Thursday, December 11, 2008

A Tale of Two Cities

In this weeks reading we learn about the promise that Sydney Carton made to Lucie Manette. This has been foreshadowed for some time now, but now is when we actually read how it all unfolds.

It all started off with Dr. Manette denouncing Darnay through a letter that explained this. At the end of this we learn that not only is Dr. Manette denouncing Darnay but also his daughter Lucie and his granddaughter 'little' Lucie. This is all very surprising, he could denounce his daughter with Darnay, because that is her husband, but to denounce his granddaughter also is a step too far. Dr. Manette has been alone for so long, you wouldn't think he would want to push his family further and further away from him.

The next chapter talks a lot about time and it goes back and forth between thoughts and people. Finally we learn how the Evermonds/Defarges/Manettes are connected in this book. It is all pretty crazy too.

Finally the attention is turned to Sydney Carton and his promise to his love Lucie. He decides to trade places with Darnay in order for Lucie to keep her all to perfect life with Darnay. Carton finds a way to be snuck into the cell where Darnay is held and they switch clothes and drug Darnay in order to make it look as if it is Carton coming back from the cell. Then Carton is in the cell waiting...all he can do is wait for that moment when he goes against the guillatine and his life ends. Dieing for the one you love can't be the worst way to go but it is a major sacrifice. By doing this Lucie should know all to well how he feels about her. I wonder why she doesn't realize how good of a guy Carton is and not so much of her husband. Darnay has a wife and a daughter and a life to live for and Carton doesn't have anything and that is what helps to motivate him to do this for Lucie. Lucie is the only one he has ever loved and for that he would give his life and soon will.

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