Madame Defarge, the wood sawyer, Jacques Three, and the Vengeance are all in a meeting and Madame Defarge still wants to kill the rest of Darnay's family, which would be Lucie, little Lucie, and Dr. Manette. Miss Pross and Mr. Cruncher are going to leave the country, and decide to meet at the church and then leave so its not so suspicious. Then Madame Defarge shows up at the house and Miss Pross is alone and Miss Pross keeps her occupied for awhile and then get into a quarrel and Miss Pross ends up killing Madame Defarge, but I am unsure how she actually kills her.
It is scary how people would go watch the prisoners get their heads chopped off. Carton then dies from the guillotine. The ending of this story leaves everyone happy. Lucie and Darnay have their whole family, Carton is in a better place and he will be happier there, and Madame Defarge is gone, therefore no one will try to go after Darnay's family. Carton is a wonderful man. He knows he did the right thing and it was better for all of them. He is so brave!
The book always had me guessing. I could never tell what exactly would happen next...I loved the book.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Week 7- A Tale of Two Cities
Dr. Manette's letter is read and it says that he got picked up by two guys and went to their house and there was a sick woman who'd yell "My husband, my father, and my brother!" then counted to ten and said "Hush!" He gave her medicine that the two guys had in the house. Wasn't he scared the medicine would go wrong and kill her? Then there was another sick boy who was stabbed by one of the brothers and was quickly dying. He made a cross with his blood and said that he summoned the brothers and their bad race and then he died. If the brothesr killed him why'd they take Dr. Manette to see or look at him? Then the elder brothers wife, Darnays mom, came to the Doctors house with Darnay trying to explain how she wants to save the family name and be caring and show respect. Defarge was once the doctors servant and that's maybe why he got mad when he found out from the other people that Lucie was getting married because he felt he should of known because of their connection. They then captured the Doctor and in his letter he denounced the two brothers family. Darnay was sentenced to death within 24 hours at the end of this chapter.
They went home and Little Lucie begged for Carton to help her "mommy and daddy" and then Carton killed the fainted Lucie and said "A life you love".
Carton is debating with himself and telling himself that "It is the best, that these people should know there is such a man as I here." Then he went into the Defarge's wine shop and Madame Defarge is so furious still and Defarge wants to stop the fighting but we find out why Madame Defarge is so cruel, it is because the boy and girl who were killed and sick were her brother and sister, which is why she may have the cruelty toward Darnay and his family name also. Then Carton went back to the bank and for Dr. Manette and Mr. Lorry's meeting, but the doctor wasn't there and when he did show up he wanted to finish his shoemaking. We know that he doesn't want Darnay's death and it is bothering him because of his excessive shoemaking requests. Carton found papers permitting them to pass out of the city they're in. I believe Carton will sacrifice his life for Darnay and his family.
It was the night before Darnay was to be prosecuted and he was scared. There was 52 prisoners to be killed that day. He wrote a letter to Lucie, Dr. Manette, and Mr. Lorry. Then hours passed and finally Sydney Carton shows up. They switch clothes, but Darnay is very apprehensive about this idea. Carton told him to start writing what he told him to after they switched clothes. So now the guards think that Carton is Darnay and Darnay is unconscious and was to be taken to the carriage and he will get back to England with Carton's name and papers. Carton was taken to a room with the other people to be killed and he talked to a young girl that warmed his heart and the girl eventually realized it was Darnay, but simply a man being killed in Darnay's spot. In the carriage they are getting closer and closer to their destination point, but are very scared of what's going to happen next.
They went home and Little Lucie begged for Carton to help her "mommy and daddy" and then Carton killed the fainted Lucie and said "A life you love".
Carton is debating with himself and telling himself that "It is the best, that these people should know there is such a man as I here." Then he went into the Defarge's wine shop and Madame Defarge is so furious still and Defarge wants to stop the fighting but we find out why Madame Defarge is so cruel, it is because the boy and girl who were killed and sick were her brother and sister, which is why she may have the cruelty toward Darnay and his family name also. Then Carton went back to the bank and for Dr. Manette and Mr. Lorry's meeting, but the doctor wasn't there and when he did show up he wanted to finish his shoemaking. We know that he doesn't want Darnay's death and it is bothering him because of his excessive shoemaking requests. Carton found papers permitting them to pass out of the city they're in. I believe Carton will sacrifice his life for Darnay and his family.
It was the night before Darnay was to be prosecuted and he was scared. There was 52 prisoners to be killed that day. He wrote a letter to Lucie, Dr. Manette, and Mr. Lorry. Then hours passed and finally Sydney Carton shows up. They switch clothes, but Darnay is very apprehensive about this idea. Carton told him to start writing what he told him to after they switched clothes. So now the guards think that Carton is Darnay and Darnay is unconscious and was to be taken to the carriage and he will get back to England with Carton's name and papers. Carton was taken to a room with the other people to be killed and he talked to a young girl that warmed his heart and the girl eventually realized it was Darnay, but simply a man being killed in Darnay's spot. In the carriage they are getting closer and closer to their destination point, but are very scared of what's going to happen next.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Week 6-A Tale of Two Cities
Mr. Lorry left Lucie, her child and Jerry Cruncher at a hotel/safe quarter for safety. Then Mr. Lorry got a letter from Dr. Manette saying Charles was okay. What's/Who's the Vengeance? Mr. Lorry took Defarge to deliver a note to Lucie from Charles. Why did Madame Defarge have to see Lucie and her daughter and she said that the child was her "business" there? Why was Madame Defarge so cold towards Lucie?
Dr. Manette is popular and trying to get Darnay out of prison but a year and three months have passed and Darnay remained in prison but now Dr. Manette is confident he said.
Dr. Manette told Lucie to go to a certain spot across from the prison so Darnay could see her, but she probably wouldn't be able to see him. She does this for two hours everyday and there's a man working nearby that always watches her and I think when he was talking about chopping off a mans head, then a woman's head, and then a child's head it may be foreshadowing something to come? What was with the dancing? Lucie blew a kiss up to her husband although she couldn't see him. Who was with Mr. Lorry at the end of this chapter, The Wood Sawyer?
Darnay was put to trial and explained why he was in England and not in France for the past so much time. Darnay got help from Dr. Manette and was finally set free! Darnay was then carried back to Lucie.
Miss Pross and Jerry Cruncher left to go do some work and Lucie thinks she hears something on the stairs and Dr. Manette says "My love, the staircase is as still as Death." I think its foreshadowing death to come or danger to one of the family members or family friend. Darnay is sent back to prison because Defarge and his wife denounced him, with another person who is still unknown.
Miss Pross and Jerry Cruncher went to get groceries and wine and when they got wine Miss Pross noticed Solomn and screams and he wanted her to not call him by his real name. They went outside to converse and he was still rude to her and wanted her to pretend she doesn't know him from now on otherwise he'll be put to death. He had changed his name to Barsad, the witness at the trial and was a spy. Sydney Carton shows up and wants Barsad to go to the bank with him. They told Mr. Lorry Darnay was arrested again. Then Carton asked who Barsad's friend was and realized it was Cly. After that Barsad went on to explain that Cly had died and he had the papers to prove it, and then showed the papers. Jerry Cruncher, being there, knew Cly was not dead because he was not in his grave the night Cruncher dug it up. Cruncher then got Barsad to admit that Cly faked his funeral and now that Carton knows Barsad is a turnkey at the Conciergie he wants to speak to him alone.
Carton's private talk with Barsad was that if Darnay became ill he will have access to him at once. Carton and Mr. Lorry have a heartfelt conversation after that. Then Mr. Lorry goes to the Manette's house and Carton followed Lucie's path to the prison and talked to the wood sawyer and then went into a shop and bought something . I don't exactly know what he bought but it must not be good because the store owner told him to be careful and not to mix them because of "the consequences of mixing them." Carton walked around almost all night and he illustrated his tenderness in many ways. We know now that the third person to denounce Darnay is Dr. Manette through his letter hidden in the prison. Defarge showed Dr. Manette's hidden letter to the president of the jury. We know Dr. Manette must have wrote something about Darnay's family in it so now Darnay is in real trouble now that Dr. Manette unknowingly helped write a letter that accused him.
