A Tale of Two Cities: pg 118-161

Out of the men that expressed their love for Miss Manette, I would have to say that Darnay may be the best one for her as he seems to be a kind and respectful gentleman. Carton was brave in coming to her and confessing his love, and I did feel some pity for him, but she shouldn't marry him in pity. Stryver, on the other hand, reminded me of Gaston from Beauty and the Beast because of his boastfulness and bulkiness--whether he was bulky from fat or muscle, I didn't totally understand. He thought any woman would think of him as a prize and that it would be a joy to Lucie for him to propose, which really reminded me of the part of Disney's Beauty and the Beast where Gaston goes to propose to Belle and already has the town outside and prepared for a wedding--which makes it more comical in both instances when the boastful men get turned down. I was about to applaud Mr. Lorry.

In the chapter titled "The Honest Tradesman"--which is very ironic--Young Jerry finally figures out that his "honorable" father, Mr. Cruncher, is not quite the honest tradesman he pretends to be. I believe that the casket, or his fear, seemingly following him and wanting to consume him after Young Jerry sees what his father is doing somewhat symbolizes how that image will never leave him. Having never seen anything in the like of what his father was doing, the image haunted his memory and I believe it made him lose even more of his innocence than what was already taken away by following Mr. Cruncher before.

At first, I was surprised that Young Jerry didn't help his mother when Jerry was beating her against the headboard of the bed, thinking that the son of this abuser would change after seeing that his father was more of an enemy than his mother was; but when the next day came and Young Jerry wanted still to be like his dear old dad, I figured that there may be no hope for his changing and Young Jerry seems doomed to be a clone of Mr. Cruncher.

I feel for Mrs. Cruncher. Perhaps women weren't so independent as they are today, or perhaps she feels weaker than her husband and child, but she's becoming a captive in her own household. At least she can probably pray when Young and old Jerry go to Tellson's, but it would be difficult, I believe, to be hindered by your own husband and son from doing something so important. What I want to see happen, though it's unlikely that it will, is Mrs. Cruncher standing up for herself and fighting back when he tries to abuse her. She doesn't deserve to be treated that way.

I didn't totally understand the part about all of the men named "Jaques." Most of what I gathered was that the mender of roads is joining them and he just put out a spectacle--he was acting right?-- of crying and rejoicing for royalty...something that may come into play later in the story it seems.