# The Grindstone explained — A Tale of Two Cities

> Chapter companion for A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.

## What happens

Mr. Lorry witnesses a horrific scene in the courtyard where revolutionaries sharpen weapons on a grindstone, covered in blood. Lucie and Doctor Manette arrive unexpectedly, having learned that Charles Darnay is imprisoned in La Force. Doctor Manette uses his status as a former Bastille prisoner to gain influence and goes out to the mob to secure Darnay's safety.

## Themes in this chapter

### Resurrection and Renewal

Doctor Manette's past as a Bastille prisoner is 'recalled to life' to give him power to save Charles, echoing the novel's theme of renewal through suffering.

### Social Injustice and Revolution

The grindstone scene vividly depicts the brutal, bloody violence of the revolution, with citizens sharpening weapons to murder prisoners.

### Sacrifice and Redemption

Doctor Manette risks his safety to redeem Charles, and Lucie's submissive obedience is a sacrifice for her husband's life.

## Character check-ins

### Mr. Jarvis Lorry

Watches the grindstone scene from the window, comforts Lucie, and orchestrates the plan to help Charles.

### Lucie Manette

Arrives in Paris with her father, distraught over Charles's imprisonment, falls into a stupor clinging to Mr. Lorry.

### Doctor Manette

Uses his identity as a former Bastille prisoner to gain the mob's trust and goes to La Force to save Charles.

### Miss Pross

Present with Lucie and the child, lays the child down on the bed.

### Charles Darnay

Imprisoned in La Force after returning to Paris on an errand of generosity.

## Key lines

> The great grindstone, Earth, had turned when Mr. Lorry looked out again, and the sun was red on the courtyard. But, the lesser grindstone stood alone there in the calm morning air, with a red upon it that the sun had never given, and would never take away.

The world had moved on, but the bloodstained grindstone remained as a permanent mark of the night's horrors.

_Symbolizes the indelible stain of revolutionary violence._

> My old pain has given me a power that has brought us through the barrier, and gained us news of Charles there, and brought us here.

My suffering as a Bastille prisoner has given me influence that allowed us to enter the city and learn of Charles's imprisonment.

_Doctor Manette's past trauma becomes a source of strength and authority._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters/ii-the-grindstone
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_tale_of_two_cities_se/chapters