For Ceci and Carla,
I need you to add reflections once/week. There need to be 10 in all. Choose a quotation from the section you are reading, post the quotation and discuss its relevance in two ways, either:
historical-political references, the power of the language (imagery or poetic devices etc.), in terms of the ideals of Romanticism, the quotation's symbolic meaning, its purpose such as a flashback or foreshadowing or character development. If you have another area you think is relevant, use that as a heading and go for it!
I also need you to start catching up with the other students in terms of grades, so next week and the one after I will be asking you to do two reflections per week.
Thus far I should have two, so your third reflection is due on Wednesday, November 18.
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Reflection for Chapters 1-8, Book Two, of Tale of Two Cities
CHARACTERS
Given how much of the book I've read, the thing that has struck me the most about Tale of Two Cities is its characters. Dickens' prose is weighty and redundant, and he sometimes loses his reader in his lengthy descriptions, but his storytelling and character development are memorable. When reading the court scene, it is wonderful to see how Dickens sets up his characters, not just by describing them extensively, but by letting their actions speak for themselves. We see Mr. Carton as this apathetic person who’s very appearance strikes out against the norm. This is made evident by the way he ¨sat looking at the ceiling of the court, chang{ing}neither his place nor his attitude¨ (Dickens 76), and his mismatched and sloppy clothes and wig that Dickens so eloquently describes. However, his characters have much more depth in them than is initially apparent. Regardless of his nonchalant manner, Mr. Carton is later exposed as a ¨man of good abilities and good emotions, incapable of their own directed exercise, incapable of his own help and his own happiness, sensible of the blight on him, and resigning himself to let it eat him away¨ (Dickens 92). If one can read beyond Dickens’s light, humorous tone in his writing, one can see that there is a complexity and sadness to the tale he tells.
There are other characters who share in Mr. Carton´s complexity. Dr. Manette, the survivor of an eighteen-year-long live burial, demonstrates an internal conflict of enormous proportions, which is further intensified by the mystery that surrounds it. No one knows exactly what happened to him while imprisoned, and no one knows what goes through his head when his face acquires a strange expression and his mind ¨wanders away¨ (Dickens 81). However, Dr. Manette’s seriousness is counterbalanced by his daughter’s simplicity and beauty, and, although the story is getting to a deeper, darker setting, characters like Monseigneur, with his quirks and superficiality, always serve to keep Dickens’s jovial mood. This juxtaposition makes the author’s storytelling very interesting, and gives proof that Tale of Two Cities promises to be an enticing read, despite its heavy descriptions.
I am now in the part when Gulliver manages to leave the Lilliputians and escapes to the land of the giant Brobingnagians. The Brobingnagians are both physically and morally bigger than Gulliver, and they, unlike the Lilliputians, symbolize, or represent pretty much what is good of humankind. I say this because unlike the Lilliputians, vice does exist in their country, but it is not used or built into their governmental institutions, which I found very interesting.
For example, the king of the giants would be shocked at Gulliver's description of English politics and society, showing the reasonable, understanding of human nature. He says,"I cannot but conclude the bulk of your natives to be the most pernicious race of little odious vermin that nature ever suffered to crawl upon the surface of the earth." (Swift 144)This is basically the kings verdict of the English people.
He also reflects the ridiculousness of the human society and race: ". . . he observed how contemptible a thing was human grandeur, which could be mimicked by such diminutive insects as I: and yet, said he, I dare engage, these creatures have their titles and distinctions of honour, they contrive little nests and burrows, that they call houses and cities; they make a figure in dress and equipage; they love, they fight, they dispute, they cheat, they betray..."(139). This is basically how the giants viewed, humans. He is showing and reflecting human's vanity and pride. I found this interesting too, that the king would even take time to criticize and ridicule the human race, who, I think, for them, were really insignificant and weren't a threat. In a way I think this symbolizes how people who acknowledge things that are wrong with society really just criticize but don't do anything about it. In 1726, there were many Englightenment thinkers who would criticize society, just like the Giant king, but wouldn't truly do anything about it except trying to spread their ideas.
I think also, indirectly this part of the book is a criticism of the English society. For instance, I think Gulliver never felt safe or equal in their society: even though they treated him kindly, they also treated him as a toy, or exhibit. I think here he criticizes how English society works and relates to outsider's or foreigners: they might have treated them "kindly", but they had such a noncaring attitude towards the foreigners. The giants didn't treat him humanely, they would basically throw him around! Of course, the English during this time wouldn't throw people around, but they would treat them in inhumane ways.
Lastly, besides the contrast of criticizing politics to society, I also noticed how differently he was percieved and treated in each society. With the Lilliputians, he was much bigger than them in size, he was potentially powerful. On the other hand, with the Brobingnagians, he was so small, helpless and powerless. He here is portraying the nature of power: the bigger and more intimidating, the more powerful, and the smaller, and more insignificant the more powerless. I think there can be a connection drawn with England at that time. Perhaps England was in its "big" powerful moment, as they were one of the biggest, wealthiest nations in the world during that time. Just like Gulliver, it will have its time of power, but anything could happen: maybe a new, greater nation with more power can come along and end their powerful dominance in the world.
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