Upon closer reading, one discovers that the story presents the tragic journey of a man who has lost his sanity but seeks solace in the materialistic comforts of his old life. The story manages to make a number of statements about human nature: that wealth is the most powerful measure of social status and anyone without it will face ostracism; that denying one's mistakes and unfortunate circumstances only leads to more pain; that even the most optimistic people can hide dark secrets and emotional turmoil within themselves. All of these themes force the reader to reflect on their real-life implications long after the story ends