Dr. Manette is popular and trying to get Darnay out of prison but a year and three months have passed and Darnay remained in prison but now Dr. Manette is confident he said.
Dr. Manette told Lucie to go to a certain spot across from the prison so Darnay could see her, but she probably wouldn't be able to see him. She does this for two hours everyday and there's a man working nearby that always watches her and I think when he was talking about chopping off a mans head, then a woman's head, and then a child's head it may be foreshadowing something to come? What was with the dancing? Lucie blew a kiss up to her husband although she couldn't see him. Who was with Mr. Lorry at the end of this chapter, The Wood Sawyer?
Darnay was put to trial and explained why he was in England and not in France for the past so much time. Darnay got help from Dr. Manette and was finally set free! Darnay was then carried back to Lucie.
Miss Pross and Jerry Cruncher left to go do some work and Lucie thinks she hears something on the stairs and Dr. Manette says "My love, the staircase is as still as Death." I think its foreshadowing death to come or danger to one of the family members or family friend. Darnay is sent back to prison because Defarge and his wife denounced him, with another person who is still unknown.
Miss Pross and Jerry Cruncher went to get groceries and wine and when they got wine Miss Pross noticed Solomn and screams and he wanted her to not call him by his real name. They went outside to converse and he was still rude to her and wanted her to pretend she doesn't know him from now on otherwise he'll be put to death. He had changed his name to Barsad, the witness at the trial and was a spy. Sydney Carton shows up and wants Barsad to go to the bank with him. They told Mr. Lorry Darnay was arrested again. Then Carton asked who Barsad's friend was and realized it was Cly. After that Barsad went on to explain that Cly had died and he had the papers to prove it, and then showed the papers. Jerry Cruncher, being there, knew Cly was not dead because he was not in his grave the night Cruncher dug it up. Cruncher then got Barsad to admit that Cly faked his funeral and now that Carton knows Barsad is a turnkey at the Conciergie he wants to speak to him alone.
Carton's private talk with Barsad was that if Darnay became ill he will have access to him at once. Carton and Mr. Lorry have a heartfelt conversation after that. Then Mr. Lorry goes to the Manette's house and Carton followed Lucie's path to the prison and talked to the wood sawyer and then went into a shop and bought something . I don't exactly know what he bought but it must not be good because the store owner told him to be careful and not to mix them because of "the consequences of mixing them." Carton walked around almost all night and he illustrated his tenderness in many ways. We know now that the third person to denounce Darnay is Dr. Manette through his letter hidden in the prison. Defarge showed Dr. Manette's hidden letter to the president of the jury. We know Dr. Manette must have wrote something about Darnay's family in it so now Darnay is in real trouble now that Dr. Manette unknowingly helped write a letter that accused him.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Week 5- A Tale of Two Cities
They just found out Faulon faked his death and funeral, and caught him, and was now in prison. Then they revolted against him and killed him. They hung him once and the rope broke, they hung him again and the rope broke, they hung him a third time and that time he died. He must not have been meant to die because it took so many tries, also he had a ray of sunshine on him, which showed hope, but didn't end up that way. What is the Vengeance?
The chapter Fire Rises introduces us to how much of a disaster they are in right now. The revolutioners revolted and burned a chateau. The people just watched and one man wanted to put it out and collect the valuables but everyone else refused and simply said "It must burn." I also believe he repeats East, West, North and South because it illustrates that this sort of thing is happening all around them.
Three years later, August 1792, Darnay and Lorry are talking about going to France. Mr. Lorry is going to France and taking Jerry Cruncher with him. There was a letter to Darnay, except it was addressed to his real name that no one knows except Dr. Manette. No one knew the person that the letter was addressed to so Darnay took the letter because he told Mr. Lorry he knew the man. He said he was "going to deliver it" and read it when he got in private and it was a letter from Gabelle pleading for help. Darnay decided to go to France to take his position on by helping Gabelle.
Darnay is trying to get to Paris, but is stopped numerous times. Then the one night he fell asleep, some people awoke and him and he got an escort and left for Paris once more. He arrives in Beauvais and everyone thinks he is an emigrant. Now Darnay is in jail. Don't they know he is their king? Doesn't he make remarks of being their king? His cell reminds me of Dr. Manette's cell.
Mr. Lorry is visited by Dr. Manette and Lucie and they told him that Darnay went to Paris and is now in prison. Mr. Lorry explains to Dr. Manette that they are sharpening their weapons outside the bank to kill the prisoners with. Dr. Manette thinks he is powerful enough and well known that he goes outside and makes himself known so that everyone was on his side, and they all left together to get Darnay out of La Force prison.
The chapter Fire Rises introduces us to how much of a disaster they are in right now. The revolutioners revolted and burned a chateau. The people just watched and one man wanted to put it out and collect the valuables but everyone else refused and simply said "It must burn." I also believe he repeats East, West, North and South because it illustrates that this sort of thing is happening all around them.
Three years later, August 1792, Darnay and Lorry are talking about going to France. Mr. Lorry is going to France and taking Jerry Cruncher with him. There was a letter to Darnay, except it was addressed to his real name that no one knows except Dr. Manette. No one knew the person that the letter was addressed to so Darnay took the letter because he told Mr. Lorry he knew the man. He said he was "going to deliver it" and read it when he got in private and it was a letter from Gabelle pleading for help. Darnay decided to go to France to take his position on by helping Gabelle.
Darnay is trying to get to Paris, but is stopped numerous times. Then the one night he fell asleep, some people awoke and him and he got an escort and left for Paris once more. He arrives in Beauvais and everyone thinks he is an emigrant. Now Darnay is in jail. Don't they know he is their king? Doesn't he make remarks of being their king? His cell reminds me of Dr. Manette's cell.
Mr. Lorry is visited by Dr. Manette and Lucie and they told him that Darnay went to Paris and is now in prison. Mr. Lorry explains to Dr. Manette that they are sharpening their weapons outside the bank to kill the prisoners with. Dr. Manette thinks he is powerful enough and well known that he goes outside and makes himself known so that everyone was on his side, and they all left together to get Darnay out of La Force prison.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Week 4-A Tale of Two Cities
I'm still uncertain about the man hanging over the fountain and what it's supposed to represent? Then Madame Defarge and Monsieur Defarge went somewhere? and now Madame Defarge is going to register John Barsad into the secret "club" of the Jacques. Defarge and Madame Defarge are speaking and Madame Defarge says "It does not take a long time, far an earthquake to swallow a town. Eh well! Tell me how long it takes to prepare the earthquake?" Which this statement parallels the destruction from the Revolution that took a long, careful amount of time to prepare. The tying of the knot is her knotting his brain and when she hits the change on the counter it was like her crushing his brain in with her ideas, then she picks up the handkerchief and puts it under her arm like she has control, and they go to bed. The flies dying in the wine is like the people dying in the Revolution in drowning bloodshed. They were in the wineshop and there was a spy that knew about the secret signal of Jacques. John Barsad was also there. Also, when the women knit, it distracts them from their hunger and their thoughts that are continuously running. They are knitting and watching the world go on.
Why was chapter 17, One Night, significant? Just showing how much they care for one another?
On the wedding day Darnay and Dr. Manette talked in the Doctor's room and Darnay came out and his face was white. They got married. Then Lucie and Darnay left and that night the Doctor was found making shoes, which shows us he's lost without Lucie or is suffering from something else. He also is acting like he did back in prison, he has no idea about anything. Mr. Lorry is now going to take care and watch the Doctor at this troubling time. After 9 days he finally snapped out of his unconscious state. We know Darnay told him his two secrets he promised to tell the Doctor so maybe that's what provoked him to do this?
