The Catcher in the Rye-final

As “The Catcher in the Rye” concludes, Holden has temporarily found his place in the world at home. Through the entirety of the novel, we are only brought on about two or three days of Holden’s journey after being kicked out of Pencey for failing too many classes. Although throughout the novel, I really hated the slow pace of happenings, I finally understand why J.D. Salinger wrote the novel in such a style. Because the events of the novel were drawn out over a short time period, Salinger was able to create the sense of feeling lost and hopeless. Throughout the novel, Holden is not sure where he belongs in life because he feels that no one truly needs him. When Holden finally decides to sneak home and visit Phoebe, he tells her that he wants to be a “catcher in the rye,” so that he can catch young children before they fall off of a cliff and save their life. This image is significant in Holden’s journey because he needs someone in his life to catch him before he completely falls, emotionally. In the last chapter, Phoebe and Holden are at the museum, and Phoebe wraps her arms around Holden and gives him a kiss before placing a hat on his head. During this moment, Holden was able to feel through Phoebe’s affection that he was needed by someone, his younger sister. Ultimately, Phoebe ended up being the “catcher in the rye” for Holden, saving him from giving up completely.

The Catcher in the Rye--blog4

As The Catcher in the Rye continues to unfold, Holden is still lost amongst his journey. He continues to debate whether or not to go home sooner than Wednesday or not for fear that his parents will discover he flunked out of school. Ultimately Holden sneaks into the family apartment late at night because he feels the need to visit with Phoebe, his sister. Upon entering her room, he sits and observes her as she sleeps for a short time. Holden remains silent during this period because he is reflecting on his life at home and how it has changed since he left for school. During this time, Holden may also be hoping that Phoebe will have a better life than he has had. No matter what he is thinking, the silence and break in action portrays a reminiscent mood.

When Holden decides to wake Phoebe up, she immediately figures out that he got kicked out of school again. Throughout this scene Phoebe kept saying, “Daddy will kill you. He’s going to kill you.” The repetition for effect through these words depicts that the relationship between Holden and his father is not healthy. Possibly Holden’s father expects too much out of Holden, or maybe he is not supportive of what Holden wants to do.

Phoebe asks Holden to tell her what it is he wants to do with his life. After some deliberation, Holden answers that he wants to “stand at the edge of a cliff [in the rye] and catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff.” This scene refers back in the novel to when the little boy was singing the “Catcher in the Rye” song. The little boy that Holden saw singing represents Holden in his younger years, carefree and happy. Now that Holden is older and struggling to find his place in this world, he remembers that song and understands the true meaning of its lyrics. Holden is on a mission to help others because he doesn’t want them to go through the same struggles that he has had to endure. Will Holden be able to accomplish his dream of becoming a catcher in the rye, or will his father obstruct his dreams?

The Catcher in the Rye--blog3

During this week’s reading, my mind kept wandering back to the novel How to Read Literature Like a Professor. Within that novel, the first chapter is entitled “Every Trip Is a Quest (Except When it’s Not).” The main parts of a quest include, a quester, a place to go, a reason to go there, challenges and trials, and the real reason to go (which is always self knowledge). The notes from Chapter 1 of How to Read Literature like a Professor also state that a quest can be long, but it can also be as small as going to get a loaf of bread.

In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden is the quester. Holden’s final destination is supposed to be home, but amongst his aimless wandering, I am questioning whether or not he will actually end up there. The reason for his quest is that he got kicked out of Pencey for failing four classes. Along the way home, Holden must occupy himself for a few days so that his family doesn’t figure out he got kicked out of school if he returns home too soon. Holden experiences many trials and challenges as he has to move from place to place, pay for meals and housing, and try to socialize. Not being incredibly successful with any of these, Holden asks a girl to run away with him and eventually get married, but he is rejected. Will Holden eventually make his way home, or will he just get out of the city and live on his own?

Holden’s quest has been long and drawn out, but the real reason for his quest is to gain self-knowledge. Along this journey, Holden is sure to discover his place in this world, because the challenges and trials he experiences will help shape him into a better person.

