This is for those who read the Carton Critical Analysis. On this, comment on critical points of the analysis. You can also comment on other people's comments.
Here is my comment:
I very much enjoyed reading this critical analysis. I was surprised at how many similarities were pointed out between Carton and Manette, and Carton and Lorry. The focus on Carton's occupation as a deciding factor in many of his actions was also interesting to read about as it explained the motives of some of his actions that I found puzzling.
I agree, but what really stood out to me was at the beginning of the article, when the critic was talking about how it is really hard to connect to the characters. I found that to be the most interesting, because I for one really could not seem to connect to any of the characters. It was interesting to see that the book was purposely written that way. For instance, Lucie, because of her perfection and sort of fairy tale princess being, it is impossible to connect to her, because no one is truly like that. Then there is Madame Defarge, who is so violent and awful all the time, that it is pretty much impossible to be like that all the time too. It is intriguing, all the extremes he goes to with his characters, they are such out of the ordinary people, which makes the book unique. Although I agree with Simi, I found the connection to the characters the most interesting part.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Simi because I also thought that the comparison of Carton to the other characters was the most interesting point in the critical analysis. The article compared Carton to Lorry through the word "business" and how they each understood the meaning of the word. I never thought of Carton and Lorry as being linked and it was interesting to see their connection because I had not realized they could relate to each other before I read this article. Also with Stryver, Carton was compared through the word "business". The comparisons to both Lorry and Stryver in the article led to the self hatred for Carton. It was interesting to read how these two people influenced the hatred that Carton had towards himself. I had not realized they were so influential to Carton and it was interesting to read the new connections that were made.
ReplyDeleteI thought this article was very interesting. It helped me connect to some themes I had not understood yet. It was so great to be able to see all the character connections written down. I was really intrigued by the idea of the different meanings of "business". I never really thought that Carton might be the better lawyer. I just thought he was lazy. The critical analysis helped open my eyes to Carton's importance in the book. Before all of our discussions, I did not really think Carton had so much meaning to him. With the class talks and this article, I think Carton has become my favorite character. Dickens is so skillful in layering his characters. This author picked out Dickens' connections and brought them to life.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with the statements that everyone has made. The most interesting thing for me was the fact that this article helped me realize how much more significant Carton was to the entire plot of ATTC because of his connections with Stryver, Lorry, and Dr. Manette. Initially I had just picked up on the doubling between Carton and Darnay, but looking back I realize the similarities between him and the other characters. One of the biggest connections that stood out to me from the article was between Dr. Manette and Carton and how they were both recalled to life. For some reason I looked over this fact because I did not think there were any similarities between the two, but now I understand how much they are like each other. I also found it interesting how the article uses examples of the characters professionalism to contrast England and France, such as Dr. Manette's time in prison in France and his freedom to work in England.
ReplyDeleteCarton's role in ATTC was very much heightened for me. I did not realize that Carton was there for so much of the book or that he was even part of the plot line even though he was not spoken of. Especially in Paris where he was in the city at the time but not talked about until his plan was established with Barsad and Lorry. I also did not realize that Manette was a link between England and France. The only relation I had between the two countries was Tellsons and Mr. Lorry. Another thing I liked the analysis of Jerry Cruncher where he tries to defend himself to Mr. Lorry about being a resurrection man. Mr. Lorry although loyal to Jerry was not happy to hear this new because he now has to release Jerry from his job at the bank. This motive of helping the doctors out and getting bodies for them to work on was quite interesting.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this critical analysis of Carton because it gave me a better understanding of his character and the choices Dickens made for him. Just as everyone mentioned, I found the connections very interesting between Carton and characters such as Manette, Stryver, and Mr. Lorry. I really appreciated deeper background information on these relationships that shed light on Carton as a whole. I believe this article reinforced Sydney Cartons role in ATTC and provided examples as to how he contributed the development of other characters and provided foils in various ways that were touched on in prior comments.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this critical analysis of Carton because it gave me a better understanding of his character and the choices Dickens made for him. Just as everyone mentioned, I found the connections very interesting between Carton and characters such as Manette, Stryver, and Mr. Lorry. I really appreciated deeper background information on these relationships that shed light on Carton as a whole. I believe this article reinforced Sydney Cartons role in ATTC and provided examples as to how he contributed the development of other characters and provided foils in various ways that were touched on in prior comments.
ReplyDeleteThe Interesting Points of the Barrister by ML
ReplyDeleteInterests of "The Business of the Barrister in a Tale of Two Cities" by Simon Petch.
Here are some of the points I thought were the most interesting from the article:
The basic and most interesting point that I found was emphasized by Petch was the Carton was the incarnation of "all the disparate elements of the novel's moral-political drama" (Petch 1). Basically, Carton's evolution as a man of Business, and the other men of Business showed the complex parallels between the business of England and France. Carton begins as his self deprecating self and embodying the struggle and chaos of France and England's legal systems by being called a Jackal, "an animal not destined by nature to exist, & carrying with it the provision for death" (Petch 1). Carton also resents his work environment and the way his work is used, Carton is used to show the corruption of Lorry and Stryver, and although the are esteemed business men, there work is impure. As much as Carton resents this work, I think he is still very much a part of it and this may add to his self-hatred.
Petch's article deepens the relationships that Carton has with Lucy and Darnay, because of him being a man of business. Darnay and Carton are shown again as doppelgangers because they both lack the esteem of being high Business men, Darnay and Carton are parallel in that they do not reach their full potential. Carton's devotion to Lucy is described as coming from his dutifulness of being a business man, and that Carton served Lucy, because a Business man must always serve someone.