Dr. Manette "came back" from his relapse and Mr. Lorry is telling him what's happened. I think he went into this relapse because of what Darnay told him on their wedding day. Dr. Mannette thinks it shouldn't happen again and Mr. Lorry was concerned for him. Lorry wants the Doctor to get rid of all his shoe making tools and the Doctor doesn't want to because losing that is like losing a child. He then gave into Lorry because Lorry said he should do it for Lucie and Darnay. Miss Pross and Mr. Lorry chopped up his woodworking bench and burned it in the kitchen fire and buried the tools, shoes, and leather in the garden, and they felt like they were doing a horrible crime, which could be if Dr. Manette needs it as a clutch.
When the newly married couple came home Carton was the first one there to congratulate them. Then Carton and Darnay had a conversation and I have no idea what went on there, I know that Carton was granted, by Darnay, to come over uninvited. Then Darnay is kind of rude about Carton and Lucie tells him that Carton deserves more consideration and respect than Darnay had expressed for him.
Lucie had children and it was now 1789 and Mr. Lorry, Dr. Manette, Lucie, and Darnay were sitting and listening because now the time and people are busy and nervous for some reason. People are starting to have all the weapons they can, and you can tell it's going to be chaos. The Jacques are about to attack! Defarge was leading them all and they want to find out what is significant about the room One Hundred and Five, North Tower. They went to the tower and found A.M. on the wall, for Alexander Manette. They are in search of something specific. Did Defarge get killed? Seven prisoners were released. Then it said, "Now, Heaven defeat the fancy of Lucie Darnay, and keep these feet far out of her life!" What does this mean?
Why was chapter 17, One Night, significant? Just showing how much they care for one another?
On the wedding day Darnay and Dr. Manette talked in the Doctor's room and Darnay came out and his face was white. They got married. Then Lucie and Darnay left and that night the Doctor was found making shoes, which shows us he's lost without Lucie or is suffering from something else. He also is acting like he did back in prison, he has no idea about anything. Mr. Lorry is now going to take care and watch the Doctor at this troubling time. After 9 days he finally snapped out of his unconscious state. We know Darnay told him his two secrets he promised to tell the Doctor so maybe that's what provoked him to do this?
Dr. Manette "came back" from his relapse and Mr. Lorry is telling him what's happened. I think he went into this relapse because of what Darnay told him on their wedding day. Dr. Mannette thinks it shouldn't happen again and Mr. Lorry was concerned for him. Lorry wants the Doctor to get rid of all his shoe making tools and the Doctor doesn't want to because losing that is like losing a child. He then gave into Lorry because Lorry said he should do it for Lucie and Darnay. Miss Pross and Mr. Lorry chopped up his woodworking bench and burned it in the kitchen fire and buried the tools, shoes, and leather in the garden, and they felt like they were doing a horrible crime, which could be if Dr. Manette needs it as a clutch.
When the newly married couple came home Carton was the first one there to congratulate them. Then Carton and Darnay had a conversation and I have no idea what went on there, I know that Carton was granted, by Darnay, to come over uninvited. Then Darnay is kind of rude about Carton and Lucie tells him that Carton deserves more consideration and respect than Darnay had expressed for him.
Lucie had children and it was now 1789 and Mr. Lorry, Dr. Manette, Lucie, and Darnay were sitting and listening because now the time and people are busy and nervous for some reason. People are starting to have all the weapons they can, and you can tell it's going to be chaos. The Jacques are about to attack! Defarge was leading them all and they want to find out what is significant about the room One Hundred and Five, North Tower. They went to the tower and found A.M. on the wall, for Alexander Manette. They are in search of something specific. Did Defarge get killed? Seven prisoners were released. Then it said, "Now, Heaven defeat the fancy of Lucie Darnay, and keep these feet far out of her life!" What does this mean?
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Week 3, A Tale of Two Cities
Darnay is now a tutor, which is a professor for us, and has become very popular because even the Princes and Kings were not as well knowledgeable as he. He also never let any of this go to his head. He loves Lucie but hasn't told her yet. Darnay tells Dr. Manette he loves Lucie, but why does Dr. Manette cry when Darnay says "You have loved yourself; let your old love speak for you"? Dr. Manette approves of Darnay and Darnay promised that if he were to win Lucie's love he would tell the Doctor his real name and why he was in England on the morning of their wedding day. When Lucie got home her father must have been remembering his jail time again for Lucie had to pace the room with her father once again.
Stryver and Sydney are talking and Stryver is being arrogant and saying he is pretty much better than Sydney. Stryver wants to marry Lucie. Stryver is telling Sydney how Sydney hardly has any money which is ironic because Stryver wouldn't have any money if it weren't for Syndney.
Stryver wants to tell Lucie of his love for her before he goes on vacation....where and why the vacation? Stryver is going to Lucie to tell her, but first he stops at the bank to see Mr. Lorry and tells him that he is going to ask Lucie to marry him. I don't much understand what Mr. Lorry is trying to tell Stryver, but what I get of it, is that it means Mr. Lorry doesn't think Stryver is good enough for her? What does Stryver mean when he says, "And now my way out of this, is, to put you all in the wrong."? It shows Stryver really doesn't love Lucie because he forgets about Lorry helping him out. Stryver is informed not to ask her from Lorry because she must not have been interested, which he seemed to take well until Lorry left and he was "winking at the ceiling" making me think his "love" for her is not over that easily.
Carton still loves Luce and drops by and talks to her and starts crying. He says "I shall never be better than I am. I shall sink lower, and be worse." This shows us that he is depressed and maybe wants her to feel bad for him. He tells her he loves her but to keep it a secret from everyone, even her father and she respects his wishes. He also tells her he would do anything for her or her family.
Jerry Cruncher watches the crowd and notices that there was a funeral passing by and his son gets excited and Jerry gets mad at him for it, so we know he has to do something when someone dies. The person who has died was Roger Cly, said to be a spy. After the funeral does the mob go tear stuff down? I don't understand the paragraph on page 146 beginning with "And mind you..." and ending with "you know." Cruncher than goes out in the night by himself with young Jerry following secretly. Cruncher picked up two other guys and then jumped over a gate with young Jerry still following. Young Jerry saw that the "fishing" they were doing, was digging up a grave and got scared and ran home. Mrs. Cruncher must have done something to Jerry Cruncher because he was yelling at her and almost physically hurting her. Everything he tells her is ironic because he's the unholy one. The next day young Jerry tells his father he wants to be a Resurrection-Man...which is the job title of what Mr. Cruncher does.
So the man Defarge met after there was a chain/person dragging from his carriage is in the "secret club"? Jacques and Defarge enter the wine shop and it gets silent and after Defarge comments on the mender of the roads being named Jacques, three men continuously got up and left. Then Defarge took the mender of the roads to his "room" which is where the three Jacques who left the wineshop went for a meeting. Who was the man who had the chain and man dragging from his carriage? I don't understand the whole prisoner story that the mender of the roads was telling. When they went to see the king and queen, what did Madame Defarge mean at the end of this section of reading? Also, what does the knitting symbolize?
Stryver and Sydney are talking and Stryver is being arrogant and saying he is pretty much better than Sydney. Stryver wants to marry Lucie. Stryver is telling Sydney how Sydney hardly has any money which is ironic because Stryver wouldn't have any money if it weren't for Syndney.
Stryver wants to tell Lucie of his love for her before he goes on vacation....where and why the vacation? Stryver is going to Lucie to tell her, but first he stops at the bank to see Mr. Lorry and tells him that he is going to ask Lucie to marry him. I don't much understand what Mr. Lorry is trying to tell Stryver, but what I get of it, is that it means Mr. Lorry doesn't think Stryver is good enough for her? What does Stryver mean when he says, "And now my way out of this, is, to put you all in the wrong."? It shows Stryver really doesn't love Lucie because he forgets about Lorry helping him out. Stryver is informed not to ask her from Lorry because she must not have been interested, which he seemed to take well until Lorry left and he was "winking at the ceiling" making me think his "love" for her is not over that easily.