Can I just add, thank God that you made us read How to Read Literature like a Professor?! :)

The Catcher in the Rye--blog2

Throughout this week’s reading of The Catcher in the Rye, I got the impression that not only is Holden lost in this world, but that he is experiencing many self confidence issues. Within the reading, Holden states that he wants to call home to talk to his sister, but “fears [his] parents will answer the phone.” Although Holden has not stated that there are family issues, I think that his wandering aimlessly stems from a lack of support from his parents. Holden also mentions his brother, Allie, many times throughout the book thus far, which makes me believe that there may have been a strain put on the family after the death of Allie. Although Holden is wandering throughout all of New York until Wednesday, will he actually return back home, or just keep wandering?
More aspects of the novel that point in the direction of low self confidence for Holden include his interaction with the girls and his comparisons with his siblings. While getting ready to go to the night club, Holden tells himself that he is the ugliest and dumbest person in the family. The low self esteem has to stem from a source, and I am beginning to believe it is his parents. While at the night club, Holden practically throws himself at three women, despite them being “unattractive.” To me, it is clear that Holden thinks so lowly of himself that he must settle for women he doesn’t even find attractive or intelligent. I am left questioning, will Holden find any self confidence on his journey home, or will he just wander for the remainder of his life?

The Catcher in the Rye--blog1

As “The Catcher in the Rye” begins, we are introduced to the main character of the novel, Holden. Holden begins speaking of an event that changed his life, yet doesn’t actually reveal what the event was. There is a flashback throughout this week’s reading that foreshadows what happened to Holden that changed his life.

In the first chapter, Holden states that he is being kicked out of Percey Prep School because he is failing four of his classes. Holden takes full responsibility for his actions, which reveals a character trait that will be important later on as the plot unfolds. If Holden takes responsibility for all actions that he commits, will he take responsibility for the event that changed his life if it was his fault?

When Holden’s English teacher, Mr. Spencer, discovers that he is being kicked out of school, he invites him over to his house to talk on more time before leaving. Holden mentions that the house is “old and musty.” Through these words, it is evident that not only is Holden still slightly immature, but also quite caught up in outer appearances. Mr. Spencer, throughout Holden’s entire visit, offers advice and guidance. Mr. Spencer appears to be Holden’s father figure so far in the novel.

So far throughout the novel, I have been questioning what Holden’s family is like. He seems to be a kid who doesn’t have a strong foundation, such as having commitment issues like in school and to the fencing team. Does Holden have parents who neglected him? Or does he even have parents at all?

Death of a Salesman---Blog 6

In the conclusion of the play, Death of a Salesman, Willy’s life comes to an end. Biff tells Willy that, “I am not a leader of men, Willy, and neither are you. You were never anything but a hard-working drummer who landed in the ash can like all the rest of them!” As Biff yells as Willy, he demonstrates that in order to achieve the “American Dream,” a person needs to do what they are good at, not at what society believes is the best. Throughout the play, Willy is incredibly caught up in how the rest of society views him, and because of this, he doesn’t pursue his true dreams. This play is still relevant in today’s society. Most of the time people are so caught up in how others view them that they forget to be true to themselves. What would happen to this world if every single person pursued a career where their skills would shine? Our world would be a much more successful and efficient place. We were all given certain God given talents, so why not use what we have and be successful rather than pretend to have what we don’t and fail.

Despite Willy's failures all through his life, he attempts to "grow" through his planting of a garden at the end of the novel. Willy begins to realize at the end of the play that his true talents come in gardening, not salesmanship. The garden symbolizes an attempt at rebirth, but the rebirthing process happens to late, as Willy ends up committing suicide. Willy proves that no matter what your talent may be, using your abilities wisely will result in success.

Death of a Salesman---Blog 5

During this reading, Willy has a flashback to when Biff discovered that he was cheating on Linda. At the beginning of the play, there is a “woman” that is unidentified. It is not until this point in the play that the reader discovers the mysterious woman is Willy’s mistress. The woman’s laugh at the beginning of the play foreshadows to the time when Biff shows up at his father’s hotel room and hears the woman laughing from the bathroom. Also at the beginning of the play, there are multiple references to Linda knitting stockings and Willy getting upset about her doing so. When the stockings were first mentioned, I simply thought that her patching up stockings symbolized their lack of money. After the discovery of Willy’s mistress, she asks him for the pair of stockings that he had promised her. The stockings not only connect the two women, but Willy’s anger about Linda patching up her old stockings proves that he wants her to have new stockings, like his mistress does.

