A Tale of Two Cities
Book II
Chapter 24 - Drawn to the Loadstone Rock
Reading Background:
Several years have passed since Charles Darnay married Lucie Manette. France has undergone a revolution, and the aristocratic society into which Darnay was born is being violently dismantled.
Although Darnay has renounced his family’s privileges and established a new life in England, events in France will force him to confront his past.
Things to Consider While Reading
1. What motivates Darnay to return to France?
2. How does Darnay’s understanding of the Revolution differ from the reality unfolding around him?
3. What responsibilities does Darnay have toward Gabelle? What responsibilities does he have toward Lucie and their family?
4. What assumptions does Darnay make about how he will be treated in France?
5. Is Darnay’s decision an example of courage, recklessness, or some combination of the two?
Pay particular attention to the difference between what Darnay hopes to accomplish and what he reasonably should anticipate might happen.
Great literature should do more than entertain us. It should provide a roadmap to improving our lives.
In A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens introduced readers to Sydney Carton, one of literature's most compelling and deeply flawed characters. Dickens also gives him an unusual title: the Jackal.
His struggles raise questions that remain relevant today.
Are we defined by our past mistakes? Can we overcome our weaknesses? What separates the people we are from the people we could become?
Lessons From the Jackal is a 25-day character study exploring these questions through Sydney Carton’s life, decisions, relationships, and personal development.
This is not a traditional course on A Tale of Two Cities. Our reading assignments will focus specifically on Carton, with sufficient background provided to understand his story. No previous knowledge of the novel is necessary.
Each day will feature selected readings, historical comparisons, reflection questions, discussions, and practical challenges ...
Charles Darnay has demonstrated throughout the novel that he is a man of principle. He rejected his aristocratic inheritance because he believed the privileges enjoyed by his family had been obtained through the suffering of others. He established an independent life in England and attempted to distance himself from the injustices of his ancestors.
Now, when Gabelle appeals for assistance, Darnay once again attempts to act according to his convictions. His willingness to help is admirable. But is it wise? Darnay seems to believe that his honorable intentions will protect him from the dangers of revolutionary France. He fails to appreciate that the revolutionaries may judge him not by his personal conduct but by the family into which he was born. Perhaps more troubling is his decision to conceal his intentions from Lucie and Doctor Manette.
By doing so, Darnay deprives himself of the advice of those who care most about his welfare. He also makes a decision that could dramatically alter their ...
