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In Chapters 10-16 of Book 2, Dickens alludes to Greek mythology several times. The title of Chapter 9 is "The Gorgon's Head" which is one of the first allusions to Greek mythology in Book 2. However, more allusions begin as the text states "...like the heathen rustic who has for several centuries been on duty watching one stream - saving that Jerry had no expectation of their ever running dry" (159). This is stated as the funeral of Roger Cly is proceeding in the streets of London. The fact that a river is mentioned again when the text says "...the river being alarmingly near, and several voices remaking on the efficacy of cold immersion in bringing refractory members of the procession to recede…" (162) suggests that Dickens is alluding to the river Styx in Greek mythology, which was a river that formed the boundary between Earth and the Underworld. Timing this phrase at this point in the book when the funeral procession is occurring represents death and the transition from one life to the next. Another Greek mythology allusion is made as the text reads "Time was, when a poet sat upon a stool in a public place, and mused in the sight of men" and again in the words "Mr. Cruncher, sitting on a stool in a public place but not being a poet, mused as little as possible and looked about him" (160). Use of the verb muse is significant in this passage because the Muses are another group of Greek gods who are the goddesses of the arts and sciences. In this case, poetry is referred to in the text, so the goddesses Calliope and Erato are alluded to. According to mythology, the Muses were put in the world to help people forget about their sorrows and cares, which is something Jerry Cruncher needs to do. Lastly, knitting and Madame Defarge are a representation of the Fates. There are three Fates in Greek mythology and each has a different role, all of which include spinning the thread of life, measuring the length of life, and cutting the thread of life. The reason of Madame Defarge knitting is revealed in Chapter 15 when it is stated "...than to erase one letter of his name or crimes from the knitted register of Madame Defarge" (179), which shows that she is remembering people's crimes that could lead to the end of their life. The use of Greek mythology in A Tale of Two Cities represents death and forgetting this world and looking to the next.
ReplyDeleteCharles Darnay is in love with Lucie Manette, but there are two things that is going to get in his way. Those two things are: Sydney Carton and Mr. Stryver. So in order to win Lucie's love, he is going to have to work since these two men are going to try to get in his way. One of the ways that he is doing better then these two men is that fact that he went to talk to Dr. Manette. While he is there, he states, "I have felt, and do even now feel, that to bring my love--even mine--between you, is to touch your history with something not quite so good as itself. But I love her. Heaven is my witness that I love her." (135). By going to talk to Dr. Manette, he is basically asking for his blessing to marry Lucie. He obviously loves Lucie and he is showing it by going to ask for Dr. Manette's blessing. In Lucie's life right now, Dr. Manette is the most important thing in her life. Getting closer to him and being okay with going to talk to him about this, shows that Darnay will do anything for Lucie. Carton and Stryver on the other hand, do not plan on going to Dr. Manette at first, they are planning on going straight to Lucie and talking to her. When Lorry changes Stryver's mind, Carton goes to Lucie's house and decides to talk to her first. He says, "A dream, all a dream, that ends in nothing, and leaves the sleeper where he lay down, but I wish you to know that you inspired it." (152). He is telling her that all of his dreams have been inspired from her. So I personally think that Darnay has the best chance of marrying Lucie because he went to Dr. Manette before ever going to Lucie.
ReplyDeleteIn chapter 14 we are taken back to the story line of Mr. and Mrs. Cruncher and Jerry. In this chapter Jerry follows his dad on his "fishing trip" and finds out he is a Resurrection Man which I concluded to be a grave robber. This explains to Jerry why his father's boots are muddy every morning. While digging the casket out of the ground Jerry gets scared and runs away thinking it is chasing him. This symbolizes the fear of death always chasing after us and I have a feeling this concept is foreshadowing future events in the Cruncher's family. At the end of the chapter Jerry says, "'Oh, father I should so like to be a Resurrection Man when I'm quite growed up!' Mr. Cruncher was soothed, but shook his head in and moral way."(191) This quote also is a foreshadow that Jerry is about to join the family business and his father is pleased he is accepting of his job. Then Mr. Cruncher says to himself at the last line of the chapter, "Jerry you honest tradesman, there's hope wot that boy will yet be a blessing to you, and a recompense to you for his mother."(191) This shows again the heavy influenced of Mr. Cruncher on Jerry. The question now is: What did his wife do that now Mr. Cruncher hates her?
