Final answer:
Arnold feels alone due to the inner monologue and isolated circumstances presented throughout the story, with imagery like 'a high cold star on a winter's night' symbolizing his isolation. He doesn't try harder to find comfort, possibly due to feelings of futility and resignation. The fireman's story of hiding for his dog illustrates the complexities of seeking solace, further highlighting Arnold's struggle.
Step-by-step explanation:
We know Arnold feels alone in the story through the depiction of his inner monologue and the descriptions of his isolation. The narratives convey a deep sense of loneliness and a struggle with seeking comfort or connections. For example, the phrase 'a high cold star on a winter's night' symbolizes Arnold's distant feelings of coldness and isolation, as if comfort and warmth are as distant to him as a star in the sky.
Arnold doesn't try harder to find comfort, possibly because of a sense of futility or resignation. He perceives his situation as pathos, implying a helplessness or acceptance of his loneliness. Additionally, phrases like 'no one is making eye contact' illustrate a world where connection and understanding are absent, emphasizing the challenge of seeking comfort in such an environment.
The story of the fireman hiding to give his dog someone to find highlights the need for purpose and the complexities of comfort, wherein even in times of deep tragedy, we seek solace in small acts. This gesture underlies the complexities of the human condition—how we manage grief, empathy, and connection—further highlighting Arnold's struggle to seek and find comfort amidst his alienation.