Answer: Ordinary people can act heroically in chaotic situations.
Explanation:
This paragraph is in relation to the Great Fire that engulfed Chicago and killed hundreds of people and leaf around a hundred thousand people homeless.
The paragraph shows that ordinary people can act heroically in chaotic situations as evidenced by the cartmen that were willing to carry the loads of people regardless of what they could pay. This was a heroic action because the cartmen took pity on people who were suffering and helped them instead of demanding money as they could have.
The setting of a piece of literature is the time and place in which the story takes place. Sometimes, other elements, such as historical periods or social statuses can also fall into this category.