Final answer:
In literature, hotels often serve as significant settings where characters' paths cross, as exemplified by the coincidence of various characters staying at the same hotel in the provided extracts. These hotels are not just lodgings but also pivotal stages for character interaction and development.
Step-by-step explanation:
By coincidence, various characters end up staying at the same hotel as Albert and his mother, which acts as a pivotal setting in their stories. Old Grannis and Miss Baker find themselves in adjoining rooms separated only by thin walls, allowing them to feel a connection despite physical barriers.
This proximity leads to a heightened sense of intimacy and shared experiences, a motif that echoes through different accounts where hotels serve as significant backdrops to personal narratives and encounters. Similarly, characters like John T. Unger, Winterbourne, and Bernice encounter meaningful social interactions and revelations within the walls of their respective hotels.
The hotel serves not only as a physical place of rest but also as a crossroads of various social and emotional journeys. The coincidence of staying at the same hotel provides a nexus for these characters, creating a space where their lives momentarily intertwine.