A Tale of Two Cities

Book 2, Chapter 3“A

Disappointment”

Leo Nguyen

Title: “A Disappointment”

Many people watch as the prisoner’s crimes are stated and witnesses are questioned. It is obvious to many that the prisoner is already to be put to death in the most gruesome way possible; but, by the end of the chapter, the case is acquitted and the crowd piles out, most likely disappointed with no sight of execution in their memories to bring with them.

➢ It is made known that Charles Darnay, though young, had been involved in criminal activity for many years○ Turned in by his own servant and an old friend, Barsad○ Sentenced to death in order to allow all men, women, and

children to sleep soundly at night➢ John Barsad enters witness box, describes himself, and

is stopped to be questioned by a wigged man○ Servant Roger Cly also answers questions, then Jarvis

Lorry, then Miss Manette, and lastly, Dr. Manette■ Lucie describes that the prisoner aids her ill father on

their return to England, and mentions a joke about George Washington being as famous as George III

➢ A witness brought out is confident that he saw the prisoner, five years ago, in a hotel coffee room, and had never seen someone who looked alike○ Witness’s confidence as well as testimony crumbles when

Mr. Carton is compared to the prisoner➢ Darnay’s lawyer turns case inside out, and Judge turns

case outside in, ending with the prisoner generally coming off as guilty.

➢ Case is recessed; everyone takes a break. Jerry eats, snoozes, and is waken up and swept back into the courtroom with the crowd; then, the case is acquitted

Literary DevicesSymbolism - “great flies” are used recurringly in this chapter to symbolize the behavior of the crowd

Allusion - George Washington’s fame is compared to that of George III’s, king of England and Ireland at that time

Irony - Dickens emphasizes earlier how evident it is that this prisoner will be put to death, yet the last two paragraphs of the chapter result in the trial’s acquittal

“To be confronted with such pity, and such earnest youth and beauty, was for more trying to the accused than to be confronted with all

the crowd. Standing…on the edge of his grave, not all the

staring curiosity that looked on, could, for the moment, nerve him to remain quite

still.”

Image Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madeleine_Smith