A Tale of Two Cities Pages 335 - End

The inhumanity of the 'revolutionaries' is unbelievable. It is exemplified by Jacque three when he states, talking about Lucie being put to death by the guolltine,"She has a fine head for it, I have seen blue eyes and golden hair there, and they look charming when Samson held them up." This is a woman, a wife, a mother they are speaking of, how can they be so heartless??

In this final part we see, and are told, how utterly horrific Madame Defarge has become. She does not even trust her own husband anymore, and thus decided to exclude him from her plan of condemning Lucie and little Lucie. Although the Evermondes changed her life greatly as a young girl, it is sad to see someone become so consumed with something that happened so long ago that their life is revolved around nothing but hate and revenge.

I believe that Madame Defarges plan is to condemn Lucie and little Lucie by accusing them of making a plan with Darnay while he was in prison by standing outside his tower and supposedly 'signing' words to him. This all comes from the wood sawyer, the man Lucie was always cordial to and gave drinking money to.

Although it goes unsaid, Miss Pross is also alot like Sydney Carton, she would do anything for Lucie. In fact, she also sacrifices for her, by shooting Madame Defarge. She didn't sacrafice her own life, but I believe she would if she had to, but she did sacrafice her piece of mind for she will always be haunted by her killing of Madame Defarge.
Once again, Miss Pross brings comic relief in to the story by never hearing anything again after the gun shot.

I like the way Dicken's ended the novel with the thoughts of Sydney Carton even though he was dead. It gave an insight into what he was thinking just before his death. Carton knew that what he was doing would be remembered by the Evermondes for generations to come. He knew his acts would be cherished by Lucie and Darnay and that the Doctor could like a long life as he should; and I think as long as Carton knew he gave all these other people a "life they loved" he had lived a fulfulling life himself.

Tale of Two Cities Pages 297 - 335

We are finally able to read the letter that Dr. Manette buried in his cell so many years ago. Not only did it explain the reason for his captivity, but also made a connection to the relevant times.

The dieing boy, which we later find out is Madame Defarges brother, tells Manette that the two men took him and his siter because they are nobles and thus have the right. He only wanted his sister because they liked her, I think?? The boy was merely trying to rescue his sister. One of the men is the Marquis and the other his brother, Darnay's father. It all makes sense now, because if you think back to when Darnay was talking to the Marquis in the chateau, he called him his uncle. The boy forshadowed, back then, that he and his family would pay for this, which they are doing now.

So, after Dr. Manette tries to save the siblings, and fails, he returns to his house and writes a letter about what he has witnessed. This is the confusing part, is he writing a letter to like the minister, thinking that they will never do anything about it, but it will just make himself feel better?? In the midst of his letter writing, Darnay, as a young boy, and his mother show up on Manette's doorstep. She disagreed with her husband and thier doings and wanted to find the other sister of the two siblings, who is really Madame Defarge, and help her. Darnay's mother asks Darnay, "though wilt be faithful, little Charles?. He replies, "Yes." Is this the promise to his mother he is talking about when he has his conversation with his uncle, the Marquis, in the chateau?? Also, another connection is revealed in that Defarge, as a young boy, was Dr. Manette's servant, which is why he took care of him and looked after him so much in prison and when he was realeased.

In the end, the minister never recieved his letter, but instead it was intercepted by the Marquis, and they subsequently send him to his "living grave." I can tell the end is coming near becuase so many connections are being made. Somehow everybody is connected, even in the past.

After the trial, when Carton visits Lucie and leans down and kisses her, he whispers " A life you love." What does that signify?? Does it have something to do with the promise he made her?? Little Lucie is the one that heard it, so I feel that we may only be hearing part of the comment he made to her.

Carton proceeds from Lucie's house to go to the wine shop. At first I think the Defarges are suspicious, but I don't believe they act up it. Carton is able to overhear though and finds out that the Sawyer of the woodshop was a spy for them, which we should have known, he was a mender of the roads and was in with the Jacques. Maybe everyone else picked up on that, but I had forgotten he was a Jacque. Their discussion was a bit confusing, but after reading on I believe Carton hears that Madame Defarge wants every last member of the Evermondes killed, which includes Lucie, Dr. Manette, and little Lucie (they all have relations to Darnay) to get revenge for her siblings.
This whole time we have all thought the Defarges were just blood hungry killers for no reason, when in reality she has, if it can be possible, a good reason for wanting them dead. I guess it just reminds us that everybody usually has a motive for doing what they do. It is just easy to judge someone, and hate them, and assume they don't have a reason just because we don't know about it.

Finally, Carton's plan is revealed (Arielle is right!). He exchanges places with Darnay and then has it arranged to have Darnay, Mr. Lorry, and his family leave for England right away because Dr. Manette had papers that allowed them to leave yet. How did he get those, though? Also, what happened to Mr. Cruncher and Miss Pross?? Don't they get to go back to England, too??

As Carton is waiting in line at the guolltine(spelling?) he converses with a poor seamstress. I don't know if she has any real relevance to the story, but he made a comment that she was dying for someone else- who? her husband?

In the end, they successfully leave Paris and are on their way to England, but constantly fear that they will be persued. I think that is kind of like the price they have to pay in cheating the system. They recieved Darnay's life, but must pay by living in fear of being caught for the rest of thier lives.

Tale of Two Cities Pages 246 - 297

The very first chapter of this section foreshadows the ultimate betrayal by the Defarges. When the Defarges brings a letter from Dr. Manette to Lucy that says he is alright, Lucy feels that the Defarges will not be kind to him, and she ends up being right.

The story really comes full circle, and we find out the true reason for Dr. Manette putting forth so much effort to help Darnay when he says, "As my beloved child was helpful in restoring me to myself, I will be helpful now in restoring the dearest part of herself to her." Dr. Manette feels this is finally how he can repay his daughter for everything she did for him.

