Which theme is illustrated by the following passage from gogol's "the nose? " "but nothing lasts long in this world. even joy grows less lively the next moment. and a moment later, again, it weakens further. and at last it reemerges insensibly with the normal mood, even as the ripple from a pebble's impact becomes reemerged with the smooth surface of the water at large." a. over time, people become more satisfied with their lives. b. though they may be excited for a time, people soon return to their regular mood. c. if someone is in a bad mood, it can weaken others around him. d. as soon as someone is in a good mood, it spreads to those around them.