The panes streamed with rain, and the short street he looked down into lay wet and empty, as if swept clear suddenly by a great flood. It was a very trying day, choked in raw fog to begin with, and now drowned in cold rain. The flickering, blurred flames of gas-lamps seemed to be dissolving in a watery atmosphere. And the lofty pretensions of a mankind oppressed by the miserable indignities of the weather appeared as a colossal and hopeless vanity deserving of scorn, wonder, and compassion.
The scene described is one of bleakness and despair, with rain pouring relentlessly and a desolate street that feels abandoned, as if nature has swept everything away. The oppressive fog and chilling rain create an atmosphere heavy with discomfort. The gas-lamps struggled to maintain their glow against the suffocating wetness, emphasizing the dreariness of the day.
This setting serves as a metaphor for the human condition, highlighting how people's grand aspirations are rendered insignificant and vain in the face of such harsh realities. The juxtaposition of humanity's lofty goals against the backdrop of a merciless environment invites reflection on the futility of pride and the inherent struggles of life.
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