Fate is the Hunter

What are the motifs in Fate is the Hunter by Ernest K. Gann?

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One of the dominant recurring ideas in the first half of the autobiography is the unshakable faith that passengers place in the pilot of an aircraft. On many occasions, Gann boards an airplane, surveys the commercial passengers, and enters the cockpit wondering how they find the capability for such unlimited trust and faith. In one textual passage he walks forward through the passenger cabin and notes an unusually high number of babies—one even nursing at the breast. Gann is almost frightened by the overwhelming sense of responsibility engendered by such faith from mothers—he actually considers it somewhat napve. On the same trip various mechanical difficulties occur and Gann is amazed that the passengers are not only oblivious to the apparent danger but deplane completely satisfied with their journey.