A Tale of Two Cities-12/17/08

In the final week of reading for A Tale of Two Cities, Jacques Three makes the statement, about Lucie, that she has a fine head for hanging. Blue eyes and golden hair, and looked charming. What a sick man! If you actually enjoy watching people get their heads chopped off, you may have some slight mental health problems.

Later, Madame Defarge, being the piece of work she is, tries to sneak up on Lucie to try to catch her grieving the death of one of the prisoners. If it would be possible to catch her in the act, it would essentially be easier for them to build a case (and have them decapitated also) against Lucie and her family. When Madame Defarge breaks into their home, she demands to know where Lucie is. Miss Pross and Madame Defarge get into a struggle, but Madame Defarge pulls a gun and threatens to shoot, when in turn, Miss Pross ends up shooting Madame Defarge. Thanks God someone was able to kill her, because she is such a b*tch! I'm glad that it was Miss Pross also, she took her part as being a heroin by killing Lucie's enemy. In a sense, she is like Carton, just on a smaller level. However, she has lost her hearing after the gunshot.

The last chapter is basically a reflection of what Carton was thinking as he was walking to his death; how he would be remembered by the Everemonde's, Lucie and Darney. This is an appropriate ending because it gives a reflection of how Carton is proud to save Lucie and Darney. Carton truly is a hero.

A Tale of Two Cities-12/10/08

We start off this weeks reading with Chapter 10, The Substance of the Shadow. We get to read the letter that was hidden in the tower finally! Personally, I liked the style in which this chapter was written. I like how it was Dr. Manette's point of view throughout the chapter. Anyway, in the letter, we learn about why he was put into prison.


Later on, Manette is requested to aid in the medical attention of a boy and a girl. He tires to save them, but is unsuccessful. Throughout this letter, there are missing pieces coming together and the story is becoming more enjoyable because of the new connections.

In Chapter 11, Darney is being escorted back to his cell after being sentenced to death. He and Lucie have one last chance to say goodbye outside of the courtroom. Later, Carton escorts Lucie home and tries to encourage her that there is still a chance that he will be freed. However, Lorry thinks there is no hope for Darney, which I also agree with.


At Defarge's wine shop, the Defarge's kind of act like 'what's he doing here.' While there, he overhears the Defarges plan to accuse Manette, Lucie, and even little Lucie of spying so they will be put to death also. What a jerk! It isn't enough for just Darney to be "knocked out", but she wants the whole family gone for revenge.

Later in this chapter, Manette is going crazy because he can't find his shoemaking bench. I think he just wants to think that it's gone, because he basically Lorry to destroy it for him. He seems to be extremely distraught about what he brought about himself.

In the last chapter for this week, Carton comes up with the perfect plan to do anything for Lucie, just like he said earlier in the book! He switches spots with Darney and takes the "head-chopping" for him. He talks to a old woman who realizes that he is not Darney. Does she have any revelance? It seems wrong that Carton has to die, but be that what it may. Darney, Lucie and Little Lucie are virtually shipped out of the country to flee from the Defarge's.

A Tale of Two Cities-12/4/08

In chapter 3, Mr. Lorry moves Lucie and Manette to a different location because of fear of drawing danger to Tellson's and leaves Jerry to be their guard. Judging by the title, there has been a shadow cast over Lucie. I believe something bad will happen to either Lucie or Manette, but I am unsure. The Defarges are quickly becoming the people to stay away from. She gives Lucie from Manette, saying that Darney is OK. Madame Defarge is intentionally trying to scare Lucie in order to lessen her as a threat.


As the revolution becomes more and more violent, Manette is still desperate to get Darney out of jail. I am not sure if his perseverance will pay off or not, but for how hard he is trying, i really do hope so. His confidence plays off of how he escaped from Bastille, so he is trying to help Darney the same way he helped himself. During this time, the king and queen are beheaded by the guillotine.

In chapter 5, Lucie talks to a man who has a saw. It seems like she is trying o become friends with him to avoid him. Later, the townspeople are dancing the Carmagnole, a once innocent dance which has been turned "dirty." Lucie is disgusted with this because it is not the way she remembered the dance.

In the next chapter, Darney is aquitted and marched out grandly on a chair. However, the Defarges still want him dead! It is suprising, considering that they don't really even know him. They have connections with Lucie and Manette, but they don't know Darney very well.

