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Book II Chapter 18. “Nine Days”. Significance of Chapter Title . “Nine days” refers to the amount of time Miss Pross and Mr. Lorry keep watch over Dr. Manette after his post-wedding mental breakdown. The story leaves off on the ninth day of the breakdown. Characters. Mr. Lorry
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Book II Chapter 18 “Nine Days”
Significance of Chapter Title • “Nine days” refers to the amount of time Miss Pross and Mr. Lorry keep watch over Dr. Manette after his post-wedding mental breakdown. The story leaves off on the ninth day of the breakdown.
Characters • Mr. Lorry • Miss Pross • Lucie Manette • Charles Darnay • Dr. Manette
Summary • The aforementioned characters are all preparing themselves for the wedding of Darnay and Lucie. • Mr. Lorry reflects on his relationship with Lucie and bringing her across the English channel so many years ago. • Mr. Lorry assures Lucie that her father will be well taken care of while she is on her honeymoon for a fortnight (14 days). • Dr. Manette emerges from a room with Darnay, looking “deadly pale” (201). • After Lucie and Darnay leave, Miss Pross discovers Dr. Manette shoemaking once again and unable to speak or communicate at all. • Lorry decides that Dr. Manette’s condition must be kept a secret from Lucie, patients, and everyone else but himself and Miss Pross. • Dr. Manette makes shoes tirelessly throughout the night, with Lorry and Pross taking shifts watching over him.
Literary Devices • Simile: “…dread had lately passed over him, like a cold wind” (201). ~Dr. Manette’s feelings and emotions are compared to a cold wind after hearing Darnay’s secret. • Symbolism: “He doesn’t know me, and is making shoes!” (202). ~Shoemaking symbolizes Dr. Manette’s psychological state and regression back to his prison days. ~Manette focuses on making a lady’s walking shoe. Perhaps this symbolizes his daughter “walking” out of his life. • Allusion: “…and expressing in as many pleasant and natural ways as he could think of that it was a free place” (204). ~Referencing one of Dickens’ earlier works Little Dorrit. The main character, William Dorrit, collapses at a dinner party and believes himself to be back in prison. Dorrit dies shortly after this episode- what will become of Dr. Manette?
Essential Quote • “He had laid aside his coat and waistcoat; his shirt was open at the throat, as it used to be when he did that work; and even the old haggard, faded surface of face had come back to him. He worked hard - impatiently – as if in some sense of having been interrupted”