While this has nothing to do with independent reading, it is something that I found interesting, and it relates to class (plus, I still need a few more posts).
The use of the name "Saint Antoine" in A Tale of Two Cities refers to the Bastille. It was originally built during the Hundred Years' war as an add-on to the Saint-Antoine gate. The Bastille Saint-Antoine (Castle of Saint Anthony) was built in 1383 as extra protection for eastern Paris.
"Saint Antoine" seems to be a French localization of "Saint Anthony." Which Saint Anthony, however, (Anthony the Great, a hermit famous for being tempted in the desert [as portrayed in The Torment of Saint Anthony, painted by Michaelangelo] or Anthony of Padua, who was visited by a child Jesus and after whom San Antonio is named), I do not know. On one hand, Anthony the Great is likely the more well known, but on the other, Anthony of Padua was at least geographically and chronologically close.
Why on Earth you would name a gate of a city after a saint, I do not know.
Also, "Crocodilopolis" is a great name for a city.
Hmm, this approaches up a lot of questions I had, but I'm still confused. When Dickens talks about Saint Antoine sleeping, and Saint Antoine arming to storm the Bastille, it sounded like "Saint Antoine" was the name of the town, or maybe the personification of the collective town, or even its synecdoche, the patron saint, maybe? I'm confused... care to enlighten me?
ReplyDeleteI noticed that myself, especially in this week's final chapter. Looking at the list on Wikipedia, it seems that St. Anthony of Padua is the patron saint of oppressed people, poor people, and starvation (among other things). That seems unnecessarily confusing to me.
ReplyDeleteAfter asking Ms. Washburn, it seems that St. Antoine refers to the quarter of the city in this case (which has been mentioned in the story). Interesting coincidence on Anthony being their patron, as well, though.
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