A Tale of Two Cities-11/24/08

In the chapter The Sea Still Rises, we meet a man by the name of Foulon. He is an absolutely sick and disgraceful man. He tells poor people who are hungry to eat grass. Foulon is a very wealthy man, but doesn't associate with people out of his class. He is eventually hung, but he is not killed on the first try...or the second...but the third time's a charm! The rope breaks twice, and what a perfect way for this jerk to die! After the rope breaks, townspeople shove grass in his mouth. I wonder how he likes it. When he is successfully hung, they put his head on a pike, showing off their "good work."


In the next chapter, a man meets the mender of roads. They converse a while. The man starts the chateau on fire. This is the act of the revolution, but why are the townspeople lighting candles in their windows?

Darney receives a letter from Gabelle in France. He requests that he comes to France to free him. We learn, again, that Darnay is the Marquis of Evermonde. He writes two letters, one to Lucie, one to Dr. Manette, stating that he is going to France, but there will be no chance of him getting into danger. However, when he arrives in France, he is immediately taken under arrest. Emmingrants have no rights anymore in France, so Darnay has no chance to redeem his name.

A Tale of Two Cities-11/19/08

In the reading this week, Madame Defarge is knitting shrouds with names on them. As the Defarges return to Saint Antoine, the mender of the roads informs them of a spy named John Basard. After receiving the description of his figure, madame says, "He shall be registered tomorrow." This clearly isn't a good situation for Basard, because once you get registered with madame, you're as good as gone. Once your name is on that list, they will search until they find you.

Why does Basard refer to Mr. Defarge as Jacques? Since he is a spy, he must be trying to get some information out of him in any way possible, but this seemed a bit strange. What is the purpose of Basard calling him Jacques when he knows he isn't? We also learn why madame knits so much. She believes that knitting "feeds" her and if she stops, she will become famished.

In chapter 17, Lucie and Dr. Manette are sitting under a tree, enjoying the evening, discussing the marriage. For once (it seems like), Dr. Manette is happy, and looking forward to Lucie's wedding. Later in the evening, Lucie checks on Dr. Manette while he is sleeping, and actually finds him sleeping rather than making shoes! It is like he has finally found comfort with himself.

But, he doesn't stay this way for long. After the wedding, he continues to make his shoes, like it is the only thing he remembers how to do!! It is obvious that he is unsure how to function without Lucie. And after only 10 short days after the wedding, he has completely forgotten his relapse. Mr. Lorry talks to him about his "friend" who suprisingly has the exact same problems as Dr. Manette! Shocker! Anyway, Dr. Manette thinks it would be wisest to destroy the problem. So when he goes off to visit Lucie, Mr. Lorry and Mrs. Pross destroy his table and equipment.

About the only thing I understood about Chapter 21 is that Lucie has a daughter. Later on, there is a war going on. What does Defarge do in Tower Five (or whatever tower it was)? What do the footsteps mean?

A Tale of Two Cities-11/12/08

In this weeks readings, we now learn about Mr. Darney wants to take Miss Manette's hand in marriage. I am not sure what to think about this at the present time. I am sure Miss Manette has many men just like Mr. Darney, I don't know what makes him think that he is so much different from the rest of them. Darnay tries to tell who he really is, but shrugs is off.

In the following chapter, Stryver brags about his being able to marry Miss Manette. He overdoes it quite a lot and portrays himself as an arrogent jerk. Carton, who is drinking heavily, is trying not to be upset by the news. And only to add to the situation, Stryver suggests that Carton find a woman with a "nice piece of property." When Stryver takes Miss Manette to the garden, he was going to propose, but is informed not to because he would be declined anyway. I don't know which I would rather hear; the rejection after proposing, or the rejection from another source. Talk about a rough night!


In Chapter 14, we first see the funeral procession of Roger Cly. It seems like the people watching the procession are overjoyed that he is dead. They are yelling "Spies!' and i'm not completely sure why. However, they could be praising him for his good work. I don't really know. Also, later in the Chapter, we see three men, including Jerry, in the graveyard "fishing." It just so happens that young Jerry also was there watching what was happening. It scares young Jerry initially, but later he tells his dad he wants to the the Resurection-Man when he grows up. Why does he want to do this? Does he just think he wants to do that because his dad does it??

A Tale of Two Cities-11/4/2008

In this weeks reading, we learn about Miss Pross. I am not sure on who Miss Pross is at this point, but she comes off to be Miss Manette "protector." Miss Manette has many men visit her and Miss Pross despises that. If she actually found a man that could sweep her off her feet, a caretaker would be unnecessary, so Miss Pross doesn't really like the visitors. However, the one person that she would be OK with her being with, is her brother.