Throughout the play, thus far, it is evident that each character is struggling with events from their past, especially Willy. Clearly Willy’s mental disorder stems from his past and the regrets that he has. I wonder, will Willy admitting his humanly faults result in a correction of his mental disorder?

Death of a Salesman---Blog 4

At the beginning of Act II, there seems to be a sense of hope among everyone. Willy seems hopeful that Biff and Happy will get settled with new jobs, and Linda is hopeful that Willy will not kill himself when she finds the rubber tube gone. Despite the hope found at the beginning of the Act, there is darkness among Willy. I have noticed that not once throughout the play has the reader figured out what it is that Willy sells when at work. Clearly he is trying to achieve the “American Dream,” but because of his unhappiness, he hasn’t quite reached it. Through the aphoristic lines in the play, Miller is able to convey the message that in search of fulfilling the “American Dream,” Willy ends up selling his life, his time, and his entire being to his business. Willy believes that by constantly working and making money, he will be able to achieve the perfect life, but in reality, more times than not, simplicity is better. Now that Willy has been fired, will he stay at home and find happiness with his family, or will he continue wasting his life by working constantly?

Death of a Salesman---Blog 3

In today’s reading of Death of a Salesman, there was a continuous them of loyalty. Through the previous reading’s it has been evident that Linda is still very much in love with her husband, when she refers to him “as the most handsomest man,” and she would anything to protect him.

Throughout the end of Act I, Willy is determined to take a walk even though Linda tries to get him to stay home. Biff and Happy are upset that their mother is letting Willy walk at night in fear that “he will hurt himself.” Linda shushes the boys because she doesn’t want Willy to hear them, and this again shows her concern and love for Willy. Linda admits to Biff that Willy’s behavior gets worse when Biff comes home for a visit. Biff states that maybe if he only comes home to visit Linda, Willy’s conditions will improve by not seeing him. Linda responds to Biff saying, “No. You can’t just come to see me, because I love him. He’s the dearest man in the world to me, and I won’t have anyone making him feel unwanted and low and blue.” Through this statement, Linda reveals that she will not let anything harm Willy’s feelings because he is the most important person in her life. When Linda states that she “won’t have anyone making him feel unwanted and low and blue,” there is also foreshadowing that Biff, along with others, will eventually makes Willy feel inferior.

Although Linda has complete faithfulness towards Willy, he seems to lack the proper respect for her. When he comes back in from his walk, and starts conversing with Biff and Happy, he constantly yells at Linda to “be quiet” and “stop interrupting.” Biff gets angry and tells his father to respect Linda, but he continues to disrespect her. I wonder, will Linda continue to love and support Willy despite his disrespect and unfaithfulness?

Death of a Salesman---Blog 2

In Death of a Salesman, Willy’s mental disorder is becoming more predominant. Willy has flashbacks and hallucinations. These flashbacks and hallucinations seem to be either regrets that Willy has or the view on how he wishes events would have happened in his life. Through his visions, an insight is given into Willy’s life outside of the present.

Another aspect that plays into Willy’s personality is his lack of self-confidence. He constantly refers to himself as “just a fat man…[who] no one notices at the office.” Being a faithful, loving wife, Linda reassures Willy that he is “the handsomest” man she has ever met. The exchange of words between Willy and Linda lead me to believe that Linda is incredibly faithful to Willy and would do anything possible to make him happy. Later, during a flashback, Willy is speaking to “a woman.” This woman mentions that she will see him next time he gets back on business. This hallucination proves that Willy was unfaithful to his wife, despite her faithfulness to him. I wonder, is Willy’s lack of self confidence a product of his unfaithfulness?

Through the style of this play, we are able to understand the story from Willy’s perspective, which helps us understand his definition of the “American Dream.” Willy is incredibly caught up in looks and whether he is well liked. Will Willy’s mental disorder help him have a change of heart and rediscover what the “American Dream” truly is, or will looks continue to control his happiness?

