The correct response is: The symbolism of the sun shows how the West Coast offered hope for a new and better life.
In the passage, the setting sun serves as a powerful symbol representing the hope and aspiration for a better future that Simon seeks as he leaves behind the harsh and oppressive conditions of the coal fields in Pennsylvania. The sun's pursuit of him while awake and asleep indicates its significance as a guiding force leading him to the West Coast, where he hopes to find a new beginning.