One passage really stood out to me while reading chapter 5 The Wine Shop it was on page 39.
Carefully feeling in the pockets of the coat he carried over his shoulder, took out a key.
"The door is locked then, my friend?" said Mr Lorry, surprised.
"Ay. Yes," was the grim reply of Monsieur Defarge
"You think it is necessary to keep the unfortunate gentleman so retained?
"I think it is necessary to turn the key." Monsieur Defarge whispered it closer in his ear, and frowned heavily.
"Why?"
"Why! Because he has lived so long, locked up, that he would be frightened - rave - tear himself to pieces - die - come to I know not what harm - if his door was left open."
This passage sticks out because it talks about the theory that most people do not like change. In this case Mr Manette has been locked up fo 18 years so letting him feel free could drive him insane. To me this seems crazy but I know the reverse can be true, it is why people in solitary confinement can go insane. I think that later in the book we will find out how freedom affects Mr Manette when Jarvis and Ms. Manette take him back to England.
This section was very interesting/confusing to me. I agree with you that people do not like change and that major changes for Mr Manette could be bad/dangerous. I also think that these causes are because he was a political threat, we talked about in class how the winery owner could be using him for specific reasons.
ReplyDeleteJack Hedstrom
I agree with you Michael. I've heard many stories about people becoming insane from being locked up for too long and once he is free, for him to be locked up again, might just push him over the edge, I think. Also, I;ve heard stories about people becoming insane from becoming free after being locked up for so long which is what Monsuier Dufarge is afraid of. I am also looking forward to see what Mr Manettes reaction is to being locked up after he is free. I think this is going to ne interesting.
ReplyDeletethat was Sam Elrad
DeleteMichael:
ReplyDeleteThis is such an interesting passage, but I want you to go into more detail explaining how this exchange illustrates a fear of change in Dr. Manette. Couldn't you argue, for example, that he would want to get out of prison? And what did you make of Mr. DeFarge's comments? Does it seem like an exaggeration? True? Why/why not?