Death of a Salesman---Blog 1

Arthur Miller, in his play, Death of a Salesman, portrays how different people view the American dream. At the beginning of the play, Willy and Linda discuss Willy’s day and the fact that he struggled while driving to the city. Linda suggests that maybe the steering was bad on the car, but Willy insisted, “I was driving along, and I was fine…and then all the sudden I’m going off the road.” This conversation between Linda and Willy foreshadows that something bad will happen while Willy is driving to work.

We are also introduced to Linda and Willy’s children, Happy and Biff. Through this reading, we learn that Biff and Happy came home for visit, but have intentions of moving out west to farm. Through discussions between Happy and Biff, it is clear that Happy has established himself as an individual, but Biff is still just settling for a job and not a career.

Meanwhile, Willy goes to the kitchen to get a snack before bed. While in the kitchen, Willy is constantly talking to himself. The talking begins as mumbling, but soon it appears that Willy is having a full on conversation as if someone else were present in the room. Although not present in the room, Willy seems to be warning Biff as he says, “Just wanna be careful with those girls…you want to watch your schooling first.” Through these lines, it is revealed that maybe something happened to Biff and there is a reason why he is now at home. Did his father warn him to focus on school, and he didn’t listen, thus making a failure of himself? Also, the fact that Willy is speaking to himself symbolizes some sort of mental disorder, possibly related to trauma from past events.

A Tale of Two Cities---Blog 9

In the final reading of A Tale of Two Cities, I discovered the theme that love conquers all. Towards the end of the novel, there was a somewhat religious aspect added. Before the central focus seemed to be on the government problems between France and England, but at the end, just like in life, love conquers all problems. While reading the last section of the novel, I was reminded of the bible verse 1 Peter 4:8 which states, “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”

As I predicted, Carton did trade places with Darnay and endure death in order to keep Darnay, Lucie, and little Lucie together as one family. It comes as no surprise that Carton was able to pull off this switch almost flawlessly because it was mentioned many times the striking resemblance between him and Darnay. Darnay is surprised at the act of kindness and sacrifice that Carton is doing, but we as readers should not be surprised, because Carton himself told Lucie in the beginning of the novel that he would do anything to keep her happy, even lay down his life for her.

The sacrifice that Carton performs for Lucie and her family makes him the Christ figure of the novel. Christ figures are typically rejected by others, see things ideally, not realistically, and lay down their life in order to bring new life to others. All of these characteristics clearly pertain to Carton, as he was rejected as a child and even through his work with Stryver, and he died for Darnay so that he and Lucie could live a happy life together. Carton also saw things ideally, which was stated in his final thoughts as he was hanging in the guillotine. Looking out, Carton realized that even though this war took place, soon this will be a beautiful place to live. He sees “livesfor which [he] lays down [his] life, peaceful, useful, prosperous and happy.” Although some see death as a horrendous punishment, Carton is fully aware that he will have eternal life, for he keeps repeating, “ I am the Resurrection and the Life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” In the last moments of his life, Carton teaches us that love truly does conquer all, and when people are willing to lay down their life for a friend, the world will be a better place.

“It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever know.” –Sydney Carton

A Tale of Two Cities---Blog 8

Now it is clear that “recalled to life” will transform into “recalled to death.” Carton attempts to reenter Lucie’s life, which would “recall [him] to life,” yet there has been foreshadowing that he will take the place of Darnay and endure death, in which case he will be “recalled to [death].” I think that this motif can be looked at both ways: recalling both life and death. Although I predict that Carton will ultimately suffer death, his sacrifice in turn will recall not only Darnay, but also Lucie, to life. Throughout the past few chapters, while Lucie is stuck in an apartment, it is clear that she is suffering from depression because of the separation between her and her husband. Will Carton keep his promise made earlier in the novel and do whatever it takes in order to keep Lucie happy, or will he have a change of heart?

During the chapter, “The Substance of the Shadow,” we witness a flashback of Darnay and Manette’s lives. The Vengeance shares a letter that was found in Manette’s jail cell. This letter describes the story of the Marquis, and evidence against the Evermonde and Charles. The letter also states that Dr. Manette was imprisoned because he knew that everything stated in the letter happened. Through this flashback, and the foreshadowing in these chapters, I am convinced that Carton will come to save the day by laying down his life for a friend.