The revolution is becoming unbelievably violent, but Dr. Manette is still confident after 1 year and 3 months that he will be able to free Darnay. He has such confidents because of his time in the Bastille, which once again comes full circle because he is able to use his tradgedy to help another.

At the end of "The Wood-Sawyer", who was Mr. Lorry talking to? Why were they talking about Darnay? It didn't say much, but it left me a bit confused and feeling like I needed to pick up on something I didn't understand? Did anybody understand what was being said??

I believe that the revolution has caused the Defarges to become nothing but blood hungry murderers! What is wrong with them!! They hardly know Darney, and have a very good connection to his wife and his father-in-law, yet they still want him dead when everyone else in Paris was O.K. with him being acquitted. I think its like in the book 1984, they have become so caught up with killing and thinking that they are doing good things that they don't even know the difference between right and wrong anymore, they can't distinguish between the good prisinors and the bad ones.

It started to get a bit confusing when Mr. Stryver and Solomen showed up. All in all, I believe that Solomon was the man, John Barsad, who came into the wine shop and angered the Defarges. The book also said that he was a witness at Darnay's trial, I don't remember that though. Also, he is a friend of Roger Cly, thus he has been a spy for both England and France. At first, when Miss Pross saw her brother, I thought it was going to be comic relief'; apparently I was wrong about that one! What I was really suprised about, though, is when Carton just showed up in the middle of the street! What reason did he have to come to Paris??

So, finally, Sydney, Solomon, and Jerry go visit Mr. Lorry. I believe their intent, because Solomon is an official, is to scare him into helping Darnay by threatening to reveal that he is a spy. In the end, all they could get was a promise that if the trail went bad, they would have access to Darnay one time?? I'm not sure what good that would do, but at lease they have Solomon to work with.

What was so significant about the phrase Carton kept repeating," I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die." Does he believe that he is the one that can save Darnay??

In the end, Dr. Manette's letter is coming back to haunt him! It is a good lesson in the fact that you should always be careful what you say because you can't take it back!

Tale of Two Cities pages 204 - 246

In "The Sea Still Rises," the title cleary depicts what the chaper is about. The Jacques and their army are not finished when they discover 'old Foulon' is in town. I presume that old Foulon is Roger Cly for Mr. Defarge made reference to how this man's funeral was faked. Also, the people didn't like when they thought he was dead, thus the reason for the enraged fury when they found out he was still alive and in Saint Antoine.

In the next chapter, I first thought the mender of the roads and the traveler, who are both Jacques, were planning to set the prisinor who hangs above the fountain free, but in the end they just burn down the chateau where the marquis used to reside. Is this just another act against the royal people, or was there more significance to it??
This is the first time that we are introduced to Monsieur Gabelle. At this point, I was a bit confused on what his role was and why he didn't want it to happen. Later in the story, though, we are able to connect that he was there to sort of make sure there were no acts against the government and royal family, but when the mender of the roads burns down the chateau, they think Gabelle had something to do with it, and send him to prison.

Three more years pass since the burning of the chateau. The war still continues and many changes have taken place. Monseigneur has fled, the court is no longer in action, and the Royalty has been "suspended," which is ironic considering, who suspends Royalty?? Aren't they the ones in charge??

The situation with Temple bank being a safe place for the high class French to go and not be in danger confused me a little bit. I mean, I understand that the bank feels they owe them something for these rich people are probably what has kept the bank alive, but this is a time of war, why would the bank want to put themselves in the middle of such turmoil??

In the next couple of chapters, we move into a big part of the story. At first, only Mr. Lorry has to travel to the Tellson's bank in France to deliver a document so important that he must do it himself, and Darnay is worried for his health and safety because of his age and the war. Darnay also admits to himself, while with Mr. Lorry, that he sometimes feels bad for leaving his fellow Frenchman. This is a foreshadow that he may possible have a change of heart and is thinking of going back to France. When Darnay recieves the letter from Gabelle, who is now in prison in France, he finally realizes that he must stop being a coward and go to Paris and do whatever he can to salvage what is left of his name, and his country. I was surprised he didn't tell Dr. Manette when he left, for Dr. Manette knew of his situation as the Marquis anyways. The end of the second book talks about how Darnay has "floated away for the Loadstone Rock." What exactly is the 'loadstone rock', what does it symbolize or signify to us as a reader??

I was a bit confused when in the middle of the night these men come to Darnay and tell him he needs an escort!? Why would they care about his safety, how do they know that he needs an escort over other people. The escorts were drunk half the time anyways, which made me think at one point that they were just con artists trying to get money out of naieve travelers. Also, these men had red caps on, which are what the Jacques have been wearing, right?? So maybe these men know that Darnay is the Marquis and thus were there to assure he makes it to Paris to be put in prison??

I believe that Defarges plans to add Darnay to the registry of names for he looked at Darnay "speaking with knitted brows." I also think that it must be difficult for Defarge to have such a connection to this man through Lucie and not even think about helping him. There has to be some degree of inner conflict within Defarge.

The big mystery of this section is what "in secret" means. Darnay's prison letter is stamped with "in secret", and we later find out that it is bad news if you are in prison "in secret.". So what does it mean? When will we find out what it means?

The crowd outside Darnay's cell yelled "he made shoes" several times. This is obviously a reference to Dr. Manette, but how could this crowd of ordinary citizens possible know the connection Darnay has to Dr. Manette. So was this just in his head??
I was also surprised that Dr. Manette was looked upon as such a hero in Paris. It has been many years since has has been in Paris, he must have made quite an impact on the people of Paris. Also, I am surprised that Dr. Manette came so willingly to Paris to save a man whose family imprisoned him for 18 years. He is hearing and seeing so much that has to remind him of his time in prison, how is he so calm about it? Why is he not struggling with this situation?

