Book the First: Chapter 6

Chapter Summary:

Chapter 6 begins with Monsieur Defarge, Lucie and Mr. Lorry entering the garrett where Dr. Manette is. Dr. Manette has been imprisioned for so long that he no longer remembers his name. He simply refers to himself as 105 North Tower. Mr. Lorry tries to help him remember his past life and his old servent, Defarge, but to no avail. Lucie comes forward and Dr. Manette for a moment thinks she is his wife. He sees her golden hair and pulls a few strands out from a pouch that he has saved for 18 years. These hairs do belong to his wife that were left on his sleve when he was taken to prision. Lucie and Dr. Manette have a touching exchange and it is clear that Lucie intends to care for her father. At the end of the chapter Dr. Manette, Lucie and Mr. Lorry are all on their way to London where it is presumed Dr. Manette will be safer.

Historical Context:

To the Barrier:The Barriers seem to be places where taxes were collected on goods going into the city. There were several Barriers in the city but they were stormed in 1789 and mostly destroyed. At the time Dickens was writing A Tale of Two Cities there were only a few Barriers left, although they no longer served their original tax collecting purposes.

Unmoved and Eternal Lights: This seems to be talking about stars. (Last paragraph of ch. 6). There was an astronomy book published for girls that said there are some stars so far away the light from their rays has yet to reach earth.

Vocabulary:

sagacity (pg. 54): foresight, discernment, or keen perception; ability to make good judgments


Stacy's Thoughts:

On page 45 Dickens introduces us to Dr. Manette by describing his voice. He calls it pitiable and dreadful. He says it had the faintness not of physical weakness but of solitude and disuse. He says it was like the last feeble echo of a sound made long and long ago. I think Dickens is very poetic in his description of this voice. I think he is using the description of Dr. Manette's voice to describe him. In Chapter 5 there was a physical description where we read about his white hair and all that, but this feels like a description of his spirit, weak and pitiable.

As Dr. Manette is being recalled to life, he is put in this upper tower and locked in a dark room. That doesn't seem to be such a good way to recall someone to life. I find the references to light and darkness very interesting. On page 46 Monsieur Defarge asks Dr. Manette if he could let in a little more light. Dr. Manette's reply is he must bear it it if more light is let in. I think this conversation is significant in terms of being recalled to life. It makes me think of the ressurrection. In fact that is what is essentially happening to Dr. Manette. He is being given a second chance at life. Little by little, he is letting more and more light into his life; a little more life into his life.

I cannot comment on the conversation Lucie has with her father on page 52 because I think it is strange. I don't care for all that weep for it business.

I am confused at the part where Madam Defarge is knitting and it says twice that she saw nothing. I am not sure what that means but I still don't think she can be trusted.


Points to Ponder:
What are your thoughts about Madam Defarge?