Liberty Mutual Commercial

Ok...I've been thinking about Dickens characters in modern commercials.  I would like to put several of them in those touching Liberty Mutual Commercials where people see other people helping people and then pass it on.  I just LOVE those commercials and could see several of Dickens' characters in one of these.  Because the following characters have been so nice and helpful in the works, they should be helping others in a commercial and make some money on it.  There may be more to come but this is what I have thus far.

Lizzie: She's always willing to help (Betty, Charlie, Wrayburn).  

• She will be helping a person in a wheelchair into a building that has no handicap accessible doors.

Riah: He helps Lizzie escape Headstone and sacrifices his job to maintain his friendship with Jenny.  

• He will be stopping a young boy's dog from running out into a busy intersection.  

Rokesmith: He clears Hexam's name and allows the Boffins to keep his fortune.  

• He will be giving his umbrella to a pregnant woman standing in the rain.

Mrs. Boffin: She wants to help people with her money (Bella and Sloppy).  

• She will be paying for a stranger's coffee in a coffee shop.

Mortimer Lightwood because of his dedication and helpfulness to Wrayburn.  

• He will be picking up a heavy bag for someone at an airport baggage claim.

Sydney Carton: He sacrifices his life for Darnay's and in his last few moments of life he helps another woman.  

• He will be helping an older woman across the street.

Mr. Lorry does what he can to help Lucie and her father.  

• He will be helping an elderly person fill out a form in a city hall.

Rev. Crisparkle helps Neville and believes in him when no one else does.

• He will be helping a young girl get a doll from a tall shelf in a toy store.

After thoughts

I believe I may have judged A TALE OF TWO CITIES too harshly.  I didn't like the character development and I felt it was a little scattered; however, it has had some impact on me because I keep thinking about it.  Maybe it's because Easter is upon us which has its own sacrifice or maybe I'm trying to find something more.  I'm still not a fan of the dummies who went back to Paris but maybe I'm too focused on the surface meaning.  They went for their own reasons and that is something to be admired.  Maybe Dickens was trying to make that point.  We may have to make fatal choices in life but we have to believe in our decisions.  We don't need a French Revolution to remind us of the sacrifices we have to make.  They are sometimes small, a salad instead of a burger.  They are sometimes big, not eating yourself to give your child food.  Would I read it again soon...nope but I guess ATOTC was better than I thought.

I feel like a fool

In my last post on ATOTC, I made a comment about the Marquis getting what's coming to him for his lack of concern for the human race.  Somehow, I completely overlooked or maybe just forgot that he was killed so I guess he did get it.  Now don't get me wrong, I am not supporting murder to solve problems but in this work, I can understand why he was killed.  I stand corrected Mr. Dickens and I want to thank you for taking a little vengence out on him.  That is one of the great things about literature...freedom!

ATOTC in 10 minutes

I think my brain is turning to mush.  I find myself reading ATOTC and then not comprehending what I'm reading or maybe I am and I just don't know it.  Let's hope the latter is happening.  Then I hear people discussing it in class and find myself really liking their comments.  Of course, then I kick myself for not seeing that when I read it.  My problem is that I'm enjoying Our Mutual Friend but not ATOTC.  As I admit this, I feel I may be beat up in the back ally on the way to my car.  I started this book over the Christmas break and loved it!  Couldn't put it down.  Now it puts me to sleep.  Why is this?  If anyone has the answer, please, please, please tell me what I'm doing wrong and if it can be fixed.


The French Revolution and the Austro-Hungarian empire interest me.  I have to pull everything back to the German speakers ;)  I just wish I could do a better job at pulling the FR references out of the book.  I will say this...I REALLY HATE the Marquis.  When he ran over the child and then through money at the father, I wanted to hit him.  In fact, I imagined one of those karma scenes from a movie where he fell in the mud later or lost all of his money.  I would have applauded Dickens for writing that.  Of course, I know why he didn't but it still ran through my mind.  The one thing I did enjoy in this scene was the money being thrown back into the carriage.  While no one took responsibility for it, I felt it was Dickens' way of adding a "karma" scene.  It was that subtle, "We're not gonna take it", situation.  I do hope he gets what's coming to him.


I do, however, enjoy the relationship between Carton and Stryver.  It's just a pleasant read.  I'm not particulary drawn to them outside of their friendship but I like reading their interactions.  There is an understanding between them.  They work together, went to school together, and spend time sharing some thoughts...not too deep but there's an understanding.  I like it!

