A Tale of Two Cities · Chapter
Five Years Later explained
This chapter introduces Tellson's Bank as an old-fashioned, inconvenient institution that takes pride in its darkness and smallness, reflecting the conservative values of the time.
What happens
This chapter introduces Tellson's Bank as an old-fashioned, inconvenient institution that takes pride in its darkness and smallness, reflecting the conservative values of the time. It also introduces Jerry Cruncher, the odd-job man for Tellson's, and his family life, including his wife's religious practices which he resents.
Themes in this chapter
Class and Privilege
Tellson's Bank embodies the entrenched class system and privilege of the old order, taking pride in its inconvenient, dark premises and resisting change, much like the aristocracy.
Social Injustice and Revolution
The chapter's description of the death penalty for minor crimes and the display of heads on Temple Bar underscores the social injustice that fuels revolutionary sentiment.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Cruncher
Introduced as the odd-job man for Tellson's Bank, living in Hanging-sword-alley with his wife and son. He is superstitious and angry at his wife for praying, which he believes brings him bad luck.
- Young Jerry
Mr. Cruncher's son, a grisly urchin of twelve who assists his father and teases his mother about her praying.
- Mrs. Cruncher
Mr. Cruncher's wife, a woman of orderly and industrious appearance who is repeatedly scolded by her husband for praying, which he calls 'flopping.'
Key passages
“Tellson’s Bank by Temple Bar was an old-fashioned place, even in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty. It was very small, very dark, very ugly, very incommodious.”
Tellson's Bank near Temple Bar was outdated and uncomfortable, even for 1780.
Introduces the setting and the bank's character.
“His surname was Cruncher, and on the youthful occasion of his renouncing by proxy the works of darkness, in the easterly parish church of Hounsditch, he had received the added appellation of Jerry.”
His last name was Cruncher, and he was nicknamed Jerry after being baptized in Hounsditch.
Introduces Jerry Cruncher and his nickname.