Carton still loves Luce and drops by and talks to her and starts crying. He says "I shall never be better than I am. I shall sink lower, and be worse." This shows us that he is depressed and maybe wants her to feel bad for him. He tells her he loves her but to keep it a secret from everyone, even her father and she respects his wishes. He also tells her he would do anything for her or her family.
Jerry Cruncher watches the crowd and notices that there was a funeral passing by and his son gets excited and Jerry gets mad at him for it, so we know he has to do something when someone dies. The person who has died was Roger Cly, said to be a spy. After the funeral does the mob go tear stuff down? I don't understand the paragraph on page 146 beginning with "And mind you..." and ending with "you know." Cruncher than goes out in the night by himself with young Jerry following secretly. Cruncher picked up two other guys and then jumped over a gate with young Jerry still following. Young Jerry saw that the "fishing" they were doing, was digging up a grave and got scared and ran home. Mrs. Cruncher must have done something to Jerry Cruncher because he was yelling at her and almost physically hurting her. Everything he tells her is ironic because he's the unholy one. The next day young Jerry tells his father he wants to be a Resurrection-Man...which is the job title of what Mr. Cruncher does.
So the man Defarge met after there was a chain/person dragging from his carriage is in the "secret club"? Jacques and Defarge enter the wine shop and it gets silent and after Defarge comments on the mender of the roads being named Jacques, three men continuously got up and left. Then Defarge took the mender of the roads to his "room" which is where the three Jacques who left the wineshop went for a meeting. Who was the man who had the chain and man dragging from his carriage? I don't understand the whole prisoner story that the mender of the roads was telling. When they went to see the king and queen, what did Madame Defarge mean at the end of this section of reading? Also, what does the knitting symbolize?
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Week 2- A Tale of Two Cities
Mr. Manette is now, once again, practicing his doctor career. This chapter begins with a happy setting. What is significant with the gold giants that are continuously mentioned? Miss Porss is the lady who looked after Lucie while her father was "gone" and now Miss Pross is sort of jealous that Lucie spends all her time and devotion to her father. Miss Pross worships Lucie pretty much and she says "never imagined anything. Have no imagination at all." This illustrates how absorbed into other peoples lives she is and not her own. Dr. Manette isn't over his prison time because he still walks at night sometimes, which makes me wonder if he really did do something wrong? Dr.Manette paces up and down his room, just as he did when he was locked up, and his mind is wandering. Miss Pross is also reserved, and example of her being reserved is her eating by herself in her room except on Tuesdays.
Darnay come to see them and mentions that in the Tower there was DIG written on one wall in the corner. So possibly Dr. Manette has hidden something? What's with all the references to the "Golden Giant"?
Monseigneur is a higher class man, I can tell this because it takes four people to feed him chocolate, which is so ridiculous it offers us comic relief in the story. Then Monsieur's carriage ran over a boy. he then blames it on the common people because they should have been "taking care of themselves and their children." Then he gave them a gold coin to make it all better. This shows how the rich believe that money can make anything better. He then speaks to Defarge and gives him a gold coin but Defarge threw the coin back in his carriage. When Monsieur ran over the kid the common people couldn't do anything about it because all the high class people are on his side.
The chapter with Monseigneur in the country was confusing because they switch from Monseigneur to Monsieur. When the carriage was on top of the hill, someone was watching and when the carriage got to town they saw the man again and Monsieur got offensive because he must have done something wrong because there was a chain dragging behind his carriage.
Darnay arrived at Monseigneur's and we find out Darnay is Monseigneur's nephew and Monseigneur is Darnay's fathers twin brother. We can infer that Monseigneur killed his twin brother because he wanted all the fortune. Darnay has came back to Monseigneur to keep his promise he has made to his mother, that he will kill Monseigneur and he did just that with a knife and he left a note that says "Drive him fast to his tomb. This, from Jaques."
Darnay come to see them and mentions that in the Tower there was DIG written on one wall in the corner. So possibly Dr. Manette has hidden something? What's with all the references to the "Golden Giant"?
Monseigneur is a higher class man, I can tell this because it takes four people to feed him chocolate, which is so ridiculous it offers us comic relief in the story. Then Monsieur's carriage ran over a boy. he then blames it on the common people because they should have been "taking care of themselves and their children." Then he gave them a gold coin to make it all better. This shows how the rich believe that money can make anything better. He then speaks to Defarge and gives him a gold coin but Defarge threw the coin back in his carriage. When Monsieur ran over the kid the common people couldn't do anything about it because all the high class people are on his side.
The chapter with Monseigneur in the country was confusing because they switch from Monseigneur to Monsieur. When the carriage was on top of the hill, someone was watching and when the carriage got to town they saw the man again and Monsieur got offensive because he must have done something wrong because there was a chain dragging behind his carriage.
Darnay arrived at Monseigneur's and we find out Darnay is Monseigneur's nephew and Monseigneur is Darnay's fathers twin brother. We can infer that Monseigneur killed his twin brother because he wanted all the fortune. Darnay has came back to Monseigneur to keep his promise he has made to his mother, that he will kill Monseigneur and he did just that with a knife and he left a note that says "Drive him fast to his tomb. This, from Jaques."
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Week 2-Dickens
Why does Jerry Cruncher think his wife is praying against him and his son? The book also mentions that when Jerry goes to bed his boots are clean, but when he wakes up, they are muddy and since he gets so offensive about his wife praying, we know that he is doing something that he doesn't want his wife to know about because he is ashamed of it. He also has rust on his hands that didn't come from his normal day job and his son questions "Al-ways rusty! Where does my father get all that iron rust from? He don't get no iron rust here!" I think he is digging up graves or something because also, earlier, he says that if someone told him the message "Recalled to Life" he would be in trouble.
You can tell they are very brutal by the sentence they gave the criminal-half hang him then "sliced before his own face, and then his inside will be taken out and burnt while he looks on, and then his head will be chopped off." I don't understand chapter 2 except for he's at a trial. What's with the herbs, mirror? Manette and his daughter are there and they are witnesses against the prisoner.
What is chapter 4 talking about at the beginning? Someone was watching them talk, but why? Darnay is the person found innocent. When Carton and Darnay were at supper Carton flung his glass over his shoulder against the wall and it shattered...just as something else metaphorically has shattered, such as him giving up his crush on Lucie since Lucie likes Darnay? Carton says "Don't let your sober face elate you." This line seems important...maybe for later in the book? Carton is not very friendly because he says he doesn't care for anyone and no one cares for him. He is a jealous, low self esteemed man. When Darnay leaves Carton confesses to himself that he hates Darnay and is envious of him because Lucie Manette looked at Darnay with a sympathetic face.
We also learn Carton works for Stryver and does all his work to make Stryver look good when in reality it is Carton doing all the work. Why does Stryver call Carton Memory? Why is Carton refered to as a jackal and Stryver as a lion? Carton seems depressed, ashamed of himself. Then Carton denies Lucie Manette's beauty. Also, the scene at the end of the chapter is a cold, deserted area. Then it said "Sadly, sadly the sun rose; it rose upon no sadder sight..."(pg 82). Also at the end there is a repetition of the "s" sound to soothe the reader also.
You can tell they are very brutal by the sentence they gave the criminal-half hang him then "sliced before his own face, and then his inside will be taken out and burnt while he looks on, and then his head will be chopped off." I don't understand chapter 2 except for he's at a trial. What's with the herbs, mirror? Manette and his daughter are there and they are witnesses against the prisoner.
