A Tale of Two Cities Book the First Ch 3 & 4

Chapter Titles

• Chapter 3 is titled "Night Shadows."
• Chapter 4 is titled "The Preparation."

Characters

• Miss Pross is a lady dressed in red who cares for Lucy Manette.
• Jerry's eyes are described as sinister and too close together, contributing to his unnerving appearance.
• Dr. Manette is 45 years old and has been imprisoned in the Bastille for 18 years.
• Lucy Manette, Dr. Manette's daughter, is 17 years old with blond hair and blue eyes.

Themes and Style

• Dickens establishes the novel's tone through his choice of diction, creating a sense of foreboding and mystery.
• The term "inscrutable" is used to describe something that is mysterious and difficult to understand.

Events and Actions

• Jerry stops at taverns to drink while returning from delivering messages.
• Jarvis Lorry, after dreaming about distressed events from the past, reflects on his unsettling experiences associated with the mail.
• He stays at the Royal George Hotel and previously, it has been 15 years since he was last in France.

Descriptions and Comparisons

• Dr. Manette is depicted as white-haired with worn, emaciated hands, sunken cheeks, resembling a spectre.
• His linen is described using the simile: "as white as the tops of the waves that broke upon the neighboring beach."
• Jarvis compares the hotel coach to a dog kennel and himself to a dog, illustrating a sense of degradation upon arrival.

Significant Discoveries

• Mr. Lorry informs Lucy that her father, presumed dead, has been found alive and details their secret plan to retrieve him.
• Lucy’s room is characterized as funereal, almost like a tomb, but her presence brings it to life.

Mr. Lorry's Character

• Mr. Lorry presents himself as a composed and reserved figure, likened to Tellson's Bank, and refers to himself as “a mere machine” with no personal feelings.
• His nervousness in discussing Dr. Manette’s situation with Lucy is evident as he fidgets with his wig and tries to maintain a business-like manner.

Additional Facts

• The phrase "Recalled to Life" is significant, referring to the secret of Dr. Manette’s return from captivity.
• Miss Pross pushes Mr. Lorry, leading him to exclaim humorously, "I really think this must be a man."
• The Concord hotel room illustrates a blend of indistinct travelers, signifying different social backgrounds.

Locations

• Tellson's Bank has branches in both London and Paris.
• Calais is located in France, playing a vital role in the characters' travel narrative.