Finally, there is the grindstone. First, Mr. Lorry says it is used to kill prisinors. Later, he tells Lucie that it is used to sharpen swords. Which is it? Also, what exactly does a grindstone look like?? Why would that be used to kill people with the guillotine is so close to being introduced and used??

Tale of Two Cities Pages 161 - 204

At the beginning of "Still Knitting" it is stated that "when the knife struck home (when Marquis was killed) the faces changed, from faces of pride to faces of anger and pain" I was quite confused by this for wouldn't the common people be secretly thrilled that somebody finally took revenge on the greedy and selfish Marquis?? Later on in the same chapter, a spy comes into the wine shop. I believe the Defarges know he is a spy because the mender of the roads forwarned them. This spy is obviously trying to reveal the secret "Jacques" group, for when he calls Mr. Defarge "Jacques", Mr. Defarge acts as if he has never heard this name before. I think, that since Roger Cly's funeral was faked, this spy is Roger Cly, and since he has had past encounters with the Defarges(Darney's trial and such) he is going to be able to expose Mr. Defarge and his secret group. They spy continues to tell the Defarges that Lucie is going to marry Charles Darney, and that he is now the Marquis, considering he is the nephew of the Marquis and the Marquis has been killed. I am unable to decide if the Defarges are happy or displeased with Lucie and her choice for marriage. Also, is it the fact that he is the Marquis, and nobody knows it, one of the two promises he made to Dr. Manette?? Is that what he is going to tell him on his and Lucie's wedding day?

We also learn of why Madame Defarge and all the other women knit so much. It is what replaces the feeling of hunger, the feeling of want in a society where her needs aren't even taken care of. She believes that if she stops knitting, stops the mechanical movement, her stomach will be even more "famine-pinched."

After the heartwrenching scene between Lucie and her father on the night before her wedding, Miss Pross provides comic relief by stating that she is still considering whether of not Solomon should have been the groom. Shortly after this light scene, Darney and Dr. Manette come out of the room they have been in and Darney is pale white, apparently his telling the Dr. his real name and his business didn't go as well as he thought??

It was also terrible devestating when Dr. Manette goes back to shoe-making when Lucie leaves, but it is easy to understand, for when Lucie isn't there the only thing he can remember to do is make shoes. That is what he has done when Lucie hasn't been there.

So, on the tenth day Dr. Manette is back to normal and doesn't even remember his relapse?? Thus the reason Mr. Lorry is able to question him about himself whithout Dr. Manette knowing?? I thought it was almost a full circle story when Dr. Manette was able to explain why he had his relapse when he tells Mr. Lorry that people relapse when "there has been a strong and extraordinary revival of the train of thought and remembrance that was the first cause of the malady." That is exactly what happened! Lucie was taken away from him again just like the first time when he went to prison for 18 years.

Mr. Lorry is finally able, with persistance, make Dr. Manette say it would be best to take away the tools of his trade. Without hesitation Mr. Lorry and Miss Pross do! I was so utterly suprised by this, yet am quite worried that they have made a terrible mistake, for what happens the next time Lucie leaves and Dr. Manette has another relapse, though there is not tools there for him to fill his desire??

When Lucie is talking to Darney about Mr. Carton she says "remember how strong we are in our happinesses and how weak he is in his misery." That quote struck me because is something so true, and something that we often forget even today. It is easy to take our happiness for granite, and forget how lonely people can be in their misery.

Finally, chapter 21, Echoing Footsteps. I was able to percieve that it is six years later and Lucie has a daughter! The beginning of the chapter is confusing though, what are all these footsteps she is hearing? Why are there "bad" ones in the distance?? It then goes on to tell that Mr. Defarges and the Jacques have attacked the government and set the prisinors free, I think? But in the last paragraph is states, "Now, Heaven defeat the fancy of Lucie Darnay, and keep these feet far out of her life." Are these feet, the feet of murderers and rebels the feet she is hearing in the distance at the beginning of the chapter?? This is apparently a foreshadow of hard times to come for Lucie Darnay....and thus where we will probably see Sydney fulfill his promise to her.

Tale of Two Cities Pages 118 - 161

After reading the fist chapter, I predict that Lucie will decline Darney's proposal of marriage for it would be to simple, and our love story would be over. When Lucie comes home that night she hears a "low hammering sound in his(Dr. Manette's) bedroom"-does that indicate that he is making shoes again??

I'm starting to think that Stryver is threatened or jelous of Sydney for he always has to bring him down. For instance, he brags to him how he is so knowledgeable of women and knows what they need and want, and tells Mr. Carton that he knows nothing of the society of women and should just find some young lady that will marry him and take care of him before it is too late. When Stryver tells Sydney of his plans to marry Lucie, Sydney begins to drink more and more. This is another parallel to the book 1984 and to society in general. It shows how then and now, people are unable to face difficult realities and turn to alcohol to cover the pain.
I understand why Stryver is not a suitable husband for Lucie, but was was Mr. Lorry's reasoning exactly??

I find it difficult to accept that when Mr. Lorry tells Stryver that Lucie says 'no' he just accepts it and moves on. He strikes me as the kind of man who would not take 'no' for an answer and would persist to force her to marry him, thus I think Stryver is not done with Lucie yet.

Sydney and Lucie's talk is a big tuning point in the story, for Sydney tells Lucie that at first she made him dream again of being successful, but now, when he knows he can't have her, he has become depressingly worse. It is a turning point for Sydney because he finally shows his true self to Lucie, although he says he will never talk about it again, which would make for awkward situations if you ask me. I predict, now that Lucie knows the real Sydney, her feelings are going to change towards him, and he will end up being the one that gets Lucie.

