What do you think the Dickens is trying to say in the first sentence by pairing together so many opposites to describe the time in which his story takes place?

In what is one of the most famous opening lines in modern literature ("It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..."), Dickens captures the extremes of idealism and terror of the revolutionary period of the late 18th century. With the exception of figures of historical significance, in particular the monarchs, no characters directly related to the plot are introduced in this opening, reflecting Dickens's choice to focus on the setting rather than the characterization of individuals in this historical novel.

For more information on the opening of the novel, check out GradeSaver's analysis for Chapters 1-4.