The quote, “it was the best of times, it was the worst of times” by Charles Dickens in his, “A Tale of Two Cities”, represents a scenario that can be perceived as either positive or negative at the same time. Throughout history there have been many events considered the worst of times by some and the best of times by others. This can be seen throughout history in times when some people suffer while other prosper. How could the best of times be at the same time the worst of times?
People who suffer, usually people in the lower class and the bourgeoisie, would call the time the worst of times and while people who prosper, usually owners of property, bushiness, or power, would call it the best of times. During the American Revolution, Civil War, and Civil Rights movement some people were prospering while others were suffering. To begin, the American Revolution was a time of prosperity for the British while it was a time of suffering for the colonist.
The colonist consisted of three groups, one consisted of radicals that wanted a revolution, the second group were conservatives that remained loyal to Britain, and the third group who were moderates that did not choose a side. The British were living comfortable lives and profiting off heavy taxation on the colonist. The quote, “Born and educated in this country, I glory in the name of Britain,” by King George The Third during the American Revolution shows how easy their life was. They were profiting off the colonists and lived comfortably off the colonist’s taxes.
The colonist were suffering by the wrongdoings of the British parliament while the British citizens back at home were prospering. The quote “These are the times that try men’s souls”, by Thomas Paine shows us how hard was colonial life. The colonist were low on supply of basic good due to the British blockade. The colonist suffering while the British were prospering is an example of how the best of times could be simultaneously be the worst of times. Additionally, during the Civil War the whites were prospering while the blacks were suffering form slavery.
During the Civil War, the whites were prospering off the work of the slaves. The quote,”Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees” by Thomas Jackson show us how they would live their lives. They would force the slaves to do labor and then go waste their products in the war. During the Civil War the blacks were suffering from extreme prejudice and slavery. The quote, “They would make us work in the burning sun all day”, by Bill Thomas describes what their daily lives were like. The slave would have to work long hours and were powerless to resist.
This would undoubtedly be called the worst of times by the blacks The whites prospering and the blacks suffering is another example of how the best of times could also be the worst of times. Furthermore, during the Civil Rights Movement the whites were prospering when the blacks were suffering. The whites took advantage of the colored people who had no rights and made laws that was advantageous to whites only. The quote,”After they finally got their rights, they found a way to stop the form using them”, by John Robert Lewis complaining how they took their rights away.
The whites prospering off the blacks is a time they would call the best of times. During the Civil Rights Movement, the blacks were suffering even though they had some rights. The quote, “It was civil disobedience that won them civil rights”, by Tariq Ali explaining the blacks struggles for their rights. The blacks’ struggle against segregation and not having their rights is what they would call the worst of times. The whites prospering and the blacks suffering is another example of how the worst of times could be the best of times.
One’s prosperity cause another’s suffering. No matter what or when people prosper while others suffer. It is just human nature for people to benefit from the suffering of others. Such times such as the American Revolution, Civil War, and the Civil Rights Movement are times that could be the best of times. In all three of these historical events people prospered by making other people suffer. What if they instead tried to work together? If people worked together then the world may have been a better place.