The last two chapters of this book are quite predictable, and maybe the biggest surprise was that Mrs. Pross killed Mrs. Defarge. I wouldn't have expected Mrs. Pross to protect Lucie that much.
Sidney Carton dies honorable for Charles Darnay, who succeeds to escape from Paris with Lucie and their child. Mrs. Pross and Jerry Cruncher leave from Paris too after she has killed Mrs. Defarge. It seems like that Mrs. Pross doesn't mind that she lost her hearing when she killed Mrs. Defarge because she did it for Lucie.
I liked reading this book even though I sometimes felt that there was too many "loose ends" in the book, but after I had finished the book, I noticed that the those "loose ends" weren't loose anymore.
Compared to what I thought about Charles Dickens as a writer before I started reading this book, I have completely changed my mind. I don't know why I thought that books that are written by Dickens, are booring and difficult to understand. Now I know that it might be interesting to read more books that are written by him.
Wednesday, 17 December 2008
Wednesday, 10 December 2008
Charles Dickens: A Tale of Two Cities: Book III Chapters 9-13 (pages 285-335)
Charles Darnay has been arrested again and this time he is sentenced to death. Therefore Sydney Carlton makes up a plan to release Darnay. Carton shows much of fearlessnes because the plan is to go to Darnay's cell and change clothes with him so that Darnay could walk away from the prison wearing Carton's clothes and Carton would be killed instead of Darnay. The pland works and Darnay changes places with Carton.
When Charles Darnay has escaped from the prison, he escapes from Paris with Lucie, little Lucie, Dr. Manette and Mr. Lorry. They are afraid that the escape will not work but there is problems at the check point in Paris where they show their travel documets. Darnay uses Carton's documents and doesn't get caught.
I don't know if Carlton will really be executed in the Guillotine but I think that he can not escape. Carton is sure that he is doing a right thing for Lucie and doesn't care that it kills him.
I don't know why I still have a feeling that something bad will happen to Lucie or Charles before the end of the book. And I wonder what has happened to Mrs. Pross because she is not in the same coach with Lucie and the others when they leave from Paris. Does she stay in Paris with her brother or has she already left from Paris?
When Charles Darnay has escaped from the prison, he escapes from Paris with Lucie, little Lucie, Dr. Manette and Mr. Lorry. They are afraid that the escape will not work but there is problems at the check point in Paris where they show their travel documets. Darnay uses Carton's documents and doesn't get caught.
I don't know if Carlton will really be executed in the Guillotine but I think that he can not escape. Carton is sure that he is doing a right thing for Lucie and doesn't care that it kills him.
I don't know why I still have a feeling that something bad will happen to Lucie or Charles before the end of the book. And I wonder what has happened to Mrs. Pross because she is not in the same coach with Lucie and the others when they leave from Paris. Does she stay in Paris with her brother or has she already left from Paris?
Wednesday, 3 December 2008
Charles Dickens: A Tale of Two Cities: Book III Chapters 3-8 (pages 246-284)
Charles Darnay has spent almost 16 months in the prison before he is asked to come to his trial.
During his time in prison, he writes letters to Lucie and he even sees Lucie from a distance when she stands at a certain place in fornt of the prison. Lucie comes every day to the place because she wants that Charles can see her.
The trial seems to be only a cold comfort for him because many people have been convicted to death without any proper reason. However, Darnay is found to be not guilty-mostly because of the help he gets from Dr. Manette and Mr. Gabelle.
Charles cann't enjoy his freedom for very long time because he is arrested again because he is denounced by Mr. and Mrs. Defarge and someone else whose name is not revealed.
After Charles has been arrested for the second time, it is found out that Solomon (who is brother to Mrs. Pross) is same person as Mr. Barsad.
I wonder what Sydney Carton wants to speak to Mr. Barsad when he says him: "Come into the dark room here, and let us have one final word alone."
During his time in prison, he writes letters to Lucie and he even sees Lucie from a distance when she stands at a certain place in fornt of the prison. Lucie comes every day to the place because she wants that Charles can see her.
The trial seems to be only a cold comfort for him because many people have been convicted to death without any proper reason. However, Darnay is found to be not guilty-mostly because of the help he gets from Dr. Manette and Mr. Gabelle.
