A Tale of Two Cities
Multiple Summaries
Chapter 22 “The Sea Still Rises”
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The sea still rises references the anger and motivation of the people to bring about change
in France.
One week has passed since the storming of the Bastille on that hot July day, but the
bloodlust and revenge desired by the people has not been satiated.
The city of Saint Antoine still feels haggard, exhausted, and starving. So although there
was a major victory, all the same problems still exist.
Madame Defarge has once again taken up her knitting, which as you know means there
are people who she still believes should die.
She has a loyal female follower who knits with her, and she is referred to as the
VENGENANCE
Mr. Defarge relays the news of a nobleman named Foulon who was cruel to the people of
the area; he faked his own death in the hopes of escaping punishment. They know he is
alive, so they now want to go after him and make him suffer.
The VENGEANCE picks up her drum and starts to beat a rhythm indicating to the people
that they are about to March to the prison to extract Foulon. Madame Defarge is ever
ready with her knife.
People start to amass in the streets and shout out all the crimes Foulon committed against
them and their family. The turn into maniacs and start to rip out their hair and have a
crazy look of instability in their eyes. Women seem to go crazy and whip into a wild
frenzy of violence, lashing out at their own friends, ready to tear each other limb from
limb. (Mythological Allusion*) They are eventually told to simmer down just a tad.
Foulon is now their symbol of pain and they want justice served.
When they arrive at the prison where Foulon is kept, they see he is bound in rope and has
a mound of grass tied to his back.
Mr. Defarge lunges for him and Madame Defarge follows.
The people gag him with straw and grass; he is torn, bruised and bleeding. He begs for
mercy.
Madame Defarge says the rope will be merciful.
The wrap the rope around his neck and hoist him in the air, but the rope breaks. They
tried a second time and the rope breaks again. The third time they are successful; he is
hanged; they cut off his head and place it on a pike.
They receive word that a cavalry of 500 is coming to fight them; they prepare for battle.
Although they are still starving, the one idea that feeds their souls for now if the victories
they have experienced. At least momentarily, the taste of power has superseded the
necessity for the taste for food.
Chapter 22: “The Fire Rises”
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Clearly the chapter title alludes to the rising anger of the people and how it is turning into
an uncontrollable conflagration.
The Monseigneur in town, who was also inconsiderate and negligent of the people, has
fled.
The Mender of Roads and a traveling Jacques rest for the day exhausted from hunger.
Jacques is heavily armed.
From up on a hill with a direct view of Saint Antoine below, Gabelle, the lead servant to
the Monsieur de Marquis, exists his house to look at the town and people below who are
gathered around the fountain.
Later that night the distant sky is filled with red as the Marquis’s chataeu is burned to the
ground. 250 people come out to watch the spectacle with great satisfaction. Four fierce
figures trudge away from the site, as though they are the four horsemen of the apocalypse
(Biblical allusion)
The people surround Gabelle’s house and demand he come outside to speak to them; he
eventually comes out and is taken prisoner. He walks through the streets and notices men
of his position of authority are hanging from the gallows. It is clear the people have been
on a killing spree as body after body is dangling in the night air as if they were
lamplights, guiding the way of what is to come.
Chapter 23: “Drawn to the Loadstone Rock”
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The Year: 1792 (3 years have passed)
These three years are described as a tempest, or a great storm.
The echoes of the footsteps continue, leaving Lucie with a constant state of unease in
London.
The nobles of France who did manage to escape, went to London or had all of their
funds transferred to Telleson’s Bank to keep their wealth secure.
Jarvis Lorry reveals that business, Bank Business, calls him to France and he must
travel there soon. He plans on taking Jerry Cruncher with him.
Charles admits he wish he were traveling to France to help the people; Jarvis thinks
this is foolish and cautions him to stay in London and protect his family.
Lorry says he has another mission where he needs to deliver a letter to the new
Monsieur de Marquis, a man by the last name of Evremonde.
The other men who are around, like Stryver, start to make disparaging remarks
against this new Marquis, and say he must be a disgusting human being and a coward.
At this point Charles reveals that he knows the new Marquis. Lorry entrusts him with
the letter.
The letter is addressed to Charles and is from Gabelle, who has since been imprisoned
and is calling out to Charles for help. Gabelle has been accused of treason and is set
to die.
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Charles knew Gabelle was not truly cruel to the people and had even received orders
from Charles to provide them with any sense of succour that he could. He believes it
is an injustice to treat Gabelle this way.
Charles is tormented by regret and ultimately decides the unthinkable: he will return
to France to help save Gabelle.
That night he stays up and writes one letter to Lucie explaining why he must go, and
the second is to Dr. Manette and how his departure is related to the news he shared
with him many years ago.
Charles says he is going out for an errand, and never returns as he is now on his way
to France.
BOOK THE THIRD: THE TRACK OF A STORM
Chapter 1: “In Secret”
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Charles (now 37) arrives in England and has to go through various check point the people
have created. He is asked to reveal is identity, and now he uses his real name.
He is immediately detained, held prisoner, and is left to sit and wonder what is about to
happen next.
The local authority for these checkpoints, Mr Defarge shows up, and basically tells
Charles that any emigrant (one who moved from France to another country) no longer has
rights and is condemned to death should he/she return to France. Charles had no
knowledge of this rule as it was passed once he had moved away from France after his
last visit many years ago.
Defarge does not care.
Charles asks for a Mr. Lorry in Telleson’s to learn of this current situation, but Defarge
says he will do nothing to help him. Charles is imprisoned with countless others, and as
he looks at the masses of bodies cramped into a small space together, he feels as though
he is looking at the faces of the dead.
Locked away in these conditions, Charles can see why Manette started to lose his mind
and reminds himself how the Dr. made shoes. Internally, Charles is trying to determine
what his source of comfort will be.
Chapter 2: “The Grindstone”
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Mr. Lorry is now in France for business and is staying in the makeshift headquarters of
Telleson’s Bank which just so happens is the abandoned home of Monseigneur in the
town.
Throughout the streets the Rebellion Motto: Life, Equality, Fraternity, or Death can be
heard.
Jarvis is surprised by a knock on the door. It is Lucie and Dr. Manette. After reading
Charles’ letters to the both of them, their worries propelled them to France since they
believe he is in danger. Pross and little Lucie are there too. Jarvis immediately wants to
help.
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Jarvis looks out his window to the center of town where a huge grindstone (part of the
mill and partly used to sharpen weapons) is placed. There is a grotesque scene of men
and women with painted faces, barbarous and savage looks, drunk with red wine like
blood dripping all over their faces, dancing and screaming around the stone and
sharpening weapon after weapon. This foreshadows the mania, madness and violence that
is about to take place.
Dr. Manette springs to action, goes to the center of the people and begins to beg and
plead for the prisoner of the Bastille’s safety and release.
The hope is that since the people respect Dr. Manette and what he suffered through, that
they would be willing to listen to what he has to say.