In the first paragraph, the dragon is depicted as feeling deeply troubled and despondent. Several phrases convey the dragon's emotional state:
- "pale and scruffy": The physical description suggests a lack of vibrancy and vitality, mirroring the dragon's emotional condition.
- "looking for a disease": This action indicates a desire for an affliction, possibly as a means to end its life. It reflects a sense of hopelessness and a wish for an escape from its perceived burdens.
- "ending his life": The dragon has a clear intention to end its life, underscoring a profound sense of despair and a belief that life has become unbearable.
- "tedious, unsatisfactory, tax-troubled, and lacking in purpose": These adjectives detail the dragon's negative perceptions of its existence. The dragon sees its life as monotonous, dissatisfying, burdened by taxes, and devoid of purpose.
- "enroll himself into a hospital": This decision suggests a desperate attempt to find a solution to its suffering, even if it means seeking help in an unconventional way.
- "No Hope Ward": The choice of this ward's name further emphasizes the dragon's hopelessness and expectation of a bleak outcome.
The dragon's actions and thoughts in the first paragraph collectively paint a picture of a creature overwhelmed by despair, seeking a way out from the perceived hardships and emptiness of its life.