Chapter seven starts us off as telling us how splendid Monseigneur is! He is the center of attention. Monseigneur is so "good" that he can't even eat chocolate without the help of four strong men! So either he is very "grand," or he is a cripple that can't eat. The party takes place in Paris. I find it funny...these people are so simmilar to some of our countries politicians. They talk a big game but don't do a thing. But in this situation, they don't really know what they are doing. It is all about being rich, having the ladies, and looking good...Isn't that what the world is kind of like now?!?!?

Monsieur makes a mention of a young boy that he killed with his car. Not only did he kill him, Monsieur doesn't even care that he did so! How could someone think this way? It's like he knows he is so superior over him, he doesn't care if he's dead or not.

Later, we learn that Mr. Darney is Monseigneurs nephew. It is clear that Mr. Darney doesn't trust his uncle, but I am unsure about the knife and note left for Monsieur. Who exactly was is sent from?

A Tale of Two Cities-10/28/2008

In this weeks reading, we begin in the Cruncher household, were we meet Mr. Cruncher and his wife. Mr. Crunchers wife is supposedly praying for him, but he thinks that she is praying against him. Why is this? Mr. Cruncher also exclaims that her praying against him brings him bad luck. Mr. Cruncher must be doing something out of the ordinary in order to believe that his wife would be giving him bad luck.

Also, Mr. Cruncher throws a fit about the mud on his boots. Did his wife really put the mud on his boots? I'm a bit confused about this part of the chapter.

What does the rust under the fingernails mean? Does it have meaning? It is strange because young Jerry wants to know where the iron rust comes from because there isn't any around there, he says. It makes me wonder why he wants to be so much like his father when he isn't even completely sure what it is that he is doing.

Another part of this reading section that disturbed me quite a bit, was the way of punishment for a guilty punishment in court. It is absolutely grotesque the way that they quarter the people up. Half hanging them, cutting out their insides and burning them up, then cutting the body into quarters and burning that! Plus, the people treat it as a form of entertainment!! It is disgusting to even think about enjoying that kind of event.

1984-October 14th, 2008

In the books last section of reading, we find Winston in a room being intensely interrogated by O'Brien. The sessions are becoming easier for Winston, with the dial becoming less of a factor. However, it seems that every answer that Winston gives O'Brien is not the correct response. He wanted to grasp the ideas of the Party so the pain would stop, but the he couldn't believe what he was saying.

The "dial torture device" proved to be very effective in the interrogation. By inflicting pain on the criminals, it becomes easier to change the way they think because they are in pain and in a fragile state of mind. This makes it very easy for the Party to brainwash the people back to the way they want them. O'Brien even makes the point that they are not interested in the good of the people, the are interested in the good of the Party, which was virtually understood already. The only difference is that they admitted it personally now! Not only does he admit that they want the government to reign supreme, it confirms any idea that the Party is based off of the Nazi party or the Russian Communists. The only difference is that the Party is actually following through with all of its ideas, rather than "letting them slide."

Winston has a dream about Julia and ends up blurting out "Julia, Julia!" He gets punished for the outburst, but the Party had not yet gained control of how Winston felt. His emotions were still in tact. It must be an incredible feeling to be completely brainwashed, but still be able to have feeling for others that you have once loved. It is a glimmer of hope!

The section in the reading when O'Brien is putting the rat up to Winston's face is the absolute greatest idea the Party has had thus far in the book! It is the perfect way to get someone to break down! If there was a hungry carnivorous rat in a cage attached to my face, It would scare the crap out of me too! It almost makes me wonder why they didn't just go to this plan to begin with.

After reading this book, it makes me wonder if something like this could actually happen. The Nazi's became very close to acheiving domination over Europe, but simply didn't follow their methods. If a government spells out a plan and plays it out religiously, I think this could happen more readily then we may think. Heck, it could be happening to us now! :0

1984-October 7th, 2008

In this weeks reading, we start off with Winston captured and in a cell with high white walls with no ceilings, what he thinks to be Ministry of Love. It is a place where many people are held and tortured-both physically and mentally-until the facts about their crimes come out of the mouths' of the convicted persons. There is never darkness in the Ministry of Love, which is ironic because really the only thing that ever happens here is torture.

Many people come and go out of the cell before Winston is even looked at to be taken, such as Parsons. He was turned in by his daughter for saying, "Down with Big Brother!" He is proud of her for turning him in!! These people are so brainwashed that they don't realize they are being punished for seemingly ridiculous things, like ThoughtCrime.

