In Chapter 19, Dr. Manette spends nine days making shoes,
while relapsing his prison days. Miss Pross and Mr. Lorry watch over Dr.
Manette, making sure he is ok. Lucy just got married to Darnay, and is off on
her honeymoon. But before they got married, Darnay had a conversation with Dr.
Manette. We are not sure what they discussed, but we know that Dr. Manette
became very pale right after, and soon starting remembering his prison days.
“The Door of the
Doctor’s room opened, and he came out with Charles Darnay. He was so deadly
pale – which had not been the case when they went in together” (p. 201).
So what caused Doctor Manette’s relapse this time?
Obviously, Darnay said something that disturbed Manette, because he came out of
the room so pale. Was it something that Darnay said to him, or was it losing
Lucie to Darnay. Lucie helped Manette get better at first. Having Lucie with
Manette helped him forget his prison days. His family means a lot to him,
because he kept a strand of his wives hair until a prison guard took it away.
And Manette also explains how thinking of Lucie helped him pass time in prison.
He had never meet Lucie, so he said that thinking of what she became while
growing up helped him survive in prison. So family means a lot to Manette. Now
that she got married, she will not be with him as much. So could the reason for
Dr. Manette’s relapse be because of Lucie getting married?
Another thing I thought was that something Darnay said could
have bothered Manette, and started his relapse. Darnay was going to tell
Manette what his real name was, but Manette told Darnay to refrain from telling
him until the day he marries Lucy. Now that that day has come, that might have
been what their conversation was about. We also know that Darnay ‘s family from
France are aristocrats. The aristocrats are being targeted in the French
Revolution, and Darnay was added to the Defarge’s kill list. Could Manette have
learned something about Darnay that had to do with his imprisonment? Or did he
hear something about how Darnay’s family is in trouble, which would then put
his daughter Lucie in danger?
I think that what caused Dr. Manette’s relapse was something
Darnay said to him. Dickens emphasizes the fact that Manette came out of the
room pale. Then the relapses started. We do not know what was discussed between
Manette and Darnay, but I feel that Darnay said something to Manette that
caused it. I am not sure what he said, but because he came out of the room so
pale, then started his relapse, I feel that Darnay said something to Dr.
Manette, which sparked a prison memory, which led to his relapse.
Matt brings up some interesting points in his blog post and we (8th period not 6th) had an interesting discussion about this passage for our class discussion the other day. It appears obvious that there is some unknown connection between Darnay (or a family member of Darnay) and Dr. Manette. I am not sure what chapter, but there was a passage where Dr. Manette went into a complete state of shock when he saw Darnay's face, and we also know the Monsieur the Marquis and Darnay's father were identical twins, so by inferring that Darnay resembles his father, we know that Darnay looks somewhat like Monsieur the Marquis. I think Manette was imprisoned by Monsieur the Marquis, but understands that Darnay is not like his uncle.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the two possible causes for Dr. Manettes relapse was either the fact that Lucie got married or what Darnay said to him. I understand what you are saying about what Darnay saying to Dr. Manette being the main cause of the relapse, but I think it may have been the fact that Lucie is married and won’t be with him as much anymore. As you said, thinking of his daughter kept Dr. Manette going when he was in prison. When Dr. Manette was released and finally met his daughter, they were always together and even though he was having struggling after being imprisoned for 18 years, but he was okay. Suddenly, the one thing that has kept him strong, Lucie, was in away taken away from him. This could have set something off inside of Dr. Manette causing his relapse. - Tori
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your idea, I think Darnay told him his real name and how Dr. Manette recognizes his face. I think Daranay is related to the person who put Dr. Manette in jail 18 years ago. But I don’t think Dr. Manette should disregard Darnay, because he knows him to be a good person so far and he knows he loves his daughter. What I want to know is if Lucie is ever going to find out about what Darnay told the Doctor before their wedding, or if she’ll ever know about her fathers relapse. Maybe she’ll be able to figure out the reason for why or how it happened.
ReplyDeleteNice job, Matt. Your post is a great example of how important it is to ask questions as we read this book (and all books, in general).
ReplyDeleteWe're getting close to the end where a lot of these questions will be answered. Keep reading carefully!