Fire rises, fire rises
indeed. Revolutionaries are everywhere, burning expensive buildings and
overthrowing the rich. In the chapter, a tired man approaches the mender
of the roads, a situation that would be unusual a few years back - why do you
think that is? The two men greet each other by the name
"Jacques;" why do they do this? The Mender lets the man sleep
on his watch, and at sunset, they depart together towards the château, and
subsequently the château is burned TO THE GROUND. “With the rising and falling of the blaze,
the stone faces showed as if they were in torment…As if it were the face of
cruel Marquis, burning at the stake, and contending with the fire.” (234) What
do you think this quote represents?
As it is burning, a rider
from the Château urges the villagers to save some of the valuables, but
instead, everyone goes into their respective houses and put “candles in every
dull pane of glass.” (234) Why do they do this?
Lastly, Four figures moving east, west, north, and south are
mentioned multiple times in the chapter.
What is their significance in the chapter, and why did Dickens mention
it multiple times?
Answer and discuss these questions, or converse on a topic
that you found interesting in this climactic chapter by Charles Dickens.
I thought it was interesting that Dickens switched from the Sea metaphor to a fire metaphor. I think it might be to show that the movement is spreading like wildfire, and to paint a more violent image in the readers mind. The mender of roads and the unnamed man greet each other as Jaques. This shows that they are revolutionaries. The two burn the Marquis' house down. It is almost as if they are killing the Marquis again. As if being murdered weren't punishment enough for his sins.
ReplyDeleteAs for the candles, putting candles in every pain of glass reflected to light, and made everything look lit up. I'm not quite sure why they did this, but I'm sure Dickens had a reason.
the four figures moving in all directions show that things such as the burning of the chateau are happening throughout France. It also shows that to movement is spreading in all directions, like a fire.
This chapter was showing that the revolution had taken hold in rural France, not just the populated cities and towns. The revolutionaries are everywhere, greeting each other by the name Jacques. They do this to confirm the other's identity and make sure that they can confide in one another. It was apparent that the traveler was set on burning the Chateau to the ground. This Chateau was not the only one. Throughout the chapter, men traveling North, South, East, and West were referred to many times. One such instance was on page 235. "The fierce figures were steadily wending East, West, North, and South, be that as it would; and whosoever hung, fire burned."
ReplyDeleteAs for the Marquis, this is representing the fall and brutal killings of the cruel and oppressive upper class. When the villagers are begged to help, none respond, for they no longer owe allegiance to the master. The end is near for what little nobility that now remains alive.
After reading this chapter, the reader can see every thing is coming apart. The Jacques are taking their revenge on the Marquis and his wonderful house. When the house is burning to the ground and Dickens brings us back to the face of the Marquis like stone, I think he is doing this to show that the Jacques are overcoming the nobility. This image is saying that they have killed the Marquis, and they no longer have to look up to him since he is gone forever. Not just the Marquis though, I think Dickens is showing that the revolution is just beginning.
ReplyDeleteThe scene with the candles I did not understand. When I read that line about the valuables I assumed so many people would be making their way to the château because they wanted the riches. I predicted there was going to be a big scene with the peasants fighting for the valuables, but I was completely wrong. Overall, I thought this chapter was very interesting. The reader gets to see what is happening with the revolution and the images Dickens puts into your mind are really powerful.
The man who greets the mender of roads may have been an unusual sight years ago, when peasants rarely left their respective villages, but now that the revolution has taken hold of France, its agents travel to all areas and deal with the aristocracy. The two men greet each other as Jacques because this was the sign that you were a member of the revolution. Dicken's mention of the four figures moving "East, West, North, and South, be that as it would; and whosoever hung, fire burned..." illustrates how pervasive the revolution was, as no Chateau in France was safe from its fires.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the last three chapters, Dickens has used the continuing metaphor of the rising sea and flames of the revolution. Not only does this represent the power and ferocity with which the revolution was carried out, but it is also a biblical reference. During the Christian apocalypse, the world will be plagued with fire and flood, and Dickens used this in a deeply Christian culture to illustrate how terrible the revolution was.
This chapter establishes the change in mindset all across France. When Dickens says east west north and south it means that the same things are happening everywhere in France. More evidence that the mindset has changed is on page 234 where Dickens describes the Mender of Roads "once so submissive to authority" challenging and threatening the tax collector. As we have discussed the Mender of Roads is the common peasant and a change in allegiance from the mender of roads symbolizes a change in allegiance from all peasants in France. When the Chateau is on fire the reference to the Marquis is made to symbolize the toppling of the aristocracy and the suffering that they will have to endure at the hands of the vengeful peasants.
ReplyDeleteThe reason that the two men greet each other by "Jacques" because it notifies that they are both revolutionaries. "With the rising ad falling of the blaze, the stone faces showed as if they were in torment...As if it were the face of cruel Marquis, burning at the stake, and contending with the fire." I think this quote represents them re-killing the Marquis because they all were not satisfied enough with just his body and soul gone. They wanted all his history burned with him so that they never come in contact with anything relating to him again.
ReplyDeleteAfter these two consecutive chapters, the one thing that is becoming most important in these people's lives is seeking revenge for the nobles and others. However, for the four figures moving east, west, north, and south, I believe this is portraying how the revolution is spreading all throughout France and how no one is able to control it, hence Charles Dickens describing this as a "fire." When reading about the villagers saving some of the valuables, I was confused on why they did this. I didn't find any significant within this scene of the chapter, but I suppose it might have a true meaning that I was unable to grasp fully.
I thought this chapter was very interesting and appealing. There was a lot of action, that geared my attention, unlike other chapters. Dicken’s switches the reader’s metaphoric view from sea to fire, also complete opposites. I thought it explained the revolutionary moving rapidly throughout France. When we first see a man greeting the Mender of The Roads, as “Jacque”, it symbolizes their positions as revolutionaries.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, when the château is burning, I thought it represented a lot of significance. I thought most of the peasants did not want to save some of the valuables that would eventually be burned as well was because they might not have been much value anymore, since the Marquis was dead. One would think peasants of all people would not only want to save the valuables, but keep them. Before the Marquis died, he made himself seem like a control figure of the peasants. They were probably fed up with him, and since he died, his valuables died along with him.
The situation where the mender of roads came across another “Jacques” wasn’t unusual because the country is amidst a revolution and people are moving all about the nation. They call each other “Jacques” not only because it is casual but also to let each other know that they are on the same side. As for the quote about the stone faces, I think it represents the falling of the rich and powerful in France. It shows that for once, the peasants have intimidated and are overtaking the aristocracy in the country. Finally, the four figures moving in all directions represent the spreading of the revolution. This is not the first time the reader has seen Dickens compare the revolution and the rebels in this way. In previous chapters he compared the mob of revolutionaries to the sea. I think he’s trying to make the reader think that the revolution and this mass change is moving rapidly, gaining support and that it can’t be stopped.
ReplyDelete