Roger Cly's funeral was a bit confusing, but I think I was able to straighten it out: since he was a spy the people didn't like him, so they stormed his hearse and "buried" him themselves with much disgrace?? We also learn an idiosyncracy(did you catch that vocab word, Mrs.H??) about Mr. Cruncher that he likes watching funerals - this foreshadows the details of his secret "job."

Finding out what Mr. Cruncher does at night was one of the most interesting part for me. First of all, before I even knew what he did, I have to say that I think he is a bit mentally unstable. Anyways, we finally know why he has rust under his fingernails, and why he has mud on his boots. What exactly though is he "fishing" for when he digs up dead people?? Is he merely taking expensive posessions like wedding rings and other such things that are burried with people?? Or is it something else??

Finally, the end was semi-confusing, although I think we are supposed to be guessing yet. The mender of the roads has this big story of a prisinor, who I am wondering if he is Dr. Manette, and he tells the Jacques what he knows, and now Monseiur and Madame Defarge are allowing him to become a Jacques, too?? This prisinor, though, ties back to Monseigneur and the Marquis, for I think he killed Marquis, but then at one point one of the Jacques says that this prisinor story happened some twenty five years ago, which makes me think it is Dr. Manette! So, all in all, confusing part, but a large part of the story that will hopefully straghten itself out in the end.

As I was reading this week, a though occured to me that Dr. Manett is the "christ-like" figure in this story. It is easy to see because he goes away for 18 years, is thought to be dead, and comes back and is now a very highly respected man. Perhpas this has no relevance to the story, but it is something we learned to look for in "lit like a professor."

Tale of Two Cities Pages 82 - 118

At the beginning of this week's reading we are introduced to another new character, Miss Pross. It took me awhile, but I eventually figured out that she is the woman who comforted Lucie when she was told at the hotel that her father was "recalled to life." Miss Pross is very protective of Miss Manette and therefore despises the scores of men who come to visit Miss Manette for she fears one of them will win Lucie's heart and Miss Pross will be no longer needed.

Miss Pross and Mr. Lorry have an interesting conversation in which we find out that Mr. Lorry knows the cause of Dr. Manette's previous opression. He also questions Miss Pross on whether or not she believes Dr. Manette know's what or whom is responsible for his previous opressions, and thus posing the question of why is Mr. Lorry so curious?? Does he not wish for Dr. Manette to know who caused such terrible years of his life??

We also leared that there is, obviously, much internal conflict with Dr. Manette as he is often found pacing back and forth in his bedroom late at night. I belive that this will be one of the main ideas in the story, his overcoming of his inability to remember and talk about his dark years, and find the reasons for which they occured.

Several times throughout these pages I found the mention of the color blue. Miss Pross lives in a blue chamber, and there was seveal mentions of Monseigneur's blue cap. Color always has a significance, especially in Dickens's work, so what does this repetative mention of blue symbolize??

One of the most interesting parts of the reading was when Mr. Darney speaks of the prisinor writing the work "DIG" on the wall, and then the men finding the burned bag and papers. It was made clear that this statement startled/bothered Dr. Manette. It was be easy to assume that the prisnor that Mr. Darney is telling about is Dr. Manette, but I think that would be too easy, I believe Dr. Manette knows something about it, but I believe there is much more too it. Also, Mr. Darney spoke of it so out of the blue that I believe he is up to something....

Rain begins to fall slowly as the group at the Manette's is departing, and rain always means something. I believe it is somewhat of a foreshadowing that a renewal or rebirth is to come for Dr. Manette for he is the only one that was ever mentioned getting wet. I didn't quite understand what was meant by the "hundreds of people coming in and out of our lives" and the footsteps that they supposedly heard, but I do think that the way Dickens used the storm to make us, the reader, able to hear and understand what the sound of rushing people is like was beautifully done.

I love the part about Monseigneur's party, for so much of the same can be found here today. He made large reference to how all the men there had these big fancy jobs, but had never actually done anything to better their field, and most hardly knew anything about their field of work. All they cared about was how they looked, that was all that mattered.

I found a correlation to the book 1984 after Monsieur ran over the young boy and it said that "Monsieur the Marquis leaned back in his seat and was just being drived anay with the air of a gentleman who had accidently broken some common thing, and had paid for it, and couuld pay for it." That completely summed up the way Monsieur the Marquis felt about the young boy, and this is exactly the problem with the society in 1984, there is no feelings towards other human beings.

I was also suprised that Defarge and his wife were present here, it makes me wonder if they will play a large role in this story afterall??

At the bottom of page 102 Dickens repeatedly used the word "ran" to describe life getting back in order, why? Perhaps to show that even though this young boy was carelessly ran over, life will not stop, it will run pass the boy and his family without even noticing them...something figurative like that I presume.

The last big thing we learned is that Mr. Darney is Monseigneur's nephew. Mr. Darney does not trust his uncle, and much talk about the state of their family name takes place. Finally, at the end, a knife was found with a note on it on Monsieur the Marquies pillow I belive. I predict that it was the father of the boy who died who has left this threat for Monsieur the Marquies.

Tale of Two Cities Pages 45-82

"Death is nature's remedy for all things." Dicken's stated this at the beginning of this weeks reading and it struck me as perhaps the most ironic yet true statement I have come across thus far in this book. I have never heard of death referred to in such a way, but I do believe in what he is saying. Telson's bank is described, and I was surprised to find that it was made out to be a very dirty and rundown place.

We are introduced to Mr. Cruncher, and a woman I presumed to be his wife. I found this household to be very strange, for first off, Mr. Cruncher was very angry at her for praying, and for making his boots muddy? How did she make them muddy? Also, why did he think that she didn't want him to make any money? I was left with many questions after reading about the Cruncher family, but hopefully it will come together and make more sense soon.

