The narrative reflects a deep sense of loss and disillusionment. The character struggles with her inability to create or shape her surroundings, feeling as though she has been constantly molded by circumstances beyond her control. This sense of helplessness is symbolized by her grips slipping, indicating a lack of agency in her life.

Her connection to the brownstones and the cripples surrounds her hints at her empathy for those marginalized and chaotic, mirroring her own experience of feeling out of place. The chaotic environment disrupts her plans, underscoring her struggle to find meaning or stability in a world that has reshaped her more than she has shaped it.