Charles cann't enjoy his freedom for very long time because he is arrested again because he is denounced by Mr. and Mrs. Defarge and someone else whose name is not revealed.
After Charles has been arrested for the second time, it is found out that Solomon (who is brother to Mrs. Pross) is same person as Mr. Barsad.
I wonder what Sydney Carton wants to speak to Mr. Barsad when he says him: "Come into the dark room here, and let us have one final word alone."
Tuesday, 25 November 2008
Charles Dickens: A Tale of Two Cities: Book II Chapters 22-24, Book III Chapters 1-2 (pages 204-246)
Mr. Lorry travels to Tellson's office in Paris and he takes Jerry with him. Also Charles Darnay decides to go France because he has received a letter from Mr. Gabelle who is imprisioned in France. Darnay (who is the new Marquis) thinks that he could go travel without any danger. He also has make a decission to give his possessions in France to the people because he wants to clear the name of his family. It is also found out that Dr. Manette was in the prison because of Darnay's family (the Evremonde family).
When Darnay leaves from London to Paris, he doesn't tell Lucie or Dr. Manette that he is leaving-but he writes a letter to both of them. Darnay doesn't know that he is thought to be as cruel man as the previous Marquis was, and he doesn't know that he is on Defarges' list of the people who the revolutioners have planned to take revenge on.
When Darnay arrives Paris, he is imprisioned. When he asks reason for his imprisionment, Mr. Defarge answers: "We have new laws, Evremonde, and new offences, since you were here." Darnay seems to be in big trouble and his astonished when Defarge about the "sharp female newly-born, and called La Guillotine." Lucie, her father and child, and Miss Pross travel to Paris too and inform Mr. Lorry what has happened to Darnay.
When Darnay leaves from London to Paris, he doesn't tell Lucie or Dr. Manette that he is leaving-but he writes a letter to both of them. Darnay doesn't know that he is thought to be as cruel man as the previous Marquis was, and he doesn't know that he is on Defarges' list of the people who the revolutioners have planned to take revenge on.
When Darnay arrives Paris, he is imprisioned. When he asks reason for his imprisionment, Mr. Defarge answers: "We have new laws, Evremonde, and new offences, since you were here." Darnay seems to be in big trouble and his astonished when Defarge about the "sharp female newly-born, and called La Guillotine." Lucie, her father and child, and Miss Pross travel to Paris too and inform Mr. Lorry what has happened to Darnay.
Wednesday, 19 November 2008
Charles Dickens: A Tale of Two Cities: Book II Chapters 16-21 (pages 161-204)
The book is getting more and more interesting, because Mr. and Mrs. Defarge are interested in Charles Darnay (or D'Aulnais as his mother's name was) and they might have a plan to kill him because Mr. Defarge says to his wife: "... her [miss Manette's] husban's name should be proscribed under your hand at this moment, by the side of that infernal dog's [Marquis] who just has left us". Later, when the Revolution of French has begun, they and the other rebellers-the Jaqueses-intrude on the Bastille and go to Mr. Manette's cell, release seven prisoners, kill guards, and marched the governor (who tried to defend the Bastille) to the city hall for judgement.
In the meanwhile Charles Darnay and Lucie Manette have got married. They live a normal family life with Mr. Manette and miss Pross. Shortly after Lucie and Charles Darnay's wedding, Mr. Manette starts again act like a shoemaker. He keeps doing it for nine days and then he suddenly becomes normal. The others hides that from Lucie and she doesn't find out that her father was doing the shoemaking. I don't understand what the significance of the shoe-making is. Is it just a sign that he is stressed because Lucie has got married or is there some other reason?
Lucie and Charles have a child, because when Mr. Lorry comes to visit Lucie and Charles in July 1789, he asks Lucy: "The precious child is safe in bed?" and Lucy answers: "And sleeping soundly."
In the meanwhile Charles Darnay and Lucie Manette have got married. They live a normal family life with Mr. Manette and miss Pross. Shortly after Lucie and Charles Darnay's wedding, Mr. Manette starts again act like a shoemaker. He keeps doing it for nine days and then he suddenly becomes normal. The others hides that from Lucie and she doesn't find out that her father was doing the shoemaking. I don't understand what the significance of the shoe-making is. Is it just a sign that he is stressed because Lucie has got married or is there some other reason?