As I read about the court and how the people were so intent on watching the criminal and his trial like it was a form of entertainment, it reminded me of 1984 in where people have no concern for others and their well being.

Jerry and young Jerry both made mentions to the rust under Jerry's fingers. I feel that this definatly has some symbolism, for young Jerry made the point to ask "how does he get so much rust under them, he doesn't get it from being the odd-job man" ... so what does it mean, what does it tell us about Jerry??

This whole trial was a bit confusing, but in the end, I think that Miss Manette and her father had the proof that Mr. Darnay was committing treason, but since he helped them, they didn't really want to accuse him. Or perhaps, Mr. Darnay wasn't really a criminal at all??

It was very ironic when Mr. Darney joked that George Washington might gain almost as great of name as King George. This was thought of as to be a "monsterous joke", but in reality we all know that George Washington did achieve such a name. This goes to show how much easier and helpful it is when reading a book like this to know your history!!

So, at the end of the trial, he is acquitted, but why? They were so sure he would be sentenced to death that before the trial even started they prepared various methods of death.

My other question about the end of the tiral is when Mr. Lorry hands Jerry the note to be taken back to the bank and it says "acquitted", Jerry remarks that "If you had sent the message, Recalled to Life, again, I should have known what you meant this time." I feel this was an important line for it referred back to the "recalled to death" line, so what did Jerry mean by this?? Did he instead expect Mr. Lorry to write "recalled to death".

Finally, in the last chapter, we are introduced to another new character, Mr. Carton. We soon find out he is working with Mr. Stryver, so what was the point of going to the bar with Mr. Darney?? What was he trying to get out of him?? And then when he goes back to work with Mr. Stryver, what exactly were they doing?? In the very final paragraphs I think Dickens is trying to explain that Mr. Carton can see his potential but cannot motivate himself to reach it, Mr. Carton finds it easier to just feel sorry for himself, thus the tears on the pillow.

All in all, I think this book will be very interesting if I am able to follow it. The most confusing part right now is remembering it is five years later from the first book, and also the fact that there are so many new characters and trying to keep them all straight.

1984 Pages 161 - END!

I finally feel like, in this last section, we were told why the Party puts so much time and energy into torturing their victims. Because of Winston's agreement to the "brotherhood", the Party knew that he would be one to revolt, and therefore, must stop that from happening by brainwashing him, which they did exceptionally well. I once again felt bad for Winston, because as hard as he tried, whatever answer he gave, it was always going to be the wrong answer. There has never been more of a "lose lose" sitiuation than that of Wintson in the Ministry of Love.

The odd thing was that O'brien was quite honest with Winston. At one point he even admitted that "We are not interested in the goods of others, we are interested in the good of ourselves [the Party]. Finally, the truth!

On page 263 Orwell makes mention to the Nazi and Russian Communists and their faults as supreme rulers. This not only goes along with the story in the book, but also the whole point of the book in that if those parties would have gotten it right, this is what could very well have happened. Ironically, we all find this book so strange and unreal, yet 6 million jews were killed in real life labor camps. Thus posing the question, is this book really that unbelievable??

On page 265 there was a surprising and abrupt change in Winston. He started talking back to O'brien, disagreeing, and even telling him that the party would ultimately fail. The even stranger thing was that O'brien didn't become upset. I also found it ironic when O'brien stated that "there will be no need of science." Science is one of the main reasons the Party is where they are today. From the machines to the brainwashing, it's all a form of science.

When Winston had that dream, and he was calling for Julia, he finally enjoyed a Victory over the Party. He felt it as a Victory, because all though he was punished for it, they hadn't completely taken over him, they had not got his emotions. This was perhaps the only uplifting moment in this week's reading.

As far as the rats, that was a brilliant plan. Placing someone in a situation with his or her biggest fear is perhaps the most ideal way to break them down. It surely worked on Winston, for he gave up Julia, thus his emotions, and completely surrendered to the Party. Finally, as Winston was was talking about how long it would be before he was shot, the comment was made that "They would blow a hole in their own perfection." Exactly, so why do it?? They finally made Winston the "perfect" brainwashed citizen, so why would they want to eventually shoot him??

As the chapters went on, I found there to be two abrupt changes in Winston without any warning or explanation. First, when he was all the sudden put into a nicer cell and allowed to gain his strength back, and second, when he was released he was suddenly extremely loyal to the Party. I just felt it a bit odd, almost rushed, that we didn't have any reasonings or weren't able to know what he was thinking. I felt, when he was back to normal life, that I was an outsider looking into a character that I barely knew.

Although the ending may not have been a real dazzler, it clearly makes the point the story was intending. If communism prevails, this is what could happen, even the most anti-party people can be unknowingly brainwashed, or tortured, into loyal party members.

1984 Pages 225 - 261

"He was in a high-ceilinged windowless cell with walls of glittering white porcelain." This line at the beginning of Section 3 is quite ironic for "white" especially pure white, is a universal sign for purity and peace. The place Winston is describing though, is the Ministry of Love, where nothing but torture and death takes place.

As I begun reading I made a prediction that the Ministry of Love would not be what Winston had always assumed. As I finished the reading, though, it actually was exactly what Winston had imagined.

Winston made the comment in the beginning that "it was the place with no darkness." This is ironic because, everything about it was dark. From the feelings it evoked to the occurances in the torture rooms, there was no place darker than the Ministry of Love.

My question in this section was who is Ampleforth?? Had O'brien told him that the bearer of the razor blade would be named Ampleforth? I thought the whole part was a bit confusing. When Amplefoth arrived and there was about six people in the cell, they made a connection about the "skeleton faced man". After the whole group had this sort of "coming together" I had thought that perhaps they would rebel. After all, what did they have to lose?

