. Explain the first paragraph of the novel. What does Dickens mean by "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times"?

This is a famous paradox ( "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times") where Dickens discribes how war can inspire all manner of human kindness and depravity. 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.