Monseigneur in Detroit?
A Tale of Two Cities the Musical
For those of you who like musicals, you’ll appreciate the clip above. A Tale of Two Cities had a brief stint on Broadway.
On to the homework….Compare and contrast the conditions in London and Paris in the novel with the current American economy. Are there many similarities? What is the attitude of the rich vs. the poor?
Have a good weekend!
Filed under Senior Blog | Comments (22)22 Responses to “Monseigneur in Detroit?”
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I think there are a few similarities between the current American economy and the economies of London and Paris at that time. Things aren’t as bad as they were then. Most people can afford food and homes. They percentage of poverty back then compared to now is drastically different. Also people are not suffering as much as the people back then, granted there is a small percentage in America that are in the situation that the people back then was in. The attitudes of the rich and the poor have not changed in my opinion. The rich still only look out for themselves as they make more money, while the poor suffer and stave trying to survive in today’s economy.
My Country is Pure, My Country is Stable, My Country is AWESOMEEEEE! No really the Current condition of the Economy shows many similarities with England. Paris is said to be the city of the Prosperous with a add-on of political animousity. England has the high crime rate, the majority of the poor and down-trodden, and a king who only makes things worse with quick violence, and absence of though (sounds like a president we know). There are a few similarities that are very obvious, for one afordable cost of living, as prices go up so do the cost of common necessities, and it just doesn’t make any since if the wages and salaries don’t either.
There is a very fine line between a failed leader and a failed economy. That’s why I voted for change! Did you?
In both the French-English crisis and the recession going on now all over the world, there is constant talk of how people are losing their jobs and houses. The difference is that in Tale of Two Cities, the poverty was visible. Here and now, that is not so. Until recently, I haven’t heard of anyone close to me being affected.
Also, the difference between rich and poor is starker in Tale of Two Cities. As is the case in a lot of Third World countries today, there are really only rich and poor people, with no middle class. This isn’t exactly the case in the U.S.
In the novel, the rich are lavish and indifferent to the plight of everyone around them. They greedily indulge themselves and think nothing of it. The poor have to toil strenuously just to cling to a pittance of life. They are desperate for the basic necessities of life and they abhor the luxury of the rich.
On the attitude of the rich versus the poor:
My belief is, as long as there are people on this earth, as long as money or wealth exists, and as long as there are differences between us in general, something Americans seem to pride themselves on, there will be animosity, ill will, and prejudice. Someone will always desire to be greater than his or her neighbor through any means, and will surround him or herself with those who incorporate those same ideals. This is to say that the attitude of the rich toward the poor is the same as the attitude of the passerby to the beggar on the street. One has no connection to him personally whatsoever, but in the back of his or her’s conscience, it yells “HELP HIM”. Sometimes people yield to this notion, sometimes people choose to ignore it. Sometimes people elect to, while ignoring, shun these people. But, getting back to the point, the relationship with the rich and the poor all depends on the individual, however it is easy to see how the overall sentiment towards the poor is low at best.
On the relations of London and Paris in the book to the current American economy:
There are some slight similarities in general between these two examples; however, there are few examples in context. London and Paris are two extremes, polarized in order to illustrate a point. They are the extent of greed and excess along with the extent of deprivation and mistreatment. In America, presently, we have what will most likely go down as the “Panic of 2008″. However, most are still doing fine, the unemployment rate is still around 5.8%, most still have places to live. This is not the case in the times of this book, where, as illustrated by the case of the Monseignuer, most did not have much of anything to hold on to, except their lives and families.
I think that the state of Paris and London in a Tale of Two Cities compare to the state of the American economy today. The only difference is the economic severity of London and Paris, compared to the economic severity of the American economy. In the novel, London and Paris were both experiencig hard times. Paris was considered “The season of light,” and London was considered, “The season of Darkness,” although they were both experiencing hard economic times. Both London and Paris experienced rulers who didn’t care much about the “common people.” Paris experienced hard economic times through inflation, while London experienced an ineffective jusitce system, which often led to violence and crime. The hard times of the people who resided in these areas are displayed throughout the novel, in scenes such as The Wine-Shop, and the scene with the chapter entitled “Monseigneur in Town.”
The American economy is similar to the desciption of London and Paris, due to the hard ecomonic times both cities were experiencing. Today America, more specifically, the city of Detroit, is experiencing hard economic times with the foreclosures and job layoffs, especially with the auto industry. We may not have people running out in the street if Wine were to spill, like the villagers in the novel, but many people are careful how they spend their money. I beleive that the difference between London and Paris, compared to America, is the fact that London and Paris experienced worser times than America currently is. Yes, there are poor Americas today, but not compared to the numerous peasants described in the novel.
In the novel the elite were given more praise, while the poor were looked down upon. More specifically, the scene with Monsieur the Marquis throwing change at the father of the child who his carriage just killed, displayed the inhumane treatment of an “elite” towards a “common” person. The villagers in the novel who were considered “common people” were tired of this treatment. In a since this is a reality today. The “elite” class often looks down upon the “common people,” or those who aren’t as wealty.
