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.
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2 comments:
I think that when Lorry was questioning Mannette, the Doctor was aware that Lorry was refferring to him (kind of like when people go to a counselor and say "my friend has this problem" but are really refering to themselves). I think Lorry just said it that way to make it easier for Mannette to answer and not feel so pressured.
I agree with what you said about what Lucie told Charles. We often don't realize or sympathize with those who are suffering. It's somewhat of a human quality to become proud, selfish, and judgemental (even though Darnay didn't mean what he said in any of these ways, I don't think).
I think that Lucie is not the only reason that Dr. Manette has went back to his state of unconsciousness, but also the 2 secrets that Darnay told Dr. Manette on the morning of their wedding.
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