A Tale of Two Cities---Blog 7

“Recalled to Life” has been a motif throughout the novel, but today, it appears as if this saying may reverse itself. While sitting in the apartment, Lucie hears footsteps. These footsteps go hand in hand with the footsteps that she could always hear outside of her old house. The sound of walking symbolizes the Revolutionaries preparing for attack. When the footsteps finally reach the door, it is clear, the Revolutionaries are ready for battle, and no one will get out easy or maybe even alive. Darnay, who was just recalled to life, got his life taken away again, as he was brought back to prison. The people who came to recapture Darnay state that they were summoned by the Defarges’ to come and get Darnay, because his name was on the list that Madame Defarge “knitted”.

This reading also brought into the plot an abundance of former characters. Upon meeting the characters again, we learn that most of them have a second identity. Solomon, Miss Pross’ brother, is identified as John Barsad, who was involved in Darnay’s trial. He is now in France as a spy. We also meet Roger Cly, who previously faked his death. Since these men have multiple identities, it is proven that people are not always who they say they are. Now, we, as readers, try to correlate the relationships between all of the characters and the significance they will have throughout the rest of the novel. I am left curious, which other previous characters will be “recalled to life” with new identities.

A Tale of Two Cities---Blog 6

In today’s reading, the prevalent motif of “recalled to life” once again rose in the plot. Darnay has been held in captivity for one year and three months, all the while Lucie and little Lucie stay in a nearby apartment. Doctor Manette holds to responsibility to guard the prison that Darnay is in, and because of this, Manette will be informed of anything that is to happen to Darnay. When Doctor Manette was imprisoned for 18 years, it was his daughter Lucie that was able to recall him to life. Now that Lucie’s husband has in a sense, lost his life, Manette is doing anything in his power to “recall [Darnay] to life.”

Throughout these chapters, I saw a common theme of loyalty within the family. In present day culture, family is a place of trust, love, and loyalty, and the Manette/Darnay family is a prime example of how families should bond together. Although Darnay has a bloodline that was responsible for Manette’s imprisonment, when it comes down to Darnay’s life being saved, and Lucie’s happiness, Manette is willing to sacrifice anything. Loyalty is also shown when Lucie returns to the same street corner every day for two hours, rain or shine, in order for her husband to get a quick glace of her. Lucie wasn’t sure if her husband was always able to see her, but her loyalty to him overpowered anything else. Not even prison would keep the two apart. The window is a symbol of how life is seen through certain people’s eyes. For example, Darnay can see out the window and look at the world beneath him, but it is impossible for Lucie to see into his world and envision his struggles.

When Darnay goes on trial, he is deemed a free man. Although this seems like a positive thing for the family because they are reunited, there is still bad to come. As Darnay walks home, the streets are “covered in snow.” Seasons of the year represent the circle of life, and winter is the part of the cycle that represents death. Since Darnay was released from captivity, how will his life actually come to an end?

A Tale of Two Cities---Week 5

While reading this week’s assignment, the thought kept running through my head that your past experiences shape you into the person you are, and no matter how hard you may try, erasing the past is impossible.

The first line in the novel that made me have this though was when the prisoners were being compared to the cask of wine breaking outside of Defarge’s wine shop and the author stated, “they are not easily purified when once stained red.” At this point, the narrator is simply talking about the prisoners, but I immediately thought of Darnay. Darnay comes from a bloodline that he is not proud of, but can his pride be saved by changing his name? Although Darnay was able to change his façade by using an alias, Darnay is never able to truly change who he is on the inside.

After Lucie and Doctor Manette find out that Darnay has teturned to his homeland, they go after him in an attempt to save his life. They go to newest branch of Tellson’s bank and find Mr. Lorry. Lorry sends Lucie and little Lucie to the back and explains to Doctor Manette the truth about what is happening: the prisoners are going to be killed soon. When Doctor Manette leaves the bank to try to salvage Darnay’s life, it is noted that the “calm morning air [had] a red upon it that the sun had never given, and would never take away.” The imagery created when the sun casts red over the land foreshadows that soon the ground outside the bank will be covered in blood. The question remains, will this blood be Darnay’s, or not?

