In the narrative, Petra understands that human beings can be likened to machines, functioning according to predetermined responses when the right triggers are applied. This perspective suggests that people's complexities and identities are shaped by their connections with others. When they are isolated from their communities, they become mere instruments, reactively responding to manipulation regardless of their conscious resistance.

This idea highlights the vulnerability of individuals when severed from their social networks. Without the influences of their relationships and the communal framework that forms their identity, people can be controlled with ease, akin to playing a familiar tune on a piano. The passage underscores the importance of social connections in maintaining one's sense of self amidst external pressures.