During the torture of Winston, it seemed shockingly similar to the Concentration Camps of Nazi Germany. The acid baths that the Germans forced the prisoners to take, the inhumane experiments, and the lack of food all seem similar to the torture of ThoughtCrime criminals. Electrocution was similar to an acid bath and an experiment at the same time. They know it's torture, but they really don't know how powerful it has to be to kill, so it is kind of different for everyone.

Also, now that I am through the chapters, I think that the white walls symbolize the cleansing of the inmates (in the idea of the Party), they just leave them human-less.

1984-September 30th, 2008

We start off the reading this week with Hate Week in progress. After working so many hours in preparation for the Hate, Winston is eshausted. On the sixth day of Hate Week, Winston was taking part in a demonstration when an announcement was made that the enemy was not Eurasia. It was indeed Eastasia. It seems impossible that the Party would want people like Winston to rewrite every last thing that had mentioned Oceania being at war with Eurasia. I didn't think the people could read or hear about those things anyway.

Winston starts to read the book from O'Brien. It seems like this book just goes into a little more depth of what we already know. How the war started is the main point, as pointed out by Chapter 3: War is Peace. It claims that war involves few people, therefore has few casualities. Anyone stupid enough to believe that must not know whats going on around them.

In chapter ten, Julia sees Winston for the first time in a week and both are excited. While in bed, Winston starts to read the book to Julia, but is soon sleeping. Winston glances at the clock and hears a prole singing a song. They talk about the woman, when the telescreen has finally revealed itself. It repeats everything they say, but with 'you.' They party knows what they were doing, and I had a feeling that Mr. Charrington was in on it somehow. If it was illegal to sell things other than what the Party sells, how didn't they find out about it before now? I think they have been on to Winston ever since he bought his first journal.

When the police arrive in the room, they are not anything close to 'nice.' They slammed a punch into her stomach and struggles for air. And what do you know, here come "Mr. Charrington." His facial apperance slightly different than before. Winston set himself up for this, or did he? It was Mr. Charrington was the one who showed Winston the room and claimed there was no telescreen in the first place. I think that the government wanted Winston dead, this was just their way of making it legal, not that it would matter to them.

1984-September 23rd, 2008

This weeks reading is relatively short, but Winston is talking with O'Brien. O'Brien is showing his appreciation for Winston's work. This could be somewhat of an invite for Winston to join the Inner Party. O'Brien gives his address to Winston, right in front of a telescreen. Winston mentions a sensation of "stepping into the dampness of a grave, and it was not much better because he had always known that the grave was there and waiting for him." Is Winston foreshadowing his own death? By taking the time to meet with O'Brien ultimately kill him?

Chapter 7 starts off with Winston waking with tears in his eyes. He had a dream of his mother and his sister. He was inside a glass paperweight, everything flooded with a soft white light, bringing back the memory of what really happened. Winston tells us of his past. He was sort of a naggy little kid. When it was supper time, he wanted more than anyone else, and wouldn't quite nagging until he got it. Same with the chocolate ration. He thought he should get all of it. Getting 3/4 of it wasn't enough obviously. He stole the other quarter from his sister and ran away! Winston was feeling guilty of killing his mother and sister, because he possibly starved them to death of his greed. And once you were gone, so was your memory.

Winston's idea's of the proles is quite interesting. The proles are no loyal to a party or a country or an idea, they were loyal to each other. They had stayed human! The proles hadn't become like the rest of the population and turned into robots. They held on to what made them feel human: their emotions.

In chapter 8, Julia and Winston take the time to meet with O'Brien. Once arriving at his home, they realize that he is part of the Inner Party. What was wierd about the Inner Party homes, was that they could turn off their telescreens. However, why do they need them anyway? Isn't the Inner Party the one's who are in control of the telescreens? It is kind of ironic that they Inner party trusts the employees enough to turn off their telescreens, because Winston and O'Brien are plotting against the Party. Oops.

O'Brien asks a series of questions asking the dedication of Winston. The only thing they didn't agree to is the separation of Julia and Winston, which isn't suprising. They do have a love for each other that they don't want to give up. The way the questions were asked, it seemed that they were going to be employees of the party itself. I guess we will have to see.