In the past, there have been constant references to darkness in the novel, symbolizing tragedy and death, but this week, the color usage switched to red. Red symbolizes not only blood, but also courage. Through this week, the only use for the color red has been to symbolize blood, because the war has officially broken out. Will the use of the color red soon switch over to mean courage? Will there be an unseen hero who comes to save either Darnay or Lucie?

A Tale of Two Cities---Week 4

This week, Lucie Manette and Charles Darnay are united in marriage. Events happen surrounding this marriage that have left me wondering how long this relationship will actually last. Will Darnay have to leave Miss Manette because of his true identity, or will love surpass all other issues?

On the day of the wedding, Darnay and Doctor Manette are in the doctor’s room together. When the door is opened, Darnay emerges “deadly pale-which had not been the case when they went in together.” The look of death that overshadows Darnay symbolizes the fact that he told Doctor Manette his true identity. As stated earlier in the novel, Doctor Manette told Darnay to wait until the day of the wedding to reveal his identity because he didn’t really want to know the truth. After Darnay and Manette had the conversation about waiting until the wedding day to reveal Darnay’s true identity, Manette regressed psychologically and went back to making shoes. Similarly, after Darnay and Lucie were off on their honeymoon, Doctor Manette made shoes for the entirety of nine days and nine nights. The regression demonstrates how Doctor Manette’s mind has not fully healed the scars of his past; instead, he simply masks the pain with other problems, until he is reminded of his imprisonment.

When Doctor Manette returns to his normal self, Mr. Lorry questions him about someone who frequently goes back to the past in order to mask pain. Thinking that Mr. Lorry is speaking of just an ordinary friend, Manette tells him that, “I should hope that the worst is over” and there will be no more regressions. With more questioning, Lorry in a roundabout way convinces Manette that it would be best to take the “tools” used for the persons regression away. With Manette’s approval, Miss Pross and Mr. Lorry destroy all of Manette’s shoemaking tools and workbench.

Just hours after Charles Darnay and Lucie return home from their honeymoon, Sydney Carton arrives at their house to bid them congratulations. While visiting, Carton takes an opportunity to talk to Darnay in private. Carton sincerely apologizes to Darnay for all that he had done while intoxicated the night of the trial. At the end of their conversation, Carton asks for permission to “come and go as a privileged here; that I might be regarded as a useless (and I would add, if it were not for the resemblance I detected between you and me, an unornamented) piece of furniture, tolerated for its old service, and taken no notice of.” Upon first reading this, I thought it was normal to ask permission to come over from time to time since Carton is trying to restore a ruined friendship. When I reread this part of the novel, I noticed the mention to the similarities in resemblance between Carton and Darnay. This makes me question if something will happen to Lucie that makes her fall in love with Carton over Darnay, since they are similar in looks. When Carton leaves, Lucie says to Darnay,

“I would ask you, dearest, to be very generous with him always, and very lenient on his faults when he is not by. I would ask you to believe that he has a heart he very, very seldom reveals, and that there are deep wound in it. My dear, I have seen it bleeding.”

With this statement by Lucie, and Carton’s statment in the earlier chapters that he would do anything for Lucie, makes me believe that at some point, the relationships between these three characters will change.

A Tale of Two Cities---Week 3

For the past few weeks, a motif throughout the novel has been “recalled to life.” This week, though, I noticed a continuous reference to “night,” “darkness,” and grey or black colors in the first few chapters. The continuous references to nighttime and darkness seems to portray the complete opposite effect of “recalled to life.” This left me wondering, will there be a change in happenings in this week’s reading?

In the last chapter of the reading, The Honest Tradesman, it is finally revealed what Jerry Cruchner’s secret business is. Although Dickens alluded to this “business” through the constant references to “dig” and “digging,” it is just now that we find out Mr. Cruncher is a grave digger. Now it is easy to connect the “mud on his boots” and “rust” on his fingers come from digging graves in the middle of the night.

