Human beings are just machines, Petra knew that, machines that do what you want them to do, if you only know the levers to pull. And no matter how complex people might seem, if you just cut them off from the network of people who give shape to their personality, the communities that form their identity, they'll be reduced to that set of levers. Doesn't matter how hard they resist, or how well they know they're being manipulated. Eventually, if you take the time, you can play the like a piano, every note right where you expect it.
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.