What is chapter 4 talking about at the beginning? Someone was watching them talk, but why? Darnay is the person found innocent. When Carton and Darnay were at supper Carton flung his glass over his shoulder against the wall and it shattered...just as something else metaphorically has shattered, such as him giving up his crush on Lucie since Lucie likes Darnay? Carton says "Don't let your sober face elate you." This line seems important...maybe for later in the book? Carton is not very friendly because he says he doesn't care for anyone and no one cares for him. He is a jealous, low self esteemed man. When Darnay leaves Carton confesses to himself that he hates Darnay and is envious of him because Lucie Manette looked at Darnay with a sympathetic face.
We also learn Carton works for Stryver and does all his work to make Stryver look good when in reality it is Carton doing all the work. Why does Stryver call Carton Memory? Why is Carton refered to as a jackal and Stryver as a lion? Carton seems depressed, ashamed of himself. Then Carton denies Lucie Manette's beauty. Also, the scene at the end of the chapter is a cold, deserted area. Then it said "Sadly, sadly the sun rose; it rose upon no sadder sight..."(pg 82). Also at the end there is a repetition of the "s" sound to soothe the reader also.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Week 8-1984
Winston's straps kept getting looser on the bed. I think this is because he's already past stage 1 and they know he's starting to get dumber and his mind is being taken over. O'Brien helped write the "Goldstein book". The description of the book is true but the program it sets forth is nonsense. Winston is going through great grief and despair, we can see this from when he thinks to himself, "What can you do against the lunatic who is more intelligent than yourself, who gives you arguments a fair hearing and simply persists in his lunacy?" O'Brien says the Party likes power for itself, they don't care about anyone else, which is ironic because O'Brien said they were trying to "cure" the peoples thoughts to make them sane.
O'Brien always seems to know what Winston is thinking, how? O'Brien states "We make the laws of nature." This is because they could say anything and the paroles have to believe it. He says Oceania is the world...I can't believe all these absurd lies, one even stated "the earth is as old as we are, no older. How could it be older? Nothing exists except through human consciousness." O'Brien is forcing doublethink on Winston every second.
O'Brien states "Power is in tearing human minds to pieces and putting them together again in new shapes of your own choosing." which is so wrong! The government is also making it so in the future there will be no friends and no wives. All competing pleasures will be destroyed. This torture and government power will never end. Winston's "crumbling" body resembles the paroles and society in general.
Winston then said that the only thing the Party hasn't done to him was he didn't betray Julia. Even though he told them all her faults, he never stopped loving her. O'Brien tells Winston he's a difficult case....why not just shoot him, is it because he wants him to suffer?
Now they are treating him nicer...why? Also, he is now satisfied in there...and dreams of happy things with his other, Julia, and O'Brien...why would O'Brien be in his "happy" dreams?
Winston now accepts everything about the Party. He thinks to himself "It doesn't really happen. We imagine it. It is hallucination," this illustrates he is brainwashed. The Party is making him healthy and now he "thinks" like the Party, but even though they are saving his body, they killed his soul.
Winston then said he hated Big Brother so they took him to room 101 and he is now strapped in a chair. Room 101 consists of the worst thing in the world, and for Winston that happened to be rats....Who watches all these people so closely to know what the worst thing in the world would be for them? Before O'Brien let the rats go on Winston, Winston told him to "do it to Julia! Do it to Julia! Not me! Julia! I don't care what you do to her. Tear her face off, strip her to the bones. Not me! Julia! Not me!" which is sad because they have now stripped him of his feelings for her. He was going to release the rats until he said that and O'Brien knows he got to his feelings, so he didn't.
He says "white always mates" that must mean something, but I don't know what. He was released now, but I thought they killed everyone who went to jail, but they did pretty much kill them because they lost their own soul. He can't seem to stay on one thought in his mind for more than 2 minutes it seems. Therefore, it is hard for me to keep up with his racing mind. Why weren't Winston and Julia scared to be by each other? Winston now relies on gin to get him through the day so he doesn't slip into unwanted thoughts. He is on a committee that really has no idea what its doing because they cant keep a thought going for too long. He then had a childhood memory, which shows he does remember but then he told himself that the memory wasn't real. The Party even got him to think it was a struggle to "cure" him because the book stated, "He had won the victory over himself." He is now another toy for the Party to collect, which shows how over powering the Party or any government in general can be.
O'Brien always seems to know what Winston is thinking, how? O'Brien states "We make the laws of nature." This is because they could say anything and the paroles have to believe it. He says Oceania is the world...I can't believe all these absurd lies, one even stated "the earth is as old as we are, no older. How could it be older? Nothing exists except through human consciousness." O'Brien is forcing doublethink on Winston every second.
O'Brien states "Power is in tearing human minds to pieces and putting them together again in new shapes of your own choosing." which is so wrong! The government is also making it so in the future there will be no friends and no wives. All competing pleasures will be destroyed. This torture and government power will never end. Winston's "crumbling" body resembles the paroles and society in general.
Winston then said that the only thing the Party hasn't done to him was he didn't betray Julia. Even though he told them all her faults, he never stopped loving her. O'Brien tells Winston he's a difficult case....why not just shoot him, is it because he wants him to suffer?
Now they are treating him nicer...why? Also, he is now satisfied in there...and dreams of happy things with his other, Julia, and O'Brien...why would O'Brien be in his "happy" dreams?
Winston now accepts everything about the Party. He thinks to himself "It doesn't really happen. We imagine it. It is hallucination," this illustrates he is brainwashed. The Party is making him healthy and now he "thinks" like the Party, but even though they are saving his body, they killed his soul.
Winston then said he hated Big Brother so they took him to room 101 and he is now strapped in a chair. Room 101 consists of the worst thing in the world, and for Winston that happened to be rats....Who watches all these people so closely to know what the worst thing in the world would be for them? Before O'Brien let the rats go on Winston, Winston told him to "do it to Julia! Do it to Julia! Not me! Julia! I don't care what you do to her. Tear her face off, strip her to the bones. Not me! Julia! Not me!" which is sad because they have now stripped him of his feelings for her. He was going to release the rats until he said that and O'Brien knows he got to his feelings, so he didn't.
He says "white always mates" that must mean something, but I don't know what. He was released now, but I thought they killed everyone who went to jail, but they did pretty much kill them because they lost their own soul. He can't seem to stay on one thought in his mind for more than 2 minutes it seems. Therefore, it is hard for me to keep up with his racing mind. Why weren't Winston and Julia scared to be by each other? Winston now relies on gin to get him through the day so he doesn't slip into unwanted thoughts. He is on a committee that really has no idea what its doing because they cant keep a thought going for too long. He then had a childhood memory, which shows he does remember but then he told himself that the memory wasn't real. The Party even got him to think it was a struggle to "cure" him because the book stated, "He had won the victory over himself." He is now another toy for the Party to collect, which shows how over powering the Party or any government in general can be.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Week 7-1984
At the beginning of this reading he didn't know where he was now and the ceilings were high and the walls were glittering white porcelain. His room makes me think of a caged rat being watched on an experiment, which he is. He says "The Party prisoners were always silent and terrified, but the ordinary criminals seemed to care nothing for anybody" this is because the ordinary criminals are just paroles who don't have any idea what the government is doing and how powerful they really are.
What is up with the drunk woman in the prison with him? Why don't the paroles question why a party member would be there? He still believes O'Brien is on his side and he will hopefully get a razor. The prison was the place with no darkness from his dream. He never even could tell the time of day in the prison.
What does he mean when he says there is only one offense? Ampleforth said he was in jail because he used the word God in a poem, why not just throw the poem away, erase what he wrote, and not publish it so he doesn't get in trouble?
This prison Winston is in is making him crazy, we can see this from his mind when he starts to wander from subject to subject. When Parson's was prisoned he said that he was caught in his sleep yelling "Down with Big Brother" and then he said, "Between you and me, old man, I'm glad they got me before it went any further. Do you know what I'm going to say to them when I go up before the tribunal? 'Thank you,' I'm going to say 'thank you for saving me before it was too late.'" That shows how brainwashed they really are. He was even proud of his daughter for turning him in because "it shows I brought her up in the right spirit anyway."
