from the grapes of the “vendor of wine”. This will be no ordinary wine though, but the blood of the aristocracy that abused the peasant phoenixes so.
"the last dream of my soul"
This excerpt gives you an idea of what context I am analyzing:
'"If you will hear me through a very little more, all you can do for me is done. I wish you to know that you have been the last dream of my soul...If I were dead, that could not be surer than its it henceforth. In the hour of my death, I shall hold sacred the one good remembrance-and shall thank and bless you for it- that my last avowal of myself was made to you, and that my name, and faults, and miseries, were gently carried in your heart. May it otherwise be light and happy!'" (157, 158).
I wanted to really focus this discussion in the chapter the Fellow of No Delicacy. In these pages, we see Carton going straight to the point, just as we had predicted, and going over to talk to Lucie Manette about his feelings. He has, until then, never shown her his true love for her, but merely sat in the corner and continued to be the drunken fool that he always was, and was always thought of to be. After this chapter, we see that Carton has lost all faith in himself to become the interesting, extroverted self that he has on the inside. He does not believe that he can ever live up to Lucie's expectations, and when he tells her that she is the "last dream of my soul", it really confirms that he has lost all hope in his present life, and his present feelings. This makes it seem like he has merely gone over to Lucie's house to depress himself, Lucie and the reader. My question is, do you think that Carton has the capabilities to change? Why do believe that he has no self confidence? Is it too late for him to be "recalled to life" and become a normal human, and not some quirky drunk?
Another point I want to address is the death symbols that pertain to my motif. In this chapter, we see that Carton has fully accepted his death, and seems to have nothing else to life for after telling Lucie how he feels. Why do you think that Carton truly does not care to live or die?
'"If you will hear me through a very little more, all you can do for me is done. I wish you to know that you have been the last dream of my soul...If I were dead, that could not be surer than its it henceforth. In the hour of my death, I shall hold sacred the one good remembrance-and shall thank and bless you for it- that my last avowal of myself was made to you, and that my name, and faults, and miseries, were gently carried in your heart. May it otherwise be light and happy!'" (157, 158).
I wanted to really focus this discussion in the chapter the Fellow of No Delicacy. In these pages, we see Carton going straight to the point, just as we had predicted, and going over to talk to Lucie Manette about his feelings. He has, until then, never shown her his true love for her, but merely sat in the corner and continued to be the drunken fool that he always was, and was always thought of to be. After this chapter, we see that Carton has lost all faith in himself to become the interesting, extroverted self that he has on the inside. He does not believe that he can ever live up to Lucie's expectations, and when he tells her that she is the "last dream of my soul", it really confirms that he has lost all hope in his present life, and his present feelings. This makes it seem like he has merely gone over to Lucie's house to depress himself, Lucie and the reader. My question is, do you think that Carton has the capabilities to change? Why do believe that he has no self confidence? Is it too late for him to be "recalled to life" and become a normal human, and not some quirky drunk?
Another point I want to address is the death symbols that pertain to my motif. In this chapter, we see that Carton has fully accepted his death, and seems to have nothing else to life for after telling Lucie how he feels. Why do you think that Carton truly does not care to live or die?
The Fellow of No Delicacy
"'...can I not save you Mr. Carton? Can I not recal you - forgive me again! - to a better course? Can I in no way repay your confidence?'" (156).
In this, Lucie shows her natural will to help Mr. Carton with his problems. Mr. Carton is now at his seemingly lowest point in life and Lucie shows that she wants to help him by asking if she cannot recall him to a better course. Lucie has proved to us her abilities in resurrection through her success with her father, and now is provided with the chance of helping Mr. Carton. Lucie in some ways represents a new beginning because of all that she has done for her father. She has already taken a man who claimed his name was one hundred and five North Tower, and reintegrated him into everyday life. In comparison helping Mr. Carton get on a track to a better life shouldn’t be too hard. So it is surprising when Mr. Carton denies the offer of help, and states that the reason that he came to talk to her was not solely for himself, but to offer her the piece of mind that he would give his life to keep hers as she knows it to be. Mr. Carton thus shows that he has given up on his own life and sees that its only use can be in helping Lucie when she will need it the most.
