Book 2 Chapter 19 An Opinion

1. Book 2 Chapter 19An Opinion By: Michael Collins

2. Significance of the Title At breakfast Mr. Lorry asks Dr. Manette for his opinion on a recent case for his friend. He made this case up as another way to find out how Dr. Manette became ill again after he was fine before. Dr. Manette is giving Mr. Lorry an opinion about himself because he was cured after he got out of prison, but he went mentally ill again after his daughter left.

3. Plot • It is the tenth morning since Darnay and Lucie were married. • Mr. Lorry has woken up at his post and found the Doctor’s shoemaking tools and bench put aside. The Doctor was reading calmly by the window. • This appeared to be strange to Mr. Lorry and Miss Pross since the Doctor always seemed to be uneasy since his daughter left. • After breakfast, Mr. Lorry asks the Doctor for his opinion on a case he has been assigned. It involves a good friend of his and his daughter. • He explains that the person endured a great mental shock that he managed to recover from, only to go back into it later for nine days and nights. It was also kept secret from the daughter. • The Doctor soon figures that Mr. Lorry is talking about him, but continues to refer to his friend as Mr. Lorry asks him questions as to how this relapse could be prevented. • The Doctor states that the cause of something like this could be the return of a dreaded memory that would cause a previously mentally ill person to become ill again.

4. Plot cont. • Moving on, Mr. Lorry asks the Doctor if he thinks his old hobbies could be the cause of the re-surface of the painful memories. • Mr. Lorry puts together a story of a Blacksmith working at his forge during a difficult time. He had to let it go to forget those hard times. • The Doctor agrees with Mr. Lorry that sacrificing the item that brings back the memories would take them with it. • The Doctor then leaves to go be with Lucie, and while he is away, Mr. Lorry and Miss Pross, eliminate the items of his bad memories, his shoemaking tools. • They feel as accomplices as they do so.

5. Lit. Devices • Irony “I would recommend him to sacrifice it. I only want your authority. I am sure it does no good.” (pg. 212) Mr. Lorry is asking the doctor to sacrifice his shoemaking tools. His only and best hobby. • Symbolism The Doctor and Mr. Lorry agree that his tools represent the bad memories that came back to him. • Simile “So wicked do destruction and secrecy appear to honest minds, that Mr. Lorry and Miss Pross, while engaged in the commission of their deed and in the removal of its traces, almost felt, and almost looked, like accomplices in a horrible crime” (pg. 214) These people are compared to criminals because of the destruction they are doing.

6. Essential Quote “’I believe,’ returned Dr. Manette, ‘that there had been a strong and extraordinary revival of the train of thought and remembrance that was the first cause of the malady. Some intense associations of a most distressing nature were vividly recalled, I think. It is probable that there had long been a dread lurking in his mind, that those associations would be recalled – say, under certain circumstances – say on a particular occasion. He tried to prepare himself, in vain; perhaps the effort to prepare himself, made him less ale to bear it’” (pg. 209)

7. Questions?