During this chapter, Jerry states to his family that he will be going out that night to go “fishing.” Young Jerry, curious of his dad’s explorations, asks if he can go along. Of course the answer is “no.” That night, Young Jerry sneaks out of the house and follows his father into the darkness. Ending up at the cemetery by the church, Young Jerry is terrified. He then witnesses his father and 3 other men “fishing” up the dirt and grass. Young Jerry knows what is about to come next, so when he hears the men unscrewing the casket, he takes off running back home. On the way home, Young Jerry dreams, or fears, that the casket with the dead man inside of it is chasing him. This internal fear or dream that Young Jerry has is possibly foreshadowing his soon to be involvement with this “business.” After all, when Dickens personifies a casket to be running, isn’t the casket/person being recalled to life?

The next morning Jerry Chruncher states that there will be “no fish for breakfast.” This signifies that his night job didn’t go as planned. Maybe this night “business” that Mr. Cruncher tends to isn’t actually worth it, because it seems that someone is now beating him to the grave. Will he have a change of heart, or keep with his “business?”

A Tale of Two Cities---Week 2

Throughout the first two readings, there have been the motifs of “recalled to life” and “digging.” Last week, this theme first developed when Mr. Lorry had a dream that he “recalled” a man to life after he was “dead” for 18 years. Just a few days later, Mr. Lorry is summoned to reunite Lucie Manette and her father after he has been in captivity for 18 years.

After consistently seeing “recalled to life” or “digging,” it is obvious that Mr. Lorry’s “business” is not typical business carried out in a bank setting. Tellson’s bank is depicted as “very small, very dark, very ugly, and very incommodious, [with] dingy windows.” The use of color makes the bank appear ambiguous. Through the imagery of “dingy windows,” Dickens creates an area of seclusion, because not only can no one see in the building, but also, the workers cannot see outside. People question Mr. Lorry on what it is that he actually does during the work day, and his answer always seems to be that it is “strictly business.”

During the majority of this week’s reading, the setting is at the trial of Charles Darnay. Mr. Lorry, Doctor Manette, and Lucie Manette are all witnesses on this trial. With the death sentence hovering above him, Miss Manette is able to convince the jury that Darnay is not guilty. When Mr. Darnay is found “not guilty,” it again refers to being “recalled to life.”

Later on, Mr. Carton and Mr. Darnay cause trepidation as they describe the “D.I.C” that they found carved into the North Tower at the prison. They continue with their story and reveal that the letters were actually “D.I.G” and instead of being initials, actually meant “dig.” After this story is told, Doctor Manette begins to get sick and has sweat like “rain drops” dripping down his head. The nervousness that Doctor Manette displays makes it pellucid that he is involved with these carvings. The reference, once again, to “dig” shows the nexus between Mr. Lorry and Doctor Manette: they participate in the same “business.”

At the very end of the reading, a young child is left dead in the street, and I must question, will this child be the next one “recalled to life?”

A Tale of Two Cities---Week 1

“A Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens, the narrator states,

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way…”

Not only does this introduction assist the reader in better understanding the hardships before the French Revolution, but it also establishes the fact that for every positive part of life, there is also a negative. In the quote above, there are comparisons of light and darkness, and Heaven and Hell. This reiterates that although at one point, life may seem full of “light” and “Heavenly,” there will sure be darkness to follow.

In the beginning of the novel, we are introduced to Jarvis Lorry. Throughout the course of this week’s reading, repetition for effect is frequently used. At one point in the novel, Mr. Lorry dreams that he “digs” a man out of his grave that has been “buried for eighteen years.” This dream and repetition foreshadows how Mr. Lorry will assist Miss Mannette, an orphan who has not seen her father in “eighteen years,” in making sure her dad is “recalled to life.”

When Mr. Lorry and Miss Mannette go to the garret where Mr. Mannette is at, he is unable to see what is standing right in front of him. Although he is not physically blind, he has been secluded for “eighteen years” and is unable to see anything outside of what he normally sees. Ironically, when they enter the room, Mr. Mannette is constructing a little “girls shoe,” as if he is stuck in the past waiting for his little girl to come home. Now that she is in his presence again, he doesn’t see her, or initially recognize that she is his daughter. This scene is a representation of how humans, in general, fail to see what is right in from of them. Occasionally, we choose to only see what we want to see. Mr. Mannette finally begins to see the bigger picture once his daughter speaks to him, and pulls him close to her. Sometimes in life, everyone needs help stepping outside of their comfort zone, and that is just what Mr. Lorry helped Miss Mannette do, and what Miss Mannette helped her father do.