For Dickens...

     The first few pages of A Tale of Two Cities describes the contrasting chaos existing in both England and France. Dickens' compares each country by their opposing existences but shared ignorance at their own plight. They have become numb the the disorder and injustice, execution has become the quick fix from the greatest infractions of the law to the least. And as we see throughout history as violence grows so does a tolerance and normalcy regarding the gore and horror of it. For example, gladiators, hangings and now executions brought to life by the beautiful French instrument of death: the guillotine.