It’s the episode in which we dig into the ways Dickens uses different tones of voice in various sections, the way his writing creates a tableau-like effect, how the serialization of the story should impact our reading, and question on morality that the book’s introduction of the French Revolution raises.
I’m new to Dickens, but really don’t mind his incongruous narrative. To me, each snapshot fleshes out the characters in a compelling way. Likewise, knowing the context of his audience is everything. He’s not churning out content for insatiable followers. His readers would have reread the weekly story many times and savored it! Grace upon grace in my book for Charlie.
Also, he can write women?? Say what you will about Lucie, but the narrative of her fears and hopes when she is pregnant with her first child was immaculate.
I'm intrigued with Heidi's question about when activism or justice goes too far and becomes vengeance or revenge. This idea seems to tie into the knitting image of Madame Defarge (a "missionary" of "retribution") and contrasts with Lucie's "golden thread" which produces peace and harmony in her home. Mme. Defarge certainly stirs up many to take justice into their own hands! I agree that her machinations make her a more interesting character.
I don't know if I missed part of the discussion about a contrast between the two cities. I don't remember Cly and Barsad coming up in the discussion of the funeral chapter in England where Cruncher follows the hearse. Perhaps one point Dickens makes in the mob scene is that English mobs can still be controlled by the authorities whereas French mobs are totally out of control. I wonder if he's saying here that if changes aren't made in England, there could be a bloody revolution like that in France? Do you think he's being too heavy-handed?
My Penguin Classics edition has the installments. The chapters for this week's podcast were installments 13-16.5. The discussion this time made me realize I do not read Dickens the same way I read most other books. I do read him slowly and don't often reread. I'm certain I will not reread Bleak House, but I would definitely rewatch the BBC series (10 episodes) which is the reason I took up the book. I can say the same for Our Mutual Friend. I wonder Dickens didn't write more for the theater?
Was this the episode where David mentioned LOST? I had been thinking the same thing! (Only in a good way.) the serialized publication of the original must have been like “Must See TV”. Maybe ER is a better comparison? Because also George Clooney was totally a Sydney Carton character - the underachieving bad boy with good heart; his own worst enemy; broken and needing to be saved! Carton “saves” himself (while Clooney needed the nurse’s committed love) but still: we all showed up every week, put up with random stuff about the hospital
Administration or local drug addicts getting in the way of things, just to get at The Good Stuff. Which was so good! TOTC definitely reads like really interesting TV.
To clarify: we “put up with” flat characters like Charles and too many words and weird narrative shifts to get at the good stuff, which is so dang good!
I think I feel about Madame Defarge the same way Heidi mentioned she feels about Sydney Carton in previous episodes...Defarge so much more interesting than Lucy, and there’s an element of mystery to her actions that draws my attention every time she’s “on screen.” Maybe I’ll feel differently the further into the story we get, but I remember reacting this same way when I read and re-read the Great Illustrated Classics abridged edition as a child. 😅 I’m not normally a “drawn to the villain” type reader.
Me too! I will say I don't find myself drawn to Sydney Carton at all. Even knowing how the story will end, I just don't think he's in the book enough for me to care about him. I have only read the Great Illustrated Classics version, so maybe more is coming that I don't expect and which will make me care.
I’m new to Dickens, but really don’t mind his incongruous narrative. To me, each snapshot fleshes out the characters in a compelling way. Likewise, knowing the context of his audience is everything. He’s not churning out content for insatiable followers. His readers would have reread the weekly story many times and savored it! Grace upon grace in my book for Charlie.
Also, he can write women?? Say what you will about Lucie, but the narrative of her fears and hopes when she is pregnant with her first child was immaculate.
I'm intrigued with Heidi's question about when activism or justice goes too far and becomes vengeance or revenge. This idea seems to tie into the knitting image of Madame Defarge (a "missionary" of "retribution") and contrasts with Lucie's "golden thread" which produces peace and harmony in her home. Mme. Defarge certainly stirs up many to take justice into their own hands! I agree that her machinations make her a more interesting character.
I don't know if I missed part of the discussion about a contrast between the two cities. I don't remember Cly and Barsad coming up in the discussion of the funeral chapter in England where Cruncher follows the hearse. Perhaps one point Dickens makes in the mob scene is that English mobs can still be controlled by the authorities whereas French mobs are totally out of control. I wonder if he's saying here that if changes aren't made in England, there could be a bloody revolution like that in France? Do you think he's being too heavy-handed?
My Penguin Classics edition has the installments. The chapters for this week's podcast were installments 13-16.5. The discussion this time made me realize I do not read Dickens the same way I read most other books. I do read him slowly and don't often reread. I'm certain I will not reread Bleak House, but I would definitely rewatch the BBC series (10 episodes) which is the reason I took up the book. I can say the same for Our Mutual Friend. I wonder Dickens didn't write more for the theater?
Was this the episode where David mentioned LOST? I had been thinking the same thing! (Only in a good way.) the serialized publication of the original must have been like “Must See TV”. Maybe ER is a better comparison? Because also George Clooney was totally a Sydney Carton character - the underachieving bad boy with good heart; his own worst enemy; broken and needing to be saved! Carton “saves” himself (while Clooney needed the nurse’s committed love) but still: we all showed up every week, put up with random stuff about the hospital
Administration or local drug addicts getting in the way of things, just to get at The Good Stuff. Which was so good! TOTC definitely reads like really interesting TV.
To clarify: we “put up with” flat characters like Charles and too many words and weird narrative shifts to get at the good stuff, which is so dang good!
Fair enough! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻❤️
During this week’s podcast, the question of the original installments of ATOTC was raised. Here’s a link to The Dickens Journal Online with the original serialization. https://www.djo.org.uk/indexes/authors/charles-dickens/a-tale-of-two-cities.html
This is great - thank you!
I think I feel about Madame Defarge the same way Heidi mentioned she feels about Sydney Carton in previous episodes...Defarge so much more interesting than Lucy, and there’s an element of mystery to her actions that draws my attention every time she’s “on screen.” Maybe I’ll feel differently the further into the story we get, but I remember reacting this same way when I read and re-read the Great Illustrated Classics abridged edition as a child. 😅 I’m not normally a “drawn to the villain” type reader.
This is a good take! She’s wicked, but so compelling. *shiver*
Me too! I will say I don't find myself drawn to Sydney Carton at all. Even knowing how the story will end, I just don't think he's in the book enough for me to care about him. I have only read the Great Illustrated Classics version, so maybe more is coming that I don't expect and which will make me care.