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??
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First of all, when they say "in secret" it means that he will be alone. Also, there was no crowd yelling "he made shoes" it was in Darnay's head that all that occured. They don't know the connection between Darnay and Dr. Manette until Dr. Manette goes outside of the bank and asks for their help because one of his family members was in the prison La Force. The grindstone was mentioned only to sharpen the weapons used to kill the prisoners, so I could understand where you got confused there.
I agree. I think that the grindstone was just used as a sharpening device for the weapons so that the people could go out and slay whomever they were slaying. Now that I think about it, the stone may have been something like on Disney's Aladdin (The Return of Jafar) where the guy is sharpening his sword to get ready to behead Aladdin. You know what I mean?
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