In this, Lucie shows her natural will to help Mr. Carton with his problems. Mr. Carton is now at his seemingly lowest point in life and Lucie shows that she wants to help him by asking if she cannot recall him to a better course. Lucie has proved to us her abilities in resurrection through her success with her father, and now is provided with the chance of helping Mr. Carton. Lucie in some ways represents a new beginning because of all that she has done for her father. She has already taken a man who claimed his name was one hundred and five North Tower, and reintegrated him into everyday life. In comparison helping Mr. Carton get on a track to a better life shouldn’t be too hard. So it is surprising when Mr. Carton denies the offer of help, and states that the reason that he came to talk to her was not solely for himself, but to offer her the piece of mind that he would give his life to keep hers as she knows it to be. Mr. Carton thus shows that he has given up on his own life and sees that its only use can be in helping Lucie when she will need it the most.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Darnay's story
I just wanted to go back in Book the Second a little bit and talk about how not only Dr. Manette had to be reborn, but so did Darnay in a way. Back in chapter 3 (A Disappointment), the result of Charles Darnay's trial was being told to Mr. Lorry, and Jerry had to relay the outcome to the bank. Dickens describes that "hastily written on the paper was the word 'AQUITTED'. 'If you had sent the message, "Recalled to Life", again,' muttered Jerry, as he turned, 'I should have known what you meant, this time'" (Page 82).
Although this is earlier in the book, it has a lot to do with our motif and the character Darnay that we know. The important part of this quote is the fact that Dickens is trying to get the point across that Darnay was in a sense reborn. He was introduced back into his day to day life as a new man. He was free to go about his business, to start over. Andrew said that Dr. Manette had probably seen Darnay before in his earlier life, and that is why he seemed to be scared. This is true, but I also want to point out that here in chapter 3, as I explained above, Darnay is in a sense being reborn. He was rescued by his innocence in the trial. Instead of the reader viewing Darnay as a criminal as we first would, since he was a prisoner and was accused of a crime, Dickens wants us to see that Darnay is a sensible man instead. He is reborn to the reader as a good character, not a bad one, when he is proven innocent (which is rare). Therefore, when we say that Dr. Manette is scared of Darnay, we also have to keep in mind that Darnay is presented to us as a good man. We can then question his past, and figure that Darnay most likely did not imprison Dr. Manette and is still inncoent, like Andrew said.
Although this is earlier in the book, it has a lot to do with our motif and the character Darnay that we know. The important part of this quote is the fact that Dickens is trying to get the point across that Darnay was in a sense reborn. He was introduced back into his day to day life as a new man. He was free to go about his business, to start over. Andrew said that Dr. Manette had probably seen Darnay before in his earlier life, and that is why he seemed to be scared. This is true, but I also want to point out that here in chapter 3, as I explained above, Darnay is in a sense being reborn. He was rescued by his innocence in the trial. Instead of the reader viewing Darnay as a criminal as we first would, since he was a prisoner and was accused of a crime, Dickens wants us to see that Darnay is a sensible man instead. He is reborn to the reader as a good character, not a bad one, when he is proven innocent (which is rare). Therefore, when we say that Dr. Manette is scared of Darnay, we also have to keep in mind that Darnay is presented to us as a good man. We can then question his past, and figure that Darnay most likely did not imprison Dr. Manette and is still inncoent, like Andrew said.
Doctor Manette's Reaction to Darnay
Today, we discussed the way Dr. Manette reacted to Darnay's offer to tell him his true name. I thought back to the coutrroom secene. This really got me thinking. It's interesting that when Dr. Manette first saw Charles Darnay, he became upset and eventually needed to be taken out of the room. I think that Dr. Manette either has seen him before, or he has an inkling as to who Charles Darnay really is. Also, when Darnay offered to tell Dr. Manette his real name, the doctor yelled at him to stop. This leads me to believe that his resurrection is far from complete. Before he can be restored, he needs to come to terms with what may have happened to him in the past.
