Final answer:
Brian believes it is safe to go back and pick berries after seeing a bear possibly because he understands that not all bears pose an immediate threat, he might not associate bears with danger based on his experiences, or he may evaluate that his need for berries outweighs potential risks.
Step-by-step explanation:
Brian feels that it is safe to go back and pick berries even after seeing a bear because of a combination of factors. Firstly, bears do not inherently represent a threat in all circumstances — not all bears are aggressive towards humans, and it seems Brian may be operating under this belief. Additionally, Brian's experiences and perceptions of bears might influence his decision.
He might not have had a negative encounter and thus may not associate bears with immediate danger. It's also possible that Brian's necessity or desire for picking berries outweighs his fear or awareness of potential danger, leading him to decide that the benefits of returning outweigh the risks.
In literature, bears are often not depicted as mere threats but can represent a variety of concepts. A character like Brian might see the bear as a part of the natural landscape that can be respected from a distance without leading to danger.
Furthermore, his confidence in his safety might come from a feeling of being able to defend himself or the assumption that the bear will not be interested in him. Lastly, if Brian has observed the bear from a distance and noted its behavior or direction of movement, he might conclude that he can safely pick berries without intersecting with the bear's path.