Chapter 24, Drawn to the Loadstone Rock

Chapter 24, Drawn to the Loadstone Rock

I. Notes

Three more years have passed, and the French Revolution has succeeded in removing the royalty and aristocracy from power. France is still unsettled, however, and many members of the French upper classes who have fled to England use Tellson's as an information hub. One afternoon at Tellson's, Darnay and Mr. Lorry discuss Mr. Lorry's impending trip to France, where he will manage Tellson's Paris office and try to salvage some property and papers for Tellson customers. Amidst the activity in the bank, Stryver loudly commiserates with French nobles. When a letter for the Marquis St. Evrémonde surfaces, several Frenchmen and Stryver make disparaging comments about the current Marquis St. Evrémonde, unaware that they are speaking of Darnay. Darnay offers to deliver the letter to the Marquis. When Darnay reads the letter, he is troubled to find it is from Gabelle, who has been imprisoned for acting as Darnay's steward. Feeling guilty about Gabelle's imprisonment and about leaving some matters unfinished, Darnay resolves to go to France. Idealistically, he even imagines that he might be able to calm some of the revolutionary fervor. Consequently, he writes letters explaining the situation to Lucie and Doctor Manette and then departs for France alone. Although Darnay's secret departure from England for France where revolutionaries regularly imprison and kill aristocrats may seem foolish, he is acting in accordance with his nature. Darnay embodies justice and duty, and although he is devoted to his family, his sense of responsibility forbids him to turn his back on Gabelle or on his country. Additionally, Darnay remains unaware of some of the dangers, such as Madame Defarge's register, awaiting him. Because he has renounced his property and name, he thinks of himself as a common man. He does not realize, however, that the revolutionaries in France still view him as the Marquis St. Evrémonde, an aristocrat who deserves to die.

II. Notes

1. Sardanapalus's luxury- Sardanapalus (also known as Assurbanipal) was an Assyrian king renowned for his lavish lifestyle.

2. Prison of the Abbaye-a prison in Paris that held many aristocrats during the French Revolution.

3. the Loadstone Rock- a rock containing loadstone (or lodestone), a naturally magnetic mineral.

III. Questions

1. What is the chronological setting?

2. Why is Lorry going to Paris?

3. Why does Charles offer to go in his place?

4. How does Dickens use the letter to the Marquis de Evremonde to generate

suspense?

5. Why does Gabelle request Charles to return to France?

6. The Loadstone Rock was a mythical rock that magnetically drew ships to it so

that they would crash -- what for Charles is the Loadstone Rock?

7. Why was Tellson's Bank, London, the natural gathering place of emigrates?

8. Should Darnay have kept his real name and identity secret from his wife, and not

told her of his trip?

9. Why is it ironic that Gabelle is being held in the Abbaye?

10. Why does Darnay unwisely feel that it is safe for him to return to assist Gabelle?

11. Why does he feel he must help him?

12.How is “Monseigneur” here used as a catch-all name? What does it mean that “Monseigneur by this time was scattered far and wide”?

13. Where do “Monseigneur” and his colleagues spend time in London? Why?

14. Where does Charles Darnay want to travel to? Why does Lorry persuade him not to go? Why can Lorry go himself? What is the purpose of the trip?

15.When Charles receives a letter addressed to him with the Evrémonde name, how does he claim it without revealing his identity? What does “Monseigneur” have to say about the Evrémonde name?

16.What does the letter request of Charles? What does he decide to do? What do you think of his decision?