I was very surprised to see Mr. Parsons come in. First, it was quite a coincidence that Winston and him would end up being captured at the same time. Secondly, Parsons always bewilders me for he is so niave and stupid. His own daughter turns him in, and he is proud of her!!

When Winston was "rolling down a mighty corridor, rolling with laughter and shouting confessions at the top of his voice." I imagined that he was close to death, for this was almost like one of those flashbacks people talk about when they are between life and death.

As Winston is being tortured, it reminds me of the expiraents done on the Jewish prisinors in the Nazi labor camps. Also, I was a bit surprised that Winston kept telling the truth when O'brien asked him how many fingers he was holding up. Winston kept saying four, if he would have just said five right away, I think he would have endured much less pain. Finally, as I was reading about all the torture and the Party's reasoning that they were doing this to make him "sane" again. The question, once again, came to my mind of what is the purpose of this?? Who is benefitting from this? The fear itself of being arrested by the thought police is enough to keep the citizens in line, so why the arresting and brainwashing? What is the point of all this??

As far as room 101, O'brien said that "you know what is in room 101, everone knows what is in room 101." Well, I'm not sure, but I can speculate that it is where prisinors are actually killed. I'm afraid, though, that we will soon find out when Winston is sent there.

1984 Pages 179 - 225

The first part of this week's reading was talk about the preparation for hate week. Winston is extremely tired after working so many hours, but it made me think, if nobody even reads books, like the ones he's changing, why does he have to change them?? As hate week begins there is a speaker in the town square and half way through his speech he gets a note notifying him of a change in enemy. Winston noted that he didn't even "skip a beat" when he went from one enemy to the next. This made me definately assume that the Party had planned for this to happen, perhaps to get more emotion from the crowd, or create more work for people like Winston who would now have to change all the records again.

The majority of the reading this week was reading "the book" O'brien had given Winston. It was not what I expected at all. I predicted that it would be very angry and denouncing towards the Party. When it was really just a complex explanation for the cause of the war. After reading just the first part of chapter three, I question how brainwashed Winston really is. He should have picked up on the fact that this was a bunch of lies. For instance on page 186 it states that "war involes a very small number of people...and causes comparatively few casualties." It also goes into great detail about the three different regions involved in the war. Why does Winston need to know these things? How is this going to help him "overthrow the Party"??

Throughout "the book" it brought up numerous different reasons for the war, but one struck me as almost funny. It stated that the reason for was is to use up all the products that are manufactured. How can Winston believe this?!?! Finally, it made me question, what is the war (if they even are at war) really about?? Could any of this be true?? Or maybe it's all true?? I came to the conclusion that the point of "the book" is to make Wintson believe that life is the same everywhere, so it must be right, as in majority rules. They made this clear several times when they compared the three regions and how they were all in this big "war" together.

Another reason, "the book" said, for the war was "to keep the structure of society intact". As unbeleivable as this book can sometimes be, Orwell made a completely true analogy about how the social classes alter now and throughout history. The high is always taken out by the middle class and the low always stays low. So, in Oceania, they believe they finally figured out a way to keep the high class in its position. As odd as it seems, they're right, they did figure it out. There is no class system in Airstrip One, they are all the same.

As I finished reading the portion about "the book" I wondered if Winston could actually understand it, for whoever wrote it was very educated and "the book" itself was very complex. Perhaps thats the point, it doesn't really matter if he can read and understand it all, it is just going to give him a sence that he belongs to "the brotherhood" now.

Finally on page 218, we were given our first clue that things were going to be getting worse, possibly deadly, for Winston and Julia as she commented that "it seems to have gotten colder." Cold, like winter, symbolizes death and struggle.

Oddly, right before I read the last party, when they get caught, I was thinking that Winston and Julia would be ok, because now that they , unknowingly, worked for the Party they wouldn't ever vaporize them because they needed them to do their dirty work, they were one of them. Well, apparently I was wrong.

I'm not sure what to think about their sort of "capture" yet. I don't believe their are actually going to be vaporized. I think this is the work of O'brien, and this is when they will have to start doing all those inhumane acts they talked about with O'brien.

1984 Pages 157 - 179

There wasn't many pages to read this week, but those few were packed with new information and a few surprises. The first chapter opens with O'brien giving Winston the address to his apartment, right in front of the telescreen. Winston took note of this, but didnt' seem too concerned. I think O'brien did it right in front of the telescreen because if they tried to do it secretely then it would seem suspicious. It's like they played a sort of "reverse psychology" on the Party.

At the end of page 159 Winston said that " He had the sensation of stepping into the dampness of a grave, and it was not much better because he had always known that the grave was there and waiting for him." This line really stuck out because not only was it a beautifully written metaphor, but it foreshadowed that Winston, ultimately, would step into his own grave because of his rebellious actions against the Party.

Winston dreams about his mother and his sister, but it's not really a dream, its a memory that really happened. Perhaps the more he rebells and allows himself to commit thoughtcrime the more he will be able to remember. I think he struggles to remember the past because he is scared to, but if he just relaxes and lets himself, I think he will be amazed at all he really does remember. In the one memory he does recall, we get the idea that Winston did sort of kill his mother and sister by starving them to sickness, and eventually death.
When Winston tells Julia about this dream, he really wants to talk about it with her, but she simply blows it off. This made me feel sad for Winston, and it also clarified the fact that Julia and Winstons relationship is merely about sex and the hatred of the Party. Julia doesn't understand Winston, she doesn't even see when he is hurting emotionally and needs help.

