He was powerless because he had no precise desire, and this tortured him because he was vainly seeking something to desire.
The character's struggle is rooted in his lack of clear ambition or desire, which renders him feeling helpless. This absence of a specific goal leads to an internal conflict, as he finds himself persistently searching for something meaningful to long for. Without a defined desire, he feels lost and restless.
This torment is exacerbated by his vanity; his yearning for fulfillment is fueled by a desire to be significant and to achieve something noteworthy. The search for desire becomes not just a personal issue but a profound existential crisis that leaves him grappling with his identity and purpose.