ReplyDeleteThroughout Chapters 15 and 16, the main focus is the role and symbolism of knitting. Madame Defarge is a constantly present character in these chapters and is the person who is primarily associated with the act of knitting. In these chapters, there are two main symbolisms of knitting that are shown. In the important instances when the narrator specifies that she is knitting, Madame Defarge is a part of, yet not interacting with her surroundings. Until Monsieur Defarge’s conversation with his fellow revolutionaries clarifies that Madame Defarge’s knitting is her literally knitting or weaving together a memorized register of details and names for each person she has interacted with, it is not completely clear why she restrains from interaction in this way. From his statement, “It would be easier for the weakest poltroon that lives, to erase himself from existence, than to erase on letter of his name or crimes from the knitted register of Madame Defarge,” we can conclude with certainty that Madame Defarge’s knitting is a symbol for her observation and gathering of details for the register, and we are told once someone has been registered, it is nearly impossible for her to forget them (179). The second symbolism is revealed in the last sentence of Chapter 16 which reads, “So much was closing in about the women who sat knitting, knitting, that they their very selves were closing in around a structure yet unbuilt, where they were to sit knitting, knitting, counting dropping heads” (194). This sentence reveals the role of knitting as foreshadowing for the French Revolution, and the reader learns that these women will witness the executions, which were a key part of the French Revolution, by the guillotine or unbuilt structure. It also exposes the connection between knitting and the destruction that was a result of the French Revolution. Through the many examples of knitting incorporated in these chapters, the narrator emphasizes the crucial role of Madame Defarge and her knitting.
ReplyDeleteThroughout A Tale of Two Cities, there are many examples of foreshadowing. However, one that stands out most is the foreshadowing of the discovery of Jerry Cruncher’s secret. In book two, chapter fourteen, there are many words and sentences that foreshadow the secret of Jerry Cruncher being a “Resurrection Man” (170). This chapter states the word rustic (159) many times and also leaves hints. There are hints such as “Funerals had at all times a remarkable attraction for Mr. Cruncher” (161), “Your fishing-rod get rayther rusty: don’t it, father?” (165), and “…was a low brick wall surmounted by an iron railing” (167). All of these hints lead up to the fact that Mr. Cruncher climbs over rusted iron gates and steals from graveyards, as shown on page 168. As Hallie Belle stated, Jerry is not proud of what he does when Young Jerry states that he wants to be a Resurrection Man when the passage says, “…Mr. Cruncher was soothed, but shook his head in and moral way."(170) It is very apparent in the book that when Jerry speaks to himself there is a foreshadowing of what is to happen between him and his wife, especially when he states that Young Jerry would “recompense to him for Young Jerry’s mother.”(170) This satirical chapter is full of foreshadowing of the misfortune that is to come for the Cruncher family, and a secret that shouldn’t have be known.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Katy on the fact that Darnay does have competition to win Lucie's heart. And although he did go to Dr. Manette and confess his feelings I don't think he has done near enough to compete with the other two men. On p. 119 Dr. Manette asks "Have you spoken to Lucie?", which Darnay replies with "No." This brings two problems to my attention. One is that he doesn't even know Lucie! How can he have this great love for her, which he explains on p.119 with, "I love your daughter fondly, dearly, disinterestedly, devotedly." Charles Darnay has never spent anytime alone with her, that we know of, and the time that he has been with her doesn't amount to very long. Yes, he did help her on the boat but how well did he really get to know her? This is the second problem that I found with Darnay's attempts to win Lucie. He isn't spending time with her like Carton and Stryver. How can Lucie love him back if she doesn't know he is interested. Darnay must stop stalking and start talking. If he doesn't tell her Stryver and Carton might beat him to it.
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