After Parsons went to the bathroom the toilet didn't work which is ironic because they have to sit there smelling it and it shows how miserable everything around him is. The chinless man showed he was kind and humane when he tried giving the skull face man a piece of bread, but the cruel policemen, who were starving them, yelled at the chinless man when he tried. They then beat the chinless man.
What is room 101? The skull face man even said "You can take the whole lot of them and cut their throats in front of my eyes and I'll stand by and watch it. But not room 101!" (talking of his family) When he was hanging onto the iron leg it was like hanging onto his life. No one did anything because they didn't want to lose their lives too.
Why hasn't Winston been taken to room 101 yet? O'Brien came in and Winston found out he was a "bad guy" and a guard shot Winston in the elbow. Then the guard laughed. This is so inhumane and Winston says "Nothing in the world is so bad as physical pain."
When he wakes up it reminds me of a scary movie. During intervals of beatings, how come people came and looked at him and cleaned him up? He confesses to numerous crimes that he didn't do, but he had to confess something or they would keep beating him until they heard what they wanted to hear. He has pretty much lost it. What was up with the being swallowed up into the eyes....what did that symbolize? Is it that he doesn't have a mind of his own, he is just being swallowed up into the Party's way of thinking?
That's weird someone (O'Brien) had been watching him for 7 years! Was that a dream when he saw the men in white coats, O'Brien, Julia, and Mr. Charrington shouting with laughter down the corridor? It is hard to know what's the truth since Winston is so out of it. How can O'Brien get in Winston's head, even his dreams?
O'Brien, now, has the power to pull Winston's ligaments apart with a dial. This part is scary, it reminds me of something the movie Saw would do. O'Brien then says "You are mentally deranged" which is ironic because right now O'Brien is the mentally deranged man. If O'Brien had a copy of that picture, they must keep copies of everything, right?
It is so ironic again when O'Brien says "It's not easy to become sane." Winston is the sane one and O'Brien is not. Why does Winston say O'Brien is his friend, and it's not just because he stopped the pain. Is it because he is now brainwashed and thinks O'Brien is right? O'Brien says they don't care about the crimes they committed, they just want to cure their thoughts.
O'Brien is saying so many crazy, cruel statements about how he will never live and he says "We shall squeeze you empty, and then we shall fill you with ourselves." Simply, the Party can never be beat.
They did some sort of explosion on Winston and he is now even more brainwashed. Winston got to ask questions next and found out that Julia was tortured, and Big Brother exists as the embodiment of the Party but he will never really know if he is a living human being. He then asks if Big Brother exists the same way as he exists and O'Brien says, "You do not exist." which is true, his emotions have been stripped away. The chapter ends with O'Brien telling Winston he knows whats in Room 101, is that because he's in it?
What is up with the drunk woman in the prison with him? Why don't the paroles question why a party member would be there? He still believes O'Brien is on his side and he will hopefully get a razor. The prison was the place with no darkness from his dream. He never even could tell the time of day in the prison.
What does he mean when he says there is only one offense? Ampleforth said he was in jail because he used the word God in a poem, why not just throw the poem away, erase what he wrote, and not publish it so he doesn't get in trouble?
This prison Winston is in is making him crazy, we can see this from his mind when he starts to wander from subject to subject. When Parson's was prisoned he said that he was caught in his sleep yelling "Down with Big Brother" and then he said, "Between you and me, old man, I'm glad they got me before it went any further. Do you know what I'm going to say to them when I go up before the tribunal? 'Thank you,' I'm going to say 'thank you for saving me before it was too late.'" That shows how brainwashed they really are. He was even proud of his daughter for turning him in because "it shows I brought her up in the right spirit anyway."
After Parsons went to the bathroom the toilet didn't work which is ironic because they have to sit there smelling it and it shows how miserable everything around him is. The chinless man showed he was kind and humane when he tried giving the skull face man a piece of bread, but the cruel policemen, who were starving them, yelled at the chinless man when he tried. They then beat the chinless man.
What is room 101? The skull face man even said "You can take the whole lot of them and cut their throats in front of my eyes and I'll stand by and watch it. But not room 101!" (talking of his family) When he was hanging onto the iron leg it was like hanging onto his life. No one did anything because they didn't want to lose their lives too.
Why hasn't Winston been taken to room 101 yet? O'Brien came in and Winston found out he was a "bad guy" and a guard shot Winston in the elbow. Then the guard laughed. This is so inhumane and Winston says "Nothing in the world is so bad as physical pain."
When he wakes up it reminds me of a scary movie. During intervals of beatings, how come people came and looked at him and cleaned him up? He confesses to numerous crimes that he didn't do, but he had to confess something or they would keep beating him until they heard what they wanted to hear. He has pretty much lost it. What was up with the being swallowed up into the eyes....what did that symbolize? Is it that he doesn't have a mind of his own, he is just being swallowed up into the Party's way of thinking?
That's weird someone (O'Brien) had been watching him for 7 years! Was that a dream when he saw the men in white coats, O'Brien, Julia, and Mr. Charrington shouting with laughter down the corridor? It is hard to know what's the truth since Winston is so out of it. How can O'Brien get in Winston's head, even his dreams?
O'Brien, now, has the power to pull Winston's ligaments apart with a dial. This part is scary, it reminds me of something the movie Saw would do. O'Brien then says "You are mentally deranged" which is ironic because right now O'Brien is the mentally deranged man. If O'Brien had a copy of that picture, they must keep copies of everything, right?
It is so ironic again when O'Brien says "It's not easy to become sane." Winston is the sane one and O'Brien is not. Why does Winston say O'Brien is his friend, and it's not just because he stopped the pain. Is it because he is now brainwashed and thinks O'Brien is right? O'Brien says they don't care about the crimes they committed, they just want to cure their thoughts.
O'Brien is saying so many crazy, cruel statements about how he will never live and he says "We shall squeeze you empty, and then we shall fill you with ourselves." Simply, the Party can never be beat.
They did some sort of explosion on Winston and he is now even more brainwashed. Winston got to ask questions next and found out that Julia was tortured, and Big Brother exists as the embodiment of the Party but he will never really know if he is a living human being. He then asks if Big Brother exists the same way as he exists and O'Brien says, "You do not exist." which is true, his emotions have been stripped away. The chapter ends with O'Brien telling Winston he knows whats in Room 101, is that because he's in it?
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Week 6, 1984
I think the first paragraph is telling us how nervous he is and is running on adrenaline also. How can the whole society change their minds so fast and not wonder what or why it's happening, it's so weird that they can be that brainwashed! I notice that he drops the suitcase, keeps it by his feet and sleeps on top of it....it stays close the the bottom all the time, and hell is down so it could represent that the book is evil for him.
The book is black and worn, been through many hands, which means many citizens have gone through what Winston is going through right now. He also stopped reading the book and took time to appreciate that he wasn't being watched or listened to, which is ironic because he is being watched and listened to.
The book he is reading is pretty much telling us what we already know. It is telling us what is going on within the government and why it is doing it. It is stating that they sort of have their own "world" and don't really associate with outside countries at all. I now understand the "war is peace" slogan: it is because the Party members believe that if they are at war (pretending) they are safe from the real wars and it keeps peace and order in the proles, so they don't attack the Party members. A line that struck me in the book was "the more intelligent, the less sane" which makes sense because when you finally do understand it all, it makes you crazy because you can't change it or do anything about it.
Why does Winston find the woman in the yard beautiful? Is there a deeper meaning to that? Winston finally realized the end of the book; that the proles were the free ones.
Winston and Julia were looking out the window when the telescreen behind the picture started talking and pretty much repeated everything they were saying. They were surrounded and attacked and Julia was killed; they hit her and she rolled around on the floor gasping for breath. Winston finds out that Charrington was a member of the Though Police because he shows up in the room and is very different looking. He is also the one on the telescreen who said "Here comes a candle to light you to bed, here comes a chopper to chop off your head." So he did know the end of the poem, just never told Winston. Why did he keep the ending of the poem from him?