This poses several mysteries that I look forward to figuring out. I think it's very likely that Dr. Manette has seen Darnay before in France. It makes sense that he would have seen him probably when Charles was younger. This is part of the reason as to why he reacted so badly when he saw Darnay. Darnay's uncle may have been the one who imprisoned Dr. Manette. Because of this, I think that Dr. Manette was scared because he had seen Darnay before when he lived in France and knew he was related to the Marquis. I also believe that this is why he doesn't want to know who Charles Darnay really is yet. It will confirm his suspicions and he will not want Darnay, an honest gentleman, to marry his daughter anymore. He probably also knows that Darnay is probably innocent. He doesn't want to draw conclusions quite yet, thus ruining a possible marriage between his daughter and somebody she may come to love greatly.
Ben posed the question of why Dr. Manette, who we thought had been almost completely restored, had reverted back to his previous state for a while. I think it's because of Darnay's offer to tell him who he is. He remembered what had been done to him and started making shoes for a while again. He was scared and the horrible days before he had been resurrected came back to haunt him for a period of time. He is at the same time very close and very far from being restored to life.
This poses several mysteries that I look forward to figuring out. I think it's very likely that Dr. Manette has seen Darnay before in France. It makes sense that he would have seen him probably when Charles was younger. This is part of the reason as to why he reacted so badly when he saw Darnay. Darnay's uncle may have been the one who imprisoned Dr. Manette. Because of this, I think that Dr. Manette was scared because he had seen Darnay before when he lived in France and knew he was related to the Marquis. I also believe that this is why he doesn't want to know who Charles Darnay really is yet. It will confirm his suspicions and he will not want Darnay, an honest gentleman, to marry his daughter anymore. He probably also knows that Darnay is probably innocent. He doesn't want to draw conclusions quite yet, thus ruining a possible marriage between his daughter and somebody she may come to love greatly.
Ben posed the question of why Dr. Manette, who we thought had been almost completely restored, had reverted back to his previous state for a while. I think it's because of Darnay's offer to tell him who he is. He remembered what had been done to him and started making shoes for a while again. He was scared and the horrible days before he had been resurrected came back to haunt him for a period of time. He is at the same time very close and very far from being restored to life.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Dr. Manette Uber Regression Thoughts
In chapter 17, we find that the Doctor has finally come to terms with his imprisonment and can freely speak about it. He has been completely restored to life. Almost in a sick sence of humor, he looses his progress less than a day later when he learns about Charles D'Aulnais true identity. I suspect that the Doctor may be more involved with matters in France that he has currently led us to believe since his former servant Defarge was also surprised when he learned this information. Something must have happened between the Manettes and the D'Aulnais before that the Doctor becomes completely regressed again. Did he do something to the D'Aulnais that led to his imprisonment? Afterall, we have seen how unforgiving the French nobility is from the previous chapters. (Excluding Charles of course).
Sorry it is kind of confusing to read, its hard to explain what i'm thinking about this situation. :-/
Sorry it is kind of confusing to read, its hard to explain what i'm thinking about this situation. :-/
Thursday, October 16, 2008
The First Post!
"There was much commiseration for her as she was removed, and much sympathy with her father. It had evidently been a great distress to him, to have the days of his imprisonment recalled. He had shown strong internal agitation when he was questioned, and that pondering or brooding look which made him old, had been upon him, like a heavy cloud, ever since" (pg 80).
Here, Mr. Manette is forced to relive, or resurrect, his life in prison. The fact that he cannot yet speak comfortably about his days in prison means he has not yet fully been "recalled to life". Before he can be fully resurrected to his old life, he must come to terms with what happened to him and the time he spent in prison. Lucie is committed to restoring him to life and it will be her duty to carry through with this in the future.
Here, Mr. Manette is forced to relive, or resurrect, his life in prison. The fact that he cannot yet speak comfortably about his days in prison means he has not yet fully been "recalled to life". Before he can be fully resurrected to his old life, he must come to terms with what happened to him and the time he spent in prison. Lucie is committed to restoring him to life and it will be her duty to carry through with this in the future.
Test Post
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