On page 165 Winston had his biggest "ah ha" moment of the entire novel when he realized that the real difference between the Party members, like himself, and the proles is that "the proles had stayed human". I couldn't agree with him more!! Everyone thinks of the proles as the poor and under-class, but in reality they are the ones that figured it out. Like Winston said, it was just a few weeks ago that he had kicked the severed hand into the gutter like it was a cabbage stalk, thus reenforcing the fact that Winston does not possess human qualities. This made me wonder, though, why can't Winston go and live the lifestyle of a prole? What stops a prole from becoming a Party member, or a Party member from becoming a prole??

In Chapter VIII Winston and Julia visit O'brien and we discover that O'brien is an inner party member. Perhaps we already knew that, and I just forgot, but that made me a little leary about the fact that he was part, or perhaps headed the brotherhood AND belonged to the inner party. I also found it a bit peculiar that he could turn off the telelscreen. I find it hard to believe that Big Brother had enough trust in his employees to allow them to turn off the telescreen. After all, the inner party members should have nothing to hide from Big Brother, so why would they be allowed to turn it off?? Also, the fact that they each had to have a breath mint before they left. Who cares if they left smelling like wine, like drinking wine was a crime and having a secret meeting plotting against the Party wasn't??

O'brien eventually asks Winston all sorts of questions about what he would be willing to do and I found it astonishing that he could answer "yes" to all of these things. Would he really throw acid in some little girls face, or kill mass amounts of people with out even knowing why?? This does not seem like the Winston I know. Also, didn't we also establish that Goldstein was just a ploy of the government?? I don't believe in all O'brien is telling Winston, but I think Winston and Julia do because they want so badly to believe that there is a brotherhood and they can over throw the party. In the end, my prediction is that they are not joining a brotherhood against the party, but are instead, unknowingly, working for the party. It makes sence, otherwise, why would O'brien keep telling them that they would have to do all these cruel and horrific things to other people and even themselves without a single reason why!? They just need more people to do their dirty government work, they just need more people to do the vaporizing.

Finally, the story came a bit full circle when O'brien stated that they would speak again "In a place where there is no darkness". This is the same line that Winston had heard in his dream.

1984 Pages 117 - 157

In this week's reading I picked up an early connection on the second page. Wintsin mentioned the "summery weather" which foreshadowed their upcoming romance. This was the chapter when Julia and Winston would finally meet in the country side, but I was a bit surprised that winston didn't question how Julia knew her way around the area so well. She had obviously been there many times, but with who? for what? I thought it was especially peculiar for Winston because he is always paranoid about somebody turning him in for thought crime or something else. I also found it surprising that Winston thought the inner Party was "clean", as in they didn't have sex, they didn't eat real chocolate and coffee, etc. How could he be so unaffected by thier attempts to brainwash him into thinking that they've always fought the same country, or that life is better now, but be completely brainwashed into thinking they are follow the same rules as him! I would have expected Julia to believe they were following the same rules because she grew up knowing nothing else, but Winston knows they are corrupt, he has lived through the change.

A little later on in the chapter they are walking through a back street and a rocket nearly hits them. I may be reading to much into it, but perhaps it is symbolizing the trouble ahead if they continue to be together??

As we are learning more about Julia and her intersting thoughs on life, one quote struck me in particular, she stated: "Books were just a commodity that had to be produced like jam or bootlaces." This made me think of two things; first, the intelligence level of these people really is low, like the man in the bar, making for easy brainwashing, and secondly, if people don't read books- why write and produce them?!?!

As the chapter goes on we find out a good deal about Julia and how much she hates the party. I think it's quite odd that she is so anti-Party when she grew up with it. Usually when you grow up with something and know no other way you just presume it's right, what changed her mind? I also thought that maybe it was too much of a coincidence that the man she had an affair with, the one that would have given up her name, commited suicide before he had the chance...
Julia also gave a new outlook on why the Party is so anti-sex. She made a good point when she said that they hate it because when you have sex you have used up all your energy and are very happy, therefore why should you get excited about Big Brother and Hate Week, and waving flags and banners around? I thought this was a great point and agree with her completely. For instance, Winston said now that he has no need for gin, for he has fulfilled his need with love. Thus also telling us why so much gin is given out, to keep everyone on that fine line between happiness and rebellion.

Finally, I was a bit confused on why they keep bringing up Winston's wife, Katherine. Winston keeps acting like he is married yet and even once said something like "if only katherine would be dead".. what is that about? She was vaporized years ago! The last thing I will note is that I think putting Julia in this story with Winston creates a great contrast. They are almost the antithesis of each other, and that makes for an interesting relationship. It's also nice to see the views vary between those that grew up and remember before the revolution, and those that know nothing more than the Party.

1984 pages 81 - 117

This week's reading was by far the most cultivating and interesting so far. Before Part II , Winston decides to not go to the community center one night and instead takes a walk to a part of the town where the proles live. As he walks, he sees an old man and realizes that this man is probably one of the few men left that know what life was like before the revolutionary war. He follows the man into the pub and tries to get him to remember things about his youth. After many failed attempts, Winston realizes that even if there are men alive that lived prior to the war, all they remember are bits and pieces of random information. I feel that this was semi-depressing for Winston, all his hopes of finding out if the Party was telling the truth were gone now, and he must continue to live by the Party's word. when he leaves the bar, he isn't quite sure where he is, but soon stumbles upon the shop where he bought his journal. He enters, knowing what a risk it is, and finds a friend in the shopkeeper. He ends up buying a piece of old coral, so he can feel that he belonged to a time other than his own.

