https://padlet.com/stephanie_hausm/jyecfc3t93h4 Craft a well-developed paragraph describing your thoughts/reactions/emotions regarding the ending of A Tale of Two Cities. en-us 2018-01-25 19:40:38 UTC 2018-01-26 15:44:02 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.com/stephanie_hausm/jyecfc3t93h4/wish/225088402 Simply put, I love this book and the ending so much. The first book was kind of boring, the second book was a little better, but the third book -- whoo! Everything gets wrapped up, everything! 

I remember last night when I was reading, I looked over to my dad and told him about Sydney Carton and how he is a tragic character who gave his life for the man of the woman he loved, and you know what my father said; "So he committed suicide."
Well, kinda but not really. He kind of has a thing about being a bit blunt and harsh about things, and tends not to see any symbolism or...anything to do with what literature is about. However, I agreed in that statement only in the fact that Carton's life was so wretched and wasted that it seemed to him that he wasn't losing anything anyway. Actually, what my dad got me kinda riled and I guess I just wanted to rant about it?

And can I just say that the final kiss between Lucie and Carton with the line, "A life you love," which refers back to what he had said before when confessing his love to her as well as when he was looking up at her window and gave a final Farewell -- UGH, that hits my heart just so painfully, and I love it and hate it because Carton was too good. 

Oh, also, Carton is a bit of a martyr, wouldn't you think? 

PS This is Laura and Carton was too good for that world. 

PPS I managed to guess most of what happened, so to me the surprises weren't so surprising, but enjoyable nonetheless, so that may reveal that Dickens's style is both eloquent but also predictable. 

PPPS Last one I promise, I just can't seem to find the words to describe how I feel about this book -- only that it a mixture between satisfaction and regret and calming justification for that regret. ]]> 2018-01-26 15:20:35 UTC https://padlet.com/stephanie_hausm/jyecfc3t93h4/wish/225088402 https://padlet.com/stephanie_hausm/jyecfc3t93h4/wish/225088627 I feel bad for Carton. He was just hurting through this entire book, and he ended in his demise. It really goes to show how much love can do to a person, and it can make you do crazy things. I do feel really bad for him, but he also was a hero. He died in order for Lucie to be happy, which  says a lot about a persons character. ]]> 2018-01-26 15:21:03 UTC https://padlet.com/stephanie_hausm/jyecfc3t93h4/wish/225088627 https://padlet.com/stephanie_hausm/jyecfc3t93h4/wish/225088731 I'm terribly heartbroken for Carton, but the story definitely conveyed love and the ultimate sacrifice. Carton wasn't just dying for Lucie , he was dying for Lucie's happiness and in which made him have a bittersweet attitude towards the end. 
He accepted that Lucie's would never love him the way he wanted, instead he made her happy. His last action was for the Manette Family. Sydney Carton, almost an unimportant Character transformed into one of the deepest and truly my favorite character.



]]> 2018-01-26 15:21:15 UTC https://padlet.com/stephanie_hausm/jyecfc3t93h4/wish/225088731 https://padlet.com/stephanie_hausm/jyecfc3t93h4/wish/225088784 The ending of this book was not what I, and I feel many others expected. Carton was on a train of self pity and feeling worthless this entire book, which ultimately resulted in the reader feeling sorry for him. But in the end, Carton did one of the best acts of heroism that is of literary merit. He gave his own life for his best friend, and that is something not very many people, if any at all, would do. Overall, I genuinely wish my friends were as good as Carton was to Darnay and Lucie. 

]]> 2018-01-26 15:21:22 UTC https://padlet.com/stephanie_hausm/jyecfc3t93h4/wish/225088784 https://padlet.com/stephanie_hausm/jyecfc3t93h4/wish/225089178 I am kind of surprised that it ended with Carton going to the guillotine, I kind of wanted it to be seeing the happy ending of Darnay and Lucie, but there is a very strong element to the end. That it took you back.

]]> 2018-01-26 15:22:06 UTC https://padlet.com/stephanie_hausm/jyecfc3t93h4/wish/225089178 https://padlet.com/stephanie_hausm/jyecfc3t93h4/wish/225089254 I was surprised by Carton's switch which showed he was a lot more than the hopeless drunk he was portrayed as all book. There were so may plot twists at the end that it was a bit of a crazy journey to get there. The Everemond connection to Madame Defarge and Dr. Manette was a surprise and Dr. Manettte denouncing the Evremond family in his note was the ultimate twist that must have been very painful for him to bear. I was saddened by the end but also happy that Darnay was saved so Little Lucy could have a complete family. I did enjoy so many connections, questions, and loose ends all being tied up so nicely in the last few chapters. 

