Book 2 Chapter 1-5 Summary

By Daniyal Imran

The year is now 1780 and Tellson's Bank in London prides iteslf on being ''Very small dark and ugly''. If it
was more welcoming which is what the bank's partners believe, it would lose it's status are a respectable
business. Tellson's Bank is located by Temple Bar, its the spot where recently the government displayed
the heads of the exectured criminals. The narrator explains at this time that ''Death was a recipe much in
vogue'' [Vogue means popular or fashionable] was used against all manner of criminals from forgers to
thieves who steal horses to counterfeiters. Jerry Cruncher, the odd-job mans beings his day in Chapter 1
by yelling at his wife that she is ''praying against'' him. He throws his muddy boot [This tells us that he
digs up dead bodies] at her. His son wonders why his father always has rust on his fingers.

Chapter 2 beings by a Tellson's Bank clerk who instructs Jerry Cruncher to go to the Old Bailey
Courthouse and await orders from Mr.Lorry. Jerry Cruncher arrives at the court where Charles Darnay
who is a handsome and a well-bred young man, who stands at trial for treason. Jerry understands a little
bit of the justice system, but he thinks that Charles Darnay has been charged with divulging [Divulging
means making something private] secret information to the king of France King Louis XVI.

Chapter 3 begins by the Attorney-General who prosecutes the case and demands that the jury finds
Charles Darnay guilty of passing English secrets into French hands. The Solicitor-General examines John
Barsad [The British Spy] whose testimony supports the Attorney-General's case. The cross-examinations
tarnishes John Barsad's pure character. It reveals that he served time in debtor's prison and was involved
in brawls over gambling and cheated in gambling. Roger Cly [Another British Spy] whom the defense
attorney , Mr.Stryver, who exposes as a dubious [Dubious means hesitating or doubting] and an
untrustworthy witness. Mr.Lorry takes the stand and the prosecution asks him that five years ago, he
shared a Dover mail coach with the accused person. Lorry contends that his fellow passengers sat so
closely, or bundled up so their identities were hidden. The prosecution also asks similar questions from
Lucie Manette. She admits to meeting the prisoner [Dr.Manette] on the ship back to England. Mr Stryver
cross-examines another witness with no result. hen his insolent young colleague, Syndey Carton, who
passes him a note. Stryver starts arguing the contents of the note which draws the court's attention to
Sydney.

Chapter 4 starts off the reader with Dr.Manette,Lucie,Mr.Lorrry and Stryver with Darnay who exit the
courtroom. Dr.Manette established himself as a distinguished citizen through the gloom of this terrible
past [Being held captive] descends on him from time to time. [He remembers his past] These ''terrible
past-clouds'' rarely descend. Lucie feels confident in her power as the golden thread that unites him to a
past and present ''beyond his misery'' Charles Darnay who has a ''crush'' on Lucie, kisses her hand and
turns to Stryver to thank him for his work. We get to know that Sydney Carton is a depressed man and
he drinks alot. He makes his way to a nearby tavern with Darnay. Darnay comments that Carton has been
drinking and he gives a reply that ''I caer for no man on earth, and no man on earth cares for me''. After
Darnay leaves Carton curses his own image in a mirror as well as his look-alike [Darnay] who reminds him
of what he has ''fallen away from''.

Chapter 5 starts with Sydney Carton who leaves the tavern and goes to Mr.Stryver's apartment. The men
drink together and dicuss about the court proceedings. Stryver who is nicknames ''the lion'' compliments
Sydney carton ''the jackal'' for the rare point he made in Charles Darnay's identification. Stryver observes
Carton has been between highs and lows and laments [a passionate expression of grief or sorrow] about
their days in their childhood. Stryver says ''now in spirits and now in despondency [Low spirits or hope] .
Carton shrugs off his accusation that his life lacks a unified direction and is unable to match Stryver's
vaulting ambition. Carton claims that he has no other choice but to life his life in ''rust and respone''
[Rust and Sorrow]. Stryver attemps to change the subject to a conversation about Lucie Manette's
beauty but Carton dismisses her as a ''golden haried doll'' but Stryver wonders about Carton's true
feelings for her.

Anaylsis
In Book 2 chapter 1-5 we get to know more about Jerry Cruncher and his life and the trial of Charles
Darnay. Darnay was about to lose the case where Sydney Carton who is a depressed man and has had
many ups and downs in his life comes with a few rare points which make Darnay victorious. We get to
know about Mr. Stryver and that he and Sydney Carton were friends since school and that Dr.Manette
had been held up captive for a long long time where he was scared that he was ''distinguished'' from
society.