The book is black and worn, been through many hands, which means many citizens have gone through what Winston is going through right now. He also stopped reading the book and took time to appreciate that he wasn't being watched or listened to, which is ironic because he is being watched and listened to.
The book he is reading is pretty much telling us what we already know. It is telling us what is going on within the government and why it is doing it. It is stating that they sort of have their own "world" and don't really associate with outside countries at all. I now understand the "war is peace" slogan: it is because the Party members believe that if they are at war (pretending) they are safe from the real wars and it keeps peace and order in the proles, so they don't attack the Party members. A line that struck me in the book was "the more intelligent, the less sane" which makes sense because when you finally do understand it all, it makes you crazy because you can't change it or do anything about it.
Why does Winston find the woman in the yard beautiful? Is there a deeper meaning to that? Winston finally realized the end of the book; that the proles were the free ones.
Winston and Julia were looking out the window when the telescreen behind the picture started talking and pretty much repeated everything they were saying. They were surrounded and attacked and Julia was killed; they hit her and she rolled around on the floor gasping for breath. Winston finds out that Charrington was a member of the Though Police because he shows up in the room and is very different looking. He is also the one on the telescreen who said "Here comes a candle to light you to bed, here comes a chopper to chop off your head." So he did know the end of the poem, just never told Winston. Why did he keep the ending of the poem from him?
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Week 5-1984
The beginning of chapter 6 scared me! I thought he was going to be taken and be vaporized, but it was only O'Brien who started talking to him, then took out a leather book and gave him his address...which is so against the rules...right? So why doesn't he get vaporized for doing such a thing? Also, why does he do this right in front of the telescreens?
He dreamt about his early childhood and how he was a selfish little boy who ate all the food and starved his mom and sister. How could he see them starving and still take more than he should have and demand it from his mother? This may also resemble how he gets the "freedom" with Julia, whereas other people don't get that, and he continues to get even more and more.
He keeps thinking to himself and says to Julia, "The proles are human beings...We are not human." Which is true because the proles are still living their own lives whereas the Party members are living the Governments life. I also agree with Julia when she says the Party can't strip away their true feelings and they can't get inside you. He also says that with all their cleverness they have never mastered the secret of finding out what another human being was thinking, which is ironic because they are saying their thoughts and beliefs outloud, and are being listened to.
Winston and Julia went to O'Brien's house at the same time, but different routes....how do they know they won't get in trouble for going there at the same time....since O'Brien never invited Julia? O'Brien's walls are white and cream which is ironic because white and cream are pure and he is a member of the inner party which is not pure. O'Brien turned the TV off! How and why do they get that privilege? Then Winston just came out and said his truths, I would be so scared O'Brien would turn me in! Then they drank to their enemy Goldstein, which is very ironic because they are working for Big Brother even though they don't like his beliefs.
In this chapter things are happening so fast and it is crazy to think that all of this is happening. They were now in the Brotherhood. They call it being vaporized for a reason....vapor is a form of water which always comes back in a cycle....just as the new identities they may have to take on, like a new name, new hair, new voice, etc. What I'm getting from reading this, the people in the Brotherhood are at war with their society, on Goldstien's side, but pretending to be on Big Brothers....then get caught someday but never have to confess who is all in the Brotherhood since that is unknown...and then killed. Members of the Brotherhood have to work two jobs pretty much, one for Big Brother, and one for Goldstien.
He dreamt about his early childhood and how he was a selfish little boy who ate all the food and starved his mom and sister. How could he see them starving and still take more than he should have and demand it from his mother? This may also resemble how he gets the "freedom" with Julia, whereas other people don't get that, and he continues to get even more and more.
He keeps thinking to himself and says to Julia, "The proles are human beings...We are not human." Which is true because the proles are still living their own lives whereas the Party members are living the Governments life. I also agree with Julia when she says the Party can't strip away their true feelings and they can't get inside you. He also says that with all their cleverness they have never mastered the secret of finding out what another human being was thinking, which is ironic because they are saying their thoughts and beliefs outloud, and are being listened to.
Winston and Julia went to O'Brien's house at the same time, but different routes....how do they know they won't get in trouble for going there at the same time....since O'Brien never invited Julia? O'Brien's walls are white and cream which is ironic because white and cream are pure and he is a member of the inner party which is not pure. O'Brien turned the TV off! How and why do they get that privilege? Then Winston just came out and said his truths, I would be so scared O'Brien would turn me in! Then they drank to their enemy Goldstein, which is very ironic because they are working for Big Brother even though they don't like his beliefs.
In this chapter things are happening so fast and it is crazy to think that all of this is happening. They were now in the Brotherhood. They call it being vaporized for a reason....vapor is a form of water which always comes back in a cycle....just as the new identities they may have to take on, like a new name, new hair, new voice, etc. What I'm getting from reading this, the people in the Brotherhood are at war with their society, on Goldstien's side, but pretending to be on Big Brothers....then get caught someday but never have to confess who is all in the Brotherhood since that is unknown...and then killed. Members of the Brotherhood have to work two jobs pretty much, one for Big Brother, and one for Goldstien.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Week 4-1984
I am scared as he goes out to meet Julia because what if it's all a set up to get him vaporized? She gave him a taste of real chocolate which sparked his memory and she said she had gotten it from the black market...which I have no idea what the "black market" is for sure. The name "black market" is ironic because black is usually dark, gloomy, whereas all the good stuff comes from there...example was butter that the people on the train talked about.
The people in this book are the complete antithesis of birds. They can sing whatever they want and go wherever they want and it doesn't matter. The people however, can not say what they want or feel or do what ever they want to do. Winston says, "Who knew? Perhaps the Party was rotten under the surface..." which we know they are "rotten" people...but didn't he realize that too? Then he says, "I hate purity, I hate goodness. I don't want any virtue to exist anywhere. I want everyone to be corrupt to the bone." and in reality everyone is corrupt even he is because he changes history which is very corrupt.
It is ironic that she works for the Junior Anti-Sex League and made porn and she likes to and does have sex for pleasure. When they meet and talk, until they see a telescreen or no noise, then they start right up where they left off, it reminds me of a robot, which is what they all pretty much are. He mentioned how he saw her after a bomb went off and he thought she was dead....could be foreshadowing?
One question I have about Julia is that if she doesn't remember anything before the war doesn't the government have her brainwashed? How does she like to have sex for pleasure when they were taught sex is bad? Then they explain that it is for rebellion...but still, how did she even know what pleasure was if it wasn't around her or taught to her at all?
Julia talked about how if sex were exciting no one would care about Big Brother, Three-Year Plans, and Two Minute Hate and I totally understand and it makes even more sense why they teach that sex is bad in the society they live in. Winston also says "in this game we're playing, we can't win," which is so true and it is sad.
I just thought of this so it's kind of random, but they met at a church to have sex....that is very ironic because it is against what churches teach.
I can't believe they went to the shop and rented the upstairs, so I know they're going to be caught because there's a telescreen hidden behind the painting. When the mouse appears, it's representing the Party members watching them like sneaky rats, sticking their nose in where it doesn't really HAVE to be. It's dramatic irony when she says she's going to clean the picture because we know that the telescreen is behind there.
Syme vanished, just like that, no one said much. I never thought of it just being Oceania dropping the bombs on themselves to keep everyone scared and alert and feel hatred toward their "enemies". I can't believe she doesn't really care that they're changing history and she says she just needs to know when to cheer and when to boo, which is so true. I think she doesn't care because she can't change what they are doing, she can't ever really get the truth back anyway....if she somehow miraculously did, she would be vaporized anyway. They also talk about everything the Party dislikes people to talk about and I want to be able to make them shut up because we know the Party is listening!!