On the surface, the American economy is very different from those of Paris and London in the novel. Although people are poorer than they may have been a few years ago, and although the current government may seem very corrupt, it does not compare to the immense poverty and corruption of Paris and London at that time. This kings, queens, and other officials were abusing their power and using tax money for personal use, leaving their people to starve.
However, class-discrimination is a rising issue here in America. It is clear everywhere, especially in high schools where kids are judged on the brand names they wear. It’s hard to understand why this is so accepted when other forms of discrimination (race, gender, ect.) are completely intolerable. A Tale of Two Cities may exaggerate the issues between the rich and the poor, but it is definitely still a prevalent issue today.
The current economy is very different from the economy in A tale of two cities Paris, and London. Mainly because back then to be poor was far worst than it is now. They were living in terrible conditions. The current American economy is not good off though there are still real hard times. Especially in Detroit, with the auto-industry. Everyone in the city will be affected. Although they are different, they are somewhat the same. The attitude of the rich over the poor is very bad. The rich act very supperior to the poor. The poor are treated very low by the rich. This is one of the differences.
Of course there is a similarity that can be seen between the economies that Dickens potrays and our current economy. Our country is , as I’ve heard quite frequently recently, in a recession. We’ve had a president similar to the king of England in his haste to act with violoence and intimidation. We have many poor people that are overlooked by the wealthy in the same way that the Marquis viewed the peasants. There is not such a widespread division between wealthy and poor, but it seems as if our country is moving closer to that every day the stock market drops.
I do think the American economy compares to the economy of London and Paris in the novel. In both cases there are many people struggling to survive in hard economic times. I feel the only difference in the economy now and the ecnonmy of London and Paris in the novel is the help provided. In the novel the rulers of Paris and London did not care about the people they served and many rulers did not try to help those in poverty. In current times there are many programs that are available for those in proverty, although many still struggle to survive.
In my opinion the attitude of the rich vs. poor has not changed one bit in both cases. Like in the novel, rich people now indulge in themeselves (especially those who have political power) only and dont help those in need. Its almost seems as no one else matters except them.
Okay. Well, in A Tale of Two Cities, the economy is transferring from primeval times into something closer to the modern day economy. So of course, everything was in disarray. People are dying from starvation and lack of shelter everyday, the people rush out into the streets to get a scrap of dropped wine, and the rich look down on those less fortunate as if they were poo beneath their feet. Hmm… Sound familiar? The economy of America today sort of mimics what was going on in Paris and London back then. The economy is in shambles, going in a downward spiral. I suppose if you were an optimist, you would say that people are starving everywhere and have always been starving and dying. But this is supposed to be America. You know, Land of the Free and Opportunity and all that good stuff. So I suppose all in all that the economy of today in America matches that of the on in A Tale of Two Cities.
Okies. The attitude of rich vs. poor? Psshaw, is that even a battle? The rich people always come out on top. I don’t care how optimistic you are, money makes the world go round, and if you don’t have it, you’re pretty much out of luck.
Well…Even with the state of the American economy as it is today, we have not seen citizens flocking into the streets to scoop up spilt red wine, as we see in Dickens’s Paris, but as our economy falters, it is safe to ay that we may reach a modern-day equivalent, but not quite. One difference between these conditions is made by the actual types of people and workers of that time and this time. It’s clear that in Dickens’s novel, the wealth of London is concentrated into the hands of a few, such as the Marquis, who exhibit a cruel disregard for the condition of the impoverished, and in this way perpetuate their continued suffering.
In modern America, it is also clear that an elite class exists, but this belief can today be covered by a more necessary and involved government in all types of affairs that harms its citizens with its costly but called for policies and affairs. The people and institutions to blame are not as easily apparent and it is less blatant that a wealthy few are working to make themselves richer and the poor poorer. In essence, the current American economic struggle appears more unified due to the ability of economic crises to adversely affect the vast majority of citizens in some way. In Dickens’s depictions it seems like the struggle and suffering start and stop at a thin line of division.
(Again, this is based on appearance and depiction–Personally, I think some of the economic elite in the US don’t give a hoot about the poor and just wanna make their checks fatter….)
The conditions in London and Paris are quite similar to the economic crisis occurring in America. America is currently going through an overbearing economic doownfall. Thousands, if not millions, of people are losing their jobs and their homes. Prices on goods and other necessities have gone up. America’s economy is in a recession.
Life in Lonndon and Paris is just as difficult. The poor were about to kill themselves over small sips of wine! That alone is an indicator of the poverty that is very apparent in those two cities.
The attitude of the rich vs. the poor is similar in the two cities in the novel and America as well. The rich believe that they are better off than the poor. The rich put themselves on high pedestals, which make them seem untouchable. The rich are looked at as important because they have a lot of money. The poor are looked at as unimportant because their money supply is scarce.
