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?”