Lucie and Charles have a child, because when Mr. Lorry comes to visit Lucie and Charles in July 1789, he asks Lucy: "The precious child is safe in bed?" and Lucy answers: "And sleeping soundly."
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
Charles Dickens: A Tale of Two Cities: Book II Chapters 9-15 (pages 118-161)
The book has become even more interesting to read because I have a noticed that the characters have many secrets and I can't wait to find out what those secrets are. For example Mr. Darnay tries to tell something about himself to Doctor Manette but Manette doesn't want to hear it and therefore say: "Tell me when I ask you, not now". I wonder what Darnay was about to say but maybe I will find it out later.
Mr. Darnay tells Dr. Manette that he is in love with Lucie but hasn't told her about his love. Darnay and Dr. Manette have a conversation about the subject and Dr. Manette approves Darnay to be his son-in-law. But Darnay is not the only one who wants to marry Lucie. Mr. Styver tells Mr. Lorry that he wants to marry Lucie and Mr. Styver thinks that he won't have any problems to marry Lucie.
Young Jerry Cruncher decides to find out where his father goes in the night time and follows his father. Young Jerry finds out that his father and some other men go to a grave yard and they dig up a coffin. I don't know what is inside the coffin but evidently the contents doesn't please Jerry's father because Mr. Cruncher claims that her wife has prayed against him and therefore he batters his wife.
In Paris, the Mender of the roads who had seen "the man" (apparently the killer of the Marquis) underneath Monsieur the Marqui's carriage is having a discussion with the five men who are called Jaques. They seem to be interested in knowing what has happened to "the man". I don't know why they are interested in the man but I think that it will become clear later.
I still wonder why Mr. Cruncher thinks that his wife prays against him. If I have understood right, the wife prays for him.
Mr. Darnay tells Dr. Manette that he is in love with Lucie but hasn't told her about his love. Darnay and Dr. Manette have a conversation about the subject and Dr. Manette approves Darnay to be his son-in-law. But Darnay is not the only one who wants to marry Lucie. Mr. Styver tells Mr. Lorry that he wants to marry Lucie and Mr. Styver thinks that he won't have any problems to marry Lucie.
Young Jerry Cruncher decides to find out where his father goes in the night time and follows his father. Young Jerry finds out that his father and some other men go to a grave yard and they dig up a coffin. I don't know what is inside the coffin but evidently the contents doesn't please Jerry's father because Mr. Cruncher claims that her wife has prayed against him and therefore he batters his wife.
In Paris, the Mender of the roads who had seen "the man" (apparently the killer of the Marquis) underneath Monsieur the Marqui's carriage is having a discussion with the five men who are called Jaques. They seem to be interested in knowing what has happened to "the man". I don't know why they are interested in the man but I think that it will become clear later.
I still wonder why Mr. Cruncher thinks that his wife prays against him. If I have understood right, the wife prays for him.
Tuesday, 4 November 2008
Charles Dickens: A Tale of Two Cities: Book II Chapters 6-9 (pages 82-118)
Dr. Manette and his daughter, Lucie, are living with Miss Pross in London. Miss Pross hasn't appeared in the book before even thought Lucie has been living with her since Lucie was ten-year-old girl. I think that Ms. Pross has become very attached to Lucie during the years they have spent together and that is why Ms. Pross calls Lucie "Ladybird".
Another new character who is introduced is Monsieur the Marquis. He is rich and poverful man who also proves to be very arrogant person. When his carriage run over a child and the child dies, he doesn't even feel sorry for the child or the parents of the child. He just say:" One or the other of you is forever in the way. How do I know what injury you have done to my horses?"
I was surprised when I found out that Charles Darnay is the nephew of the Marquis because they don't seem to resemble each other. I couldn't figure out who Jacques is. He must have hated the Marquis for some reason.
Another new character who is introduced is Monsieur the Marquis. He is rich and poverful man who also proves to be very arrogant person. When his carriage run over a child and the child dies, he doesn't even feel sorry for the child or the parents of the child. He just say:" One or the other of you is forever in the way. How do I know what injury you have done to my horses?"
I was surprised when I found out that Charles Darnay is the nephew of the Marquis because they don't seem to resemble each other. I couldn't figure out who Jacques is. He must have hated the Marquis for some reason.
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