Within any society as long as there is money concomitant problems will follow indefintely. There will never be a perfect society and with that being said there will aslways be a solid line dividing the rich and the poor. It may seem as if there were a harsher division between the rich and the poor than it is in the American economy today, but I belive that is only due to the different eras. Now of course people wouldnt drink wine off the streets in todays society, but that is because wine isnt an everyday commodity like it was back then, but i assure you if something like gas were to be left in the streets for all to grab, people would not pass up the opportunity to fill up their tanks. The point im trying to make is that just like in Paris and London, their is a distinct difference between the rich and the poor in American society. Like always the rich’s main goal to maintain their wealth. Honestly I believe the economies of portrayed in A Tale of two cities are quite similar, the only difference is that the current American economy shows an economy in the middle of the recession and the economies portrayed in the book are those at the end of one.
First things first… the cute little boy in my avatar picture is my brother.. and he wants to say something
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that means hi… i think
okay… um… lets see…
At first glance, the economy of Paris and London in the novel have very few similarities to American economy of today. The poverty in the novel is definitly more visable and the people troubled by the poverty seem to suffer more than the people affected today. But, looking at the bigger picture, of course there are similarites. The ecomony of America today is struggling as the ecomnies of Paris and London must have been and the political neglect is present in both situations. In the novel, the povety is shown as more drastic; for instance, when the “common people” were licking wine from the streets. Instances like that do not or rarely happen nowadays.
The attitude of the different classes is definitely evident in both situations. In the novel, the rich people clearly view themselves as superior to the commoners and poverty striken people. In today’s economy, this, although not as drastic is still visable. People with more money feel as if they have more power and are free to, to an extent, do as they please. This is most prominently evident in poliics and how some politicians vies only deal with certain economic classes of people.
“The worst of times” presented by Dickens in his description of London and Paris shows very few similarities, in my opinion, to the economic/living conditions in today’s American society. Although both of which are experiencing difficult times– one on the verge of revolution, and the other facing a severe economic decline– The condition of Paris and London are far worse than the state we are in here in America. In the novel, Dickens describes life in Paris and London as living in extreme poverty, living without money, and living on the brink of starvation. For the majority of Americans today, economic conditions have not forced us to live in such horrible conditions. (…at least not yet, MWAHAHAHA!!) Although we are offially in a recession, Americans are capable of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, rather than the society that Dickens decribes.Unlike them, I doubt that today’s Americans would throw themselves (and their children) into the street over a simple wine spill.
The only major similarity between American economic conditions today, compared to London and Paris is the relationship between rich and poor. The rich upper class portion of society has just as little concern for the poor today, as they do in the story.
In the novel The Tale of Two Cities, both cities of London and Paris are in economic turmoil. This is made evident when one of the chapters opens up with a wine case dropping off a truck and all of the people rushing to the street to retrieve the liquour. They drink the liquid from the cracks of the street, sop up the liquid with cloths and ring it in their mouth and even in the mouths of infants. The American economy can be directly compared to these cities. The juxtaposition of the American economy and the city of Pris reveal various similiarities between the two. Both economies are in turmoil and begin to show a distinct seperation between rich and poor. In the novel, the rich appear to be greedy and in excess of money while the surrounding people remain poor and suffer. This also relates to the American economy in the sense that the American economy appears to have a seperation of classes into rich and poor. It seems that the economy suffers while others, such as big industries like oil companies etc, grow and prosper. In both economies it seems like the rich seem to have an attitde of “every man for himself” while the ‘poor’ appear to portray an attitude of “every man help each other.”
i think the economies of london and france can be compared to the present american economy. in the novel. the poor continuously struggle while the rich keep thriving. just like today, poorer people are working extremely hard in order to make ends meet while wee-off people continue to live like as though we are not in a recession or do not have struggling economy. the current american economy has many people worrying about how they are going to live, which is the same scenario as in the novel. to me, the attitudes of the rich and the poor are somewhat the same as they are today. the attitude of the poor is that they will do whatever needs to be done and work as hard as they have to in order to make ends meet. the rich, however, seem to have a somewhat ignorant attitude and seem to think that no matter what happens they will always be rich.
Just to get it out of the way, the economies of both cities, along with our country are all pitiful. A vast majority of the populations live in poverty, the only difference between the two, is over in the European cities, the people in poverty lived on the streets, and along the highways. In America, people who live in poverty can usually be found living in homeless shelters, or thrown in jail. The many similarities lie in the statistics of how many people are actually living in poverty, and/or are homeless.
The rich, in both cases, and as usual, look down upon the people less fortunate than themselves, and work to maintain their own standards of better living, making sure to keep themselves disassociated with people of lower class than themselves.
i know, i know im late but….
there is one main difference between our economic times now and the hard times that London and France faced during the late 1700s and that is the mere fact that modern Americans tend to cover things up to make them seem better than what they are. In contrast, times were so bad in the cities that the people had to embrace their hardship so they could unite and face it together.
Although the line between the rich and the poor is still very evident, the rich seem to have a slight more sense of compassion for those who are without.
The corrupt hierarcy system in France felt as though peasants lives were worthless. Our government may not go as far as to reference things in that matter, but scandals and lies fill our local and federal governments as well.
Walking in the presence of gintas here. Cool thinking all around!
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