A Tale of Two Cities: pg. 82-118

Dickens begins these chapters somewhat describing the setting. For example, when Mr. Lorey is on his way to Dr. Manette's house, the scenery is of a beutiful Sunday that is quiet. Dickens states "A quainter corner than the corner where the Doctor lived, was not to be found in London." The quietness of the surroundings gives the passage somewhat of a tone of peace and serenity--like walking through a park on a bright, sunny, Spring day.

Another example of setting description occurs when Mr. Lorey enters the house and sees Lucie's decorations of the house. The rooms have simple accessories of no value, but they are inviting and interesting, which somewhat makes the rooms seem like a personification of Lucie. Everything is arranged carefully and delicately and are pleasant, which is somewhat of the effect Lucie has on others (like in the courtroom when most thought of her as beautiful). Dickens states that "the very chairs and tables seemed to ask [Mr. Lorey], with something of that peculiar expression which he knew so well by this time, whether he approved?" Almost directly pointing to the Doctor's daughter, the "expression" of the rooms reminds readers of the way Dickens repeatedly stated Lucie's peculiar expression of her forehead.

The story Darnay tells about the letters and words carved on the cell wall gives another instance of setting that evokes some questions. Most of the words were "dates, names, complaints, and prayers," but it may have been somewhat interesting to read some of them. But more importantly, the letters "D.I.G." were thought to mean the word "dig," so after workers dug beneath the stone of the cell, they found the ashes of paper and "a small leathern case or bag." After hearing this, Dr. Manette becomes "ill" and doesn't comment on the strangeness of the story. The people thought that the prisoner who wrote "dig" had been executed, but upon seeing Manette's reaction, it seems that the doctor did it while imprisoned or at least knows something about it...adding to the mystery of this book.