People
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times
— Charles Dickens · A Tale of Two Cities (first line)
Behind the line May contain spoilers.
Our reading
An editorial interpretation.
A famous pairing of opposites: it was the best of times and the worst of times at once. The line sets up a period of extremes where joy and misery, hope and despair, sit side by side.
Context reviewed