 The metaphysical conflicts born from man 's isolation are also important themes throughout the story , as the characters cannot rely on a higher cause or being for protection . The correspondent laments the lack of religious support , as well as his inability to blame God for his misfortunes , musing : " When it occurs to a man that nature does not regard him as important , and that she feels she would not maim the universe by disposing of him , he at first wishes to throw bricks at the temple , and he hates deeply that there are no bricks and no temples . " Man 's perception of himself and the world around him are also constantly questioned ; the correspondent regularly refers to the way things " seemed " or " appeared " , leaving how a thing actually " was " entirely ambiguous . Wolford similarly pointed to the importance of the story 's strong yet problematic opening line — " None of them knew the color of the sky " — as one that sets the scene for the story 's sense of unease and uncertainty . 
