A Tale of Two Cities

Reading Notes: pages 69 - 90

 

Ch. 6: Hundreds of People

 

Tranquil house: Lucie and Dr. Manette live simply and well. Carton, Darnay, and Mr. Lorry visit regularly. Mr. Lorry is like one of the family

 

71: Dr. Manette still has the shoemaking tools and paces at night, but seems to be doing well

 

Miss Pross is over protective of her “ladybird”—thinks her brother Solomon is the only man worthy of her. But she is wrong—Mr. Lorry knows the truth.

 

77: story about the prison and hidden note: brings out a reaction in Dr. Manette, subtle

 

Footsteps motif: corner for echoes, foreshadowing when this will really happen

78: “The footsteps were incessant, and the hurry of them became more and more rapid. The corner echoed and re-echoed with the tread of feet; some, as it seemed, under the window; some as it seemed, in the room; some . . . . all in the distant streets, and not one within sight.”

 

78: “Perhaps. Perhaps, see the great crowd of people with its rush and roar, bearing down upon them, too.”

 

Ch. 7: Monsiegneur in Town

Monsiegneur: not the king (not Louis XVI, but a major lord in power), symbolizes all the corruption

·        79: “and was by some few sullen minds supposed to be rather rapidly swallowing France; but, his morning’s chocolate could not so much as get into the throat of Monseigneur, without the aid of four strong men besides the Cook.” Not forcing it, but not grand enough for him without four servants to present it.

·        Arrogant and selfish and getting poor (relatively) so he must marry his sister off to a rich guy to get more some dowry money that he can waste on luxuries

Monsieur the Marquis: is a different guy, also a lord and also an arrogant jerk, but out of favor

  • Drives off angrily after not getting his favor granted and runs over an innocent baby
  • 84: “ran his eyes over them all, as if they had been mere rats come out of their holes”
  • 84: “How do I know what injury you have done my horses?”
  • 85: “was just being driven away with the air of a gentleman who had accidentally broken some common thing, and had paid for it, and could afford to pay for it; when his ease was suddenly disturbed by a coin flying into his carriage, and ringing on its floor.”
  • 85: “you dogs . . . I would ride over any of you very willingly, and exterminate you from the earth. I f I knew which rascal threw at the carriage , and if that brigand . . . “
  • 85: “But the woman who stood knitting looked up steadily, and looked the Marquis in the face.”

 

 

Ch. 8: Monseigneur in the Country: Monsieur the Marquis

Tall guy rides the whole way under his carriage. No one can find him