Question

Which theme is illustrated by the following passage from Gogol's "The Nose?" "But nothing lasts long in this world. Even joy grows less lively the next moment. And a moment later, again, it weakens further. And at last it reemerges insensibly with the normal mood, even as the ripple from a pebble's impact becomes reemerged with the smooth surface of the water at large."
a.Over time, people become more satisfied with their lives.
b.Though they may be excited for a time, people soon return to their regular mood.
c.If someone is in a bad mood, it can weaken others around him.
d.As soon as someone is in a good mood, it spreads to those around them.

Answer 1

B) Though they may be excited for a time,...

Answer 2

Answer: b.Though they may be excited for a time, people soon return to their regular mood.

Gogol argues that there is nothing in this world that lasts forever, and as an example, he cites joy. He claims that people can be happy and excited for a while, but very quickly, that happiness fades. Moreover, it continues to fade until it is equivalent to the normal mood. The passage explains that, though people might be excited for a while, it is inevitable for it to pass.