A golden thread was recalled

There have been two themes we have been looking at in ATOTC:

Recalled to Life:

• Darnay:  He is put on trial as a traitor but is found innocent.  Considering that he had one foot in the grave as this process began and was not convicted in the end, I would say he is most definitely recalled to life.  Even the action of him taking a meal after the process is a symbol of life.  Food is a sustenance for all living.
• Dr. Manette:  His current demeanor is much more lively than when we first met him.  He is no longer attached to his shoe making table and tools but rather lives a more active life.  He has a business and is interacting with the living and not with shoes.
• Wilfer: (OK...I know he's not in ATOTC but...) His interaction with Bella put him in this category for me.  His personality totally changed when she took him out for the day.  I just had to mention this.

Golden Thread:

• A golden thread in law is to prove the prisoner's guilt without a doubt.  This works perfectly in Darnay's case.  At this time in England, if you were questioned, you were pretty much dead.  Darnay, however, got lucky.  They did not find him guilty so he was able to "keep" his head, which proves to be quite valuable for his future endeavors. His love for Lucie also seems to brighten his spirits.  His enthusiasm for life shows through when he is speaking to Dr. Manette.
• Lucie is described as the golden thread by her father.  She is the one that holds everything together and gives her father a reason to live.  This particular thread has nothing to do with law but rather a literal thread which can bind or unite.  Also, I cannot remember exactly which one of the lawyers, Stryver or Carton, says this but he describes her on numerous occasions to have golden hair.  While this is an obvious statement of gold, I think it's worth mentioning on the topic.

A Tale of Two Cities...the beginnings

History in fiction:

•  As I looked over my notes for 2 Cities, my first comments were on the descriptions of the Kings and Queens of England and France.  The French description was, "large jaw king" and a "fair face queen" while the English description was, "large jaw king" and a "plain face queen".  It was intriguing to see the same description for the kings but slightly different ones for the queens so I decided to look up pictures for the two.  The king and queen of France in 1775 were Louis XVI and Marie Antionette.  The king and queen of England were George III and Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.  Based on the pictures, I can understand why Dickens chose such a description.  I’ve heard of all of these figures but French and English history were never my strong suit.  I’m looking to Dickens to guide me in this.

Louis XVI King of France

Marie Antionette Queen of France

   Charlotte Queen of England   

George III King of England

• He did make an interesting comment on religion in England at this time.  The country was big on religion.  There was a witness of a youth tortured and killed for not kneeling to monks. 
• There was also a social statement, in true Dickens style, that of someone being sentenced to death for stealing a sixpence.  As I read this, I felt this was an extremely harsh punishment for a crime of this nature.
• With the relationship of France and England at the time this was written, it can certainly be read as a semi-fictional/semi-nonfictional recount of history.  With Dickens in charge of the story line, I am certain there will be more history lessons to come.

“Recalled to Life”: Can it be done?

• The phrase, “recalled to life”, continually comes up throughout book the first.  The first time I read the phrase I, much like the messenger, was puzzled at its meaning.  Was it some sort of philosophical code that I was supposed to understand immediately?  I continued to read in search of the reason for this statement and whala, it was finally revealed.  Well, maybe not whala, but at least there was a connection.  The vague description of the characters now begins to become a little clearer and more complexly connected.
• There are many ways in which this happens in the work:
• Miss Manette’s father is released from prison and introduced back into society.  He has been locked in a room making shoes without any outside contact other than the “sight seers”.
• Manette is reintroduced to her father, whom she thought was dead.  This is also noted in the description of her hotel room as “funeral attire”.
• Mr. Lorry is put back into contact with Manette, whom he brought from Paris to England so many years ago.  Dickens doesn’t over do the description of their interactions but I am left with the feeling that Mr. Lorry has some regrets in the development or lack there of of this relationship. 

Two Cities like ED and OMF:

•  Miss Manette immediately reminds me of Rosa and Miss Podsnap.  They are all three dainty and are often faint. 
• Miss Manette’s father reminds me of Mr. Grewgious due to the fact he still possesses the a lock of Miss Manette’s hair and Mr. Grewgious held the ring.  He also reminds me of Drudles because of his need of a consistent schedule.  Drudles carries his package and is followed by Deputy.  Miss Manette’s father has a set schedule and is gawked at by his visitors.
• Mr. Lorry reminds me of Mr. Honeythunder but only in the sense that he’s all business.  I enjoy reading about Mr. Lorry much more than Mr. Honeythunder.
• Those are the only comparisons I can think of at the moment but I am hoping to find more as I continue to read more about the characters.