1. Lines 1-8: Describe the character's state of mind. What text evidence supports your answer

In the story " the briefcase"

Explanation:The state of mind reflected here is that all people are trying to escape from their problems even if they have to shift their problems to other people, they don't bother as long as it is giving relief to them.

The author reflects this state of mind when he says; He thought of mankind as a line of miserable monkeys chained at the wrist, dragging each other back into the ground