Looking back on his life, he sees himself spread out on the earth like a giant covered in tiny threads that have held him down. Tiny threads of petty cares and small concerns, and fears he took seriously at the time. Debts, timetables, the need for money, the longing for comfort; the earworm of sex, repeating itself over and over like a neural feedback loop. He's been the puppet of his own constricted desires.
In reflection, the protagonist envisions his life as a vast landscape where he lies ensnared by countless tiny threads. These threads symbolize the trivial worries and anxieties that dominated his existence, each one representing the petty concerns that seemed critical in the moment. He particularly notes the burdens of debt, rigid schedules, financial needs, and the insatiable desire for comfort, all of which contributed to his sense of being trapped.
This imagery underscores the notion that he has allowed himself to become a puppet, manipulated by his own limited desires. The repetitive nature of his thoughts—especially surrounding sexual desires—acts like a relentless loop, further entangling him in a life of unfulfilled yearning. Ultimately, this metaphor of being weighed down by "tiny threads" powerfully conveys the struggle against the trivialities that can overshadow one's true freedom and fulfillment.