1984-September 16th, 2008

In the first chapter of this weeks reading, Winston makes his way to the secret hiding place to meet the girl that loves him. He follows the instructions and finds her just before getting to the hiding spot. They go to the spot and Winston finds out that Julia is part of the Youth Anti-Sex League. This is quite ironic because she admits to having sex with "scores of men," yet she is a counselor of the anti-sex league. I also found it weird that Winston like the corruption of Julia, with having all the sex. For him, it's an excuse to get away from the "real world." Also in my previous blog, I said that I thought Julia may work for the Inner Party. When the rocket almost hit them, I thought of that. This could be an unsuccessful murder attempt. But I could be wrong. Rockets are hitting London on a daily basis.

Later on, Julia is expressing her feelings about the Inner Party. He hates them. I found it interesting on Julia's views on sex. When we have sex, we use all of our energy, but we feel happy. Winston has eliminated his gin drinking, and replaced it with sex in Mr. Charrington's room.

One thing I don't understand, why does Winston wish Katherine was dead? I thought she was vaporized already.

1984-September 9th, 2008

In this weeks reading, we take a little "trip" with Winston. First, he sees a man who is elderly, born before the revolutionary war. Winston stops in and overhears his argument with the bartender over a pint of beer. He claims a half liter isn't enough, but a liter is too much. Winston tries to find out what his opinion is about the living conditions before the war and after. Winston never really get's it out of him. All he gets is random crap about top hats and the House of Lords. Winston is forced to believe what the Party says, even though it probably isn't true. He eventually comes to a familiar alley and runs into the shop where he bought his journal. He goes inside and buys a piece of coral for four dollars, a piece of history. The confrontation with the woman was kind of wierd. I thought it was the ThoughtPolice spying on him and plotting against him. He thought about crushing her skull with a cobblestone, but refrained.


Turns out that the creepy woman from the previous chapter is in love with Winston, as stated by the note given to him by her when she tripped in the hallway. At least he was a gentleman and helped her up. The note is ironic because he was going to kill her just a week ago. Anyway, they meet up somewhere(don't remember) and she gives Winston directions on where to meet her next. I guess we will see if this is love, or a plot against Winston. I'm voting for the plot.

1984 - September 2nd, 2008

This weeks chapters from 1984 start off with us learning about what Winston job really is: changing history. He receives small notes with codes written on them. He then goes back through history to match it to what Big Brother has said. This is Winston's greatest source of happiness. I find this interesting, because it seems that he contradicts what his job is by disagreeing with the ways of the Party.

We later become familiar with Syme, a Newspeak writer. This is the strangest language I have ever heard of. It seems ridiculous that a government can actually reduce the vocab available in a culture. If they would want to prosper in any way, they should be expanding it, but the way the Party think is ridiculous too. However, this makes sense. By reducing the number of possible words to use, they are eliminating any chance for thought crime. If there is no such thing as a word, then it can't be used (correctly.) Just the thought of using 'good' as 'ungood' or 'plusgood' seems stupid.

What are Proles? Syme says that "Proles are not human beings." I think that Proles are the poor people that the government doesn't really care about. They think so little of them, they don't even have a telescreen in their homes, in some cases. Winston seems to be influenced by the proles, and hopefully they will be further explained later.

One last thing that is very clear, the Party wants complete control over the people of London. It even could go as far as telling the people that 2+2=5, and you would have to believe it. Not only would you be killed for thought crime, but what if they were actually right? Everything that we once known would be false. Who could we believe? Or government? or our conscience?

1984 - August 28th, 2008

Before we started to read 1984, we had the understanding that it is a book that involves the government spying on it's own people. Wow!! I wasn't expecting this though! Written in 1949, i think this book is a speculation of what the future holds for humans. Normal humans now do the same thing: What will the world be like 10 years from now? 20 years?

We meet the Winston in the first pages of the novel, who in fact works for the government (in the Ministry of Truth) that is spying on him, along with the rest of the county. At any given moment, the Party can be watching you. The big posters that say BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU sends a clear message that the government is watching your every move. Being that the book was written in 1949, it is easy to believe that there is a connection with the Nazi party. They eliminated all "inferior" people by executing them. With the people not knowing who the party was watching at any given moment, it keeps what the people do and say in check. It was a bit creepy when the exercise lady could see and converse with Smith, who was not bending down far enough. Yeah, if I was Winston, I'd be nervous too.

My main question is, who are the Thoughtpolice? Are they the people who do the spying on the people? Also, what does INGSOC mean?

I also. found it interesting but also true that "nothing was your own except the few cubic centimeters inside you skull (until the thought police found out what you were thinking.)