The people in this book are the complete antithesis of birds. They can sing whatever they want and go wherever they want and it doesn't matter. The people however, can not say what they want or feel or do what ever they want to do. Winston says, "Who knew? Perhaps the Party was rotten under the surface..." which we know they are "rotten" people...but didn't he realize that too? Then he says, "I hate purity, I hate goodness. I don't want any virtue to exist anywhere. I want everyone to be corrupt to the bone." and in reality everyone is corrupt even he is because he changes history which is very corrupt.
It is ironic that she works for the Junior Anti-Sex League and made porn and she likes to and does have sex for pleasure. When they meet and talk, until they see a telescreen or no noise, then they start right up where they left off, it reminds me of a robot, which is what they all pretty much are. He mentioned how he saw her after a bomb went off and he thought she was dead....could be foreshadowing?
One question I have about Julia is that if she doesn't remember anything before the war doesn't the government have her brainwashed? How does she like to have sex for pleasure when they were taught sex is bad? Then they explain that it is for rebellion...but still, how did she even know what pleasure was if it wasn't around her or taught to her at all?
Julia talked about how if sex were exciting no one would care about Big Brother, Three-Year Plans, and Two Minute Hate and I totally understand and it makes even more sense why they teach that sex is bad in the society they live in. Winston also says "in this game we're playing, we can't win," which is so true and it is sad.
I just thought of this so it's kind of random, but they met at a church to have sex....that is very ironic because it is against what churches teach.
I can't believe they went to the shop and rented the upstairs, so I know they're going to be caught because there's a telescreen hidden behind the painting. When the mouse appears, it's representing the Party members watching them like sneaky rats, sticking their nose in where it doesn't really HAVE to be. It's dramatic irony when she says she's going to clean the picture because we know that the telescreen is behind there.
Syme vanished, just like that, no one said much. I never thought of it just being Oceania dropping the bombs on themselves to keep everyone scared and alert and feel hatred toward their "enemies". I can't believe she doesn't really care that they're changing history and she says she just needs to know when to cheer and when to boo, which is so true. I think she doesn't care because she can't change what they are doing, she can't ever really get the truth back anyway....if she somehow miraculously did, she would be vaporized anyway. They also talk about everything the Party dislikes people to talk about and I want to be able to make them shut up because we know the Party is listening!!
Monday, September 8, 2008
Week 3-1984
When Winston over hears the two women talking it's ironic because one said "It's easy to criticize,' I says, 'but you ain't got the same problems as what I got." when in reality everyone has the same problems...with government, life in general.
When the bomb went off he got up after it like it was a usual, normal thing that happens. He didn't even seem scared or disturbed by it or the hand that he "kicked in the gutter".
If everyone can remember all these lottery numbers, why can't they remember their past? That is so crazy to think they make up the people that win the "big" prizes....it makes you wonder, what if all this happens now, at this present time....?
Winston tries getting answers from an old man who lived before the Revolution, but he was too old to remember or even understand the big picture.
That rhyme about the church was weird....maybe some significance later? I would be scared to be doing all the things he keeps doing, especially when it seems that a woman has been following him...but we later find out that she has a secret crush on the man when she slips him an "I love you" on a scrap piece of paper when he helped her up after she fell. When they go and meet at the town square I think that when the crowd rushed to look at the prisoners and they had to push through it is as if he is going through the government to see the girl. They actually get to hold hands briefly, but never exchange glances.
When the bomb went off he got up after it like it was a usual, normal thing that happens. He didn't even seem scared or disturbed by it or the hand that he "kicked in the gutter".
If everyone can remember all these lottery numbers, why can't they remember their past? That is so crazy to think they make up the people that win the "big" prizes....it makes you wonder, what if all this happens now, at this present time....?
Winston tries getting answers from an old man who lived before the Revolution, but he was too old to remember or even understand the big picture.
That rhyme about the church was weird....maybe some significance later? I would be scared to be doing all the things he keeps doing, especially when it seems that a woman has been following him...but we later find out that she has a secret crush on the man when she slips him an "I love you" on a scrap piece of paper when he helped her up after she fell. When they go and meet at the town square I think that when the crowd rushed to look at the prisoners and they had to push through it is as if he is going through the government to see the girl. They actually get to hold hands briefly, but never exchange glances.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Week 2, 1984
It's scary to think they can just burn history whenever they want to erase it. How could the workers for the government agree to do this? I know they will be killed if they don't....but why not join together and overthrow the government?
Does Syme think that their language getting smaller every year is actually a good thing? Everyone would be like walking zombies if they didn't get to have their own thoughts. I think when they show how the kids act it is also referring to how we now learn, a lot of our beliefs are the same as our parents, friends, and teachers. That's what they are being taught, so that is all they know because they have no prior life to relate to, this is their life.
That would be scary when you do things unconsciously, like talking in your sleep, and not knowing what you might say or do and have the government hear it and possibly be "vaporized".
The children's book he was copying from said it described before the Revolution, but it sounded like what was happening after the Revolution. The description of Rutherford "breaking up before one's eyes, like a mountain crumbling" is just like the society is falling apart.
When he is talking on page 80, he really makes some good points and makes me question a lot of our history and what our government is capable of.
Does Syme think that their language getting smaller every year is actually a good thing? Everyone would be like walking zombies if they didn't get to have their own thoughts. I think when they show how the kids act it is also referring to how we now learn, a lot of our beliefs are the same as our parents, friends, and teachers. That's what they are being taught, so that is all they know because they have no prior life to relate to, this is their life.
That would be scary when you do things unconsciously, like talking in your sleep, and not knowing what you might say or do and have the government hear it and possibly be "vaporized".
The children's book he was copying from said it described before the Revolution, but it sounded like what was happening after the Revolution. The description of Rutherford "breaking up before one's eyes, like a mountain crumbling" is just like the society is falling apart.
When he is talking on page 80, he really makes some good points and makes me question a lot of our history and what our government is capable of.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Week 1, 1984
I think the big poster with the eye that watches you represents/symbolizes that someone or something has been watching him or will possibly watch him....which after i read further I find out that that is exactly what that means.
It is cold outside so I know there is possibly misery, which showed when I kept reading. Also, in How to Read Literature Like a Professor he says winter means old age, resentment, and death....he is older and he does resent the government and their doings.
It's sort of ironic that his work place "towered vast and white above the grimy landscape" when really his workplace should be the grimy place where wrongdoings occur. I don't fully understand this whole government thing either, how can they just do this to all these people? Watch them and run their lives? It is also scary to think that the government can make people disappear..."vaporize" is the word they use, which is ironic because vapor is a form of water that always comes back to earth, either as snow, rain, sleet, hail, etc.
When he was freaking out about the government finding out what he wrote and shooting him in the back of the head, it was weird how the little boy did all that to him without knowing the situation.
I would hate being watched and being told to get up by someone tuning into your T.V. He also talked about how the government changed some of its history, which makes me wonder, how much of our history has been changed by our government?
This whole first reading section reminds me of the Holocaust, how the government has control over everything, every detail of the Jews lives.
It is cold outside so I know there is possibly misery, which showed when I kept reading. Also, in How to Read Literature Like a Professor he says winter means old age, resentment, and death....he is older and he does resent the government and their doings.
It's sort of ironic that his work place "towered vast and white above the grimy landscape" when really his workplace should be the grimy place where wrongdoings occur. I don't fully understand this whole government thing either, how can they just do this to all these people? Watch them and run their lives? It is also scary to think that the government can make people disappear..."vaporize" is the word they use, which is ironic because vapor is a form of water that always comes back to earth, either as snow, rain, sleet, hail, etc.
When he was freaking out about the government finding out what he wrote and shooting him in the back of the head, it was weird how the little boy did all that to him without knowing the situation.
I would hate being watched and being told to get up by someone tuning into your T.V. He also talked about how the government changed some of its history, which makes me wonder, how much of our history has been changed by our government?
This whole first reading section reminds me of the Holocaust, how the government has control over everything, every detail of the Jews lives.
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