In "A Place of Greater Safety" by Hilary Mantel, the character expresses a deep discomfort with the judgments rendered during court proceedings. This suggests that the emotional turmoil stems not from the loss of life itself, but from the assessments and verdicts passed on those who have died. The courtroom represents a site of moral and social reckoning where human lives are dissected and valued differently, which is profoundly unsettling for him.
The quote reveals a poignant struggle with the nature of justice and the implications of judgment. It highlights how the weight of judgmental attitudes can exacerbate the pain associated with death, indicating a yearning for empathy and understanding in the face of loss. This conflict underlines the novel's exploration of the human condition amidst the turbulence of revolutionary times.