In the next chapter, I was completely blown away by the event that took place. Julia gives Winston a note that says "I love you" and nothing else!! So after all this time and worry about Julia being the thought police and trying to kill him, she was really just in love with him. Winston thought that maybe this was just some sort of ploy to get him to commit thought crime. I personally never thought that, I think Winston sometimes thinks too badly of people. If he doesn't agree with the Party and their rules, shouldn't he think that there has to be other people that think the same? Anyways, the note was ironic because only a week earlier when he left the shop and saw her, he thought that maybe he should smash her head with a rock to take care of her. They eventually talk shortly at the canteen and then in then at the end in the square she gives him directions to meet her. I think Julia is going to be quite rebellious. She has obviously done a lot of thinking and planning on how to get Winston alone, therefore ignoring Party rules. Perhaps, though, she is just what Winston needs, a little push to help him rebel. After all, a change starts with just one person.

1984 Pages 37 - 81

In this week's reading of 1984 we find out a little more about Winston's work, are introduced to proles, and find out a little more about Wiston as he makes another entry in his journal.

We first learn that Winston's job is to rewrite history. He has to go back into articles such as the Times and rectifies whatever Big Brother had written prior, in order to make him correct. I found it very surprising when Winston sad that his "greatest pleasure in life is his work." I would have thought he would despise his work. It's an extremely tedious job that basically requires him to do nothing but tell lies. I guess perhaps he likes it because like any job it gives him a sence of pride in accomplishment and doing it well.

In this week's reading we are also intoduced to a new character, Syme, a writer of the new Newspeak dictionary. He is sort of a friend of Winstons that has lunch with him as he tells Winston of the new dictionary. We learn from Syme that the dictionary is becoming less and less as hundreds of words are thrown out everyday. At first I wondered what could possibly come of limiting vocabulary, but we soon find out that the Party is doing this in hopes that soon there won't be enough words to even commit thought crime. I thought this was a bit of a stretch, though, because people such as Winston and the Parsons and the Parson's children are always going to know all the words, regardless of whether or not they are in the dictionary, and these people are going to keep passing them on to new born children. It's impossible to make an entire society to completely stop using a large percentage of their vocabulary. Then again, who would thought it would be possible to make an entire society stretch together every morning?

A large part of the end of this week's reading had to do with proles. I do know proles are humans but a special or different kind because Syme had made the comment "The proles are not human beings". Winston, though, made me think that the proles are like a special group of people that government doesn't care about and therefore doesn't enforce rules upon. I'm not sure what their purpose is exactly, or why they aren't considered "human", but I think they will probably come up in later chapters because they seem awfully important to Winston. To Winston, they are the only people that can overthrow the Party. He made a comment about them that I think is true about all people. He said,"Until they become conscience they will never rebel, and until they have rebelled they cannot become conscience." This reminds me of something we read in Civil Disobedience, which reminds us that it really is just once big story, and no line is original.

As I was reading it occured to me that the only other countries we had really heard about was Eurasia, the enemy country. Why haven't any other countries or Parties been involved? This is similar to a Hitler Nazi situation and therefore when Orwell was writing this, even if he is thinking of the future, he should know that realistically other countries are going to be involved one way or another.

The final thing I tried to figure out as I was reading was what exactly is the "Party" trying to achieve by this control, what is the final goal. As in all dictatorships there has always been a certain goal or means to the control. For instance, the Nazi party wanted to create the "perfect race". So what does Big Brother want to do with this country, what does he want these people for. I predict that we will find out soon and this will be one of the themes of the book. As of now, it is too early in the book to tell and we are still trying to fully understand the ins and outs of life in Airstrip One. Which, by the way, where did the name "Airstrip One" come from? It has to mean something!

Winston continues to write in his journal and realizes at the end that he is really writing this for O'brien. It is sort of a relief for him to know who he is writing to and I think now he will write even more. In this entry he writes about a night he has with a prostitute. He also reflects on his marriage with Katherine years ago. It is difficult for him to write still, but it doesn't come rolling out in short sloppy sentences like last time. Each time i think it will become easier and easier to write. I personally like when we can read his journal entries, it gives us a glimpse into what he really thinks and sometimes a glimpse into the past.

Finally, Winston talks about those three men that confessed to something untruthfully and Winston knew they lied because of an article he accidentally saw in the Times. This part confused me a bit, but I think he was trying to get the point across that this could prove the Party wrong and could possible over throw it? I'm not sure, but I know it was quite significant, and hopefully we can discuss it in class.

1984 Pages 1 - 37

I had an idea what this book was about because we had talked about it a bit in class. So the idea of the whole spying thing was pretty much what I had in mind, exept not quite to this extent, and I thought that it they were going to be "watching you" they would do it more in secrecy. Although I think the idea of letting the people know they are being watched constantly puts a fear in them that is unmatched by any sence of wonder if they are spying on you or not. Thinking about the other book we are reading right now, we know that this is obviously a political statement criticizing governments that are too controlling.

A few things I didn't understand is what exactly he does for a job? What exactly ingsoc means? And are the "thought police" just ordinary people? Is that why he can't just go talk to O'Brien?

I think this book is going to serve more that one purpose, too. I'm starting to see a few other themes including conformity and (well im not really sure if this is necessarily a "theme") but how easily people can be brainwashed. The conformity theme obviously comes into play when we realize that this once great nation was taken over by a nazi like party and within a few years Winston wonders if he is the only one who doesn't agree with the new Party. As in many times in society, people are too afraid to be different, to challenge authority, and in return live a life of lies. The brainwashing aspect can parallel conformity, but these people were actually brainwashed! I see this happening when Winston tries to remember when the Party actually came into existance, because the Party has people believing that it has been in existance forever, and that they have never had dealings with nations that they are at war with now, and they have people believing that they can erase the past!

After reading my first bit of the book, I think it is going to be an enjoyable, yet difficult to fully understand. At this point I have no predictions because we aren't exactly sure what the main idea or "quest" Winston is perhaps going to embark on.