A Tale of Two Cities: Book the Second, Chapters 17-20
Chapters 17, 18, 19, and 20: ______
*Synopsis and major points in this/these chapters:
*(#17, #18) Describe Dr. Manette’s reaction to Lucie’s marriage…what does he say to Darnay?...does it seem that it is something other than his daughter’s marriage that has lead him back to his “bench”?
*(#19, #20) Describe Lorry’s non-confrontational way of talking to Dr. Manette…why does he use this tactic?
*(#19, #20) Understand how the past is put to rest in this chapter…Dr. Manette and Sydney Carton.
Comments, questions:
A Tale of Two Cities: Book the Second, Chapters 17-20
Ch. 17 and Ch. 18: Discussion points and analysis
· Light is shed on the closeness that bonds Lucie and her father. She feels that he deserves love because of his previous sorrow; he describes himself as being happier than he ever could have imagined.
· Yet the dark specter of Darnay’s secret looms over this happiness. The reader still does not know what this secret is. It has something to do with Dr. Manette’s imprisonment in France and with Darnay’s past in France, but the connection is still mysterious and unclear.
· The extent to which this secret affects Dr. Manette is made clear when it prompts him to return to making shoes.
· Lucie’s compassion is once again illustrated through her prayer for her father.
· Dr. Manette telling Darnay, “Take her, Charles! She is yours!” once again illustrates that Lucie has no identity of her own; she is spoken of only in relation to the men in her life.
Ch. 19 and Ch. 20: Discussion points and analysis
· Once again, Lorry uses his business sense to make a difficult situation easier. Just as he told Lucie that her father was alive by pretending that he was talking of somebody else, he talks to Dr. Manette about his situation by addressing the problem as if it were happening to someone other than Manette. His business acumen can be applied to his friendships.
· The smashing of the forge is symbolic of Manette letting go of the past.
· Sydney Carton’s discussion with Darnay serves the same purpose although to a lesser degree. He clears the air with Darnay so that past worries can be put to rest.
· The chapter concludes with Dickens once again reminding us of Lucie’s incredible compassion.