Saturday, March 5, 2011

Blog Post 4: Glogster





This section has finally gotten into the heart of the French Revolution. The people have finally risen up to overthrow their king. The Defarges have become leaders of the revolution and both were in charge when they attacked the Bastille. Since then, they have led the revolutionaries and have captured one of Darnay's loyal servants in France. Darnay decides to go back to save his servant even though the journey poses danger to himself. Before leaving, he writes a letter to Lucie (who now has a daughter, Lucie) and her father letting them know where he has gone.

Once in France, Darnay is arrested for being an emigrant and taken to prison. Lucie and her father soon grow worried and travel to France themselves. They do not encounter any trouble because Dr. Manette was held in the Bastille for many years. Once they arrive Dr. Manette visits Darnay and works to free him. The section ends when Dr. Manette announces to Lucie that Darnay will have his trial the next day.

I find the change in the Defarges to be interesting. In other sections before the Revolution they seemed to have more personality. Mr. Defarge had friends with whom he would often joke around and drink. After the Revolution they were described as "curiously reserved and mechanical" (Dickens 188). This reminds me of how Mr. Lorry acted before he befriended the Manettes. Of course, Mr Lorry was less sinister than Mr. or Mrs. Defarge, but his mannerisms seemed similar. In a way, Mr Lorry was as tightly bound to Telson's Bank as the Defarges are to the Revolution. Mr. and Mrs. Defarge are even more so bound to the Revolution because they are the leaders and will go down with the revolution if it fails. In this way, almost every character besides Lucie have been or are imprisoned because of their past decisions of allegiances.

1 comment:

  1. I really like your Glogsters because they are visually attractive and informative. I think the link to the Phrygian/Liberty Cap is really interesting because of the way it illuminates the symbolism of the hat. It's neat that the French used a fashion statement as a way of spreading hopes of freedom. The French Revolution in itself is fascinating because of the fact that the people wanted to overthrow the king because of his tyrannical ways, and yet hundreds of people are killed by the rebels because they are considered "traitors."

    Do you think that Darnay will be acquitted? After all, from what you have written, Darnay seems like an integral part of the text, and I don't think that Charles Dickens will let him rot in a cell in the Bastille for the remainder of the novel. You mentioned that almost every character besides Lucie have been or are imprisoned because of their past decisions of allegiances. How does Lucie differ from the rest of the characters, and what is her view on the French Revolution? You have a great blog going on so far, and I can't wait to read more!

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