]]> 2018-01-26 15:22:16 UTC https://padlet.com/stephanie_hausm/jyecfc3t93h4/wish/225089254 https://padlet.com/stephanie_hausm/jyecfc3t93h4/wish/225089282 I like that Dickens was able to bring the ending full circle. I didn't have many questions about the end of the book or what happened. I also liked the development of Carton's character especially as he was just a drunk before and then was able to find a purpose for his life.  I guess I wasn't to fond of the doctor going crazy again/relapsing into shoe making. ]]> 2018-01-26 15:22:19 UTC https://padlet.com/stephanie_hausm/jyecfc3t93h4/wish/225089282 https://padlet.com/stephanie_hausm/jyecfc3t93h4/wish/225089602 I feel bad for Carton because he believes he has nothing to live for and that death is a far better place for him to go to. However, he really transformed from the hopeless drunk throughout the book to a man of ultimate sacrifice. It's a bittersweet ending but I loved how Carton developed and put others before himself.]]> 2018-01-26 15:22:55 UTC https://padlet.com/stephanie_hausm/jyecfc3t93h4/wish/225089602 https://padlet.com/stephanie_hausm/jyecfc3t93h4/wish/225090082 I feel that everything ended as it should have. Carton had nothing and nothing to live for so him saving Darnay was the best result for anyone. Carton was a very smart man. He even pretended not to know much French around Madame Defarge as to not give Darnay away at the Paris boundaries. His sacrifice was admirable and I'm sure he will be remembered forever. Madame Defarge's death is where I felt less satisfied. She deserved a horrid death, but only a lame gunshot killed her. Her character was worth more suffering than that. Also Pross didn't deserve to go deaf from the gunshot. That was stupid. I am also glad that Jerry Cruncher didn't die because he was my favorite character.]]> 2018-01-26 15:23:57 UTC https://padlet.com/stephanie_hausm/jyecfc3t93h4/wish/225090082 https://padlet.com/stephanie_hausm/jyecfc3t93h4/wish/225090613 I did like the ending it made sense for the book to end this way . There was foreshadowing of Carton's death and I believe it was important for him to take Darnay's place. ]]> 2018-01-26 15:24:52 UTC https://padlet.com/stephanie_hausm/jyecfc3t93h4/wish/225090613 blarsen18 https://padlet.com/stephanie_hausm/jyecfc3t93h4/wish/225090912 I am a little surprised at the ending, but now that I have finished the book I can see now look back and see that there was a little foreshadowing leading to the ending.  I feel bad for Carton because I felt as if he had no purpose, and that's why he made the decision to take the place at the guillotine, but at the same time I think it was the best way for the book to end

]]> 2018-01-26 15:25:27 UTC https://padlet.com/stephanie_hausm/jyecfc3t93h4/wish/225090912 https://padlet.com/stephanie_hausm/jyecfc3t93h4/wish/225091157 Personally, the ending to ATOTC was fitting, Dickens managed to end the book as it should, with the death of more people. The ending did tie up most if not all loose ends in one eloquent bow. However, I felt that the big plot twist of Carton saving Darney was foretold the moment that Dickens went to great length to describe them as physically similar; at this point Dicken's practically revealed the entire ending, dozens of chapters before it would come. That being said I still enjoyed the ending because the individuals who deserved to die, died. While at the same time the main characters who should keep living, lived.]]> 2018-01-26 15:25:55 UTC https://padlet.com/stephanie_hausm/jyecfc3t93h4/wish/225091157 https://padlet.com/stephanie_hausm/jyecfc3t93h4/wish/225091677 I really liked the end of this book, even though it was sad. I think that the final chapters bring the entire novel together, and add depth and meaning to scenes and characters that would have otherwise slipped by without notice. Without the final theme of sacrifice and redemption, A Tale of Two Cities is an entertaining story about the revolution, but the ending transforms it into a powerful message about the human experience. I don't believe that sacrificing himself for Darnay was the only way for Carton to find redemption, but it is a good reminder that thoughtful service is a powerful force in humanity. Carton emphasizes the idea that there is peace, purpose, and power in sacrifice in his final moments, both with the prophecy and his stolen kiss. Similarly, the sacrifice that Miss Pross makes for Lucie overcomes the hurt and pain that Defarge would have caused her, showing that loyalty and friendship are stronger than hatred and revenge. The story ends with hope, which I greatly appreciate.]]> 2018-01-26 15:27:04 UTC https://padlet.com/stephanie_hausm/jyecfc3t93h4/wish/225091677 https://padlet.com/stephanie_hausm/jyecfc3t93h4/wish/225091684 I have always liked Carton as a character. I felt like he had just been waiting for a moment to show his true self. Being stuck behind the shadow the lion is hard to escape. It makes me extremely happy to see that he was finally able to fulfil his promise to Lucie that he would do anything for her and her family ]]> 2018-01-26 15:27:05 UTC https://padlet.com/stephanie_hausm/jyecfc3t93h4/wish/225091684 https://padlet.com/stephanie_hausm/jyecfc3t93h4/wish/225092917 The entire stories loose ends were wrapped up and brilliantly written. However, I have mixed emotions regarding the ending. Carton sacrificing himself to save the lives of essentially everyone he loves and making sure that Lucie is cared for even after his death tugged at the emotions. Carton's morality to put the well being and lives of others above his own is seldom reached by others. Madame Defarge deserved to die and I am glad that she did. I am curious behind the choice to make Miss Pross deaf. I enjoy the themes and lessons presented through the book but wish it didn't have to come at the cost of Carton although it was necessary. ]]> 2018-01-26 15:29:20 UTC https://padlet.com/stephanie_hausm/jyecfc3t93h4/wish/225092917 https://padlet.com/stephanie_hausm/jyecfc3t93h4/wish/225095202 I felt like the ending did a good job of squaring off all the plot lines and eliminating any potential cliffhangers. Obviously, Carton’s sacrifice was supposed to come across as a surprise, but I think that most of us saw it coming from early on. I thought it was weird that Dickens made the characters look identical, and I figured there was a reason for this. As eerie as it is to say this, I was relieved that Pross killed Madame Defarge. Although she didn’t play much of a role early on, Madame really turned into a wicked woman throughout the book. Overall, I think the ending was fitting and appropriate.]]> 2018-01-26 15:33:37 UTC https://padlet.com/stephanie_hausm/jyecfc3t93h4/wish/225095202