East Berlin, he's a long way from home. He sees this unfortunate girl. No-one pays any attention to her but he is able to summon up some empathy by imagining its someone he loves. I think it's about how people's troubles lack impact on us (are weightless and formless) until we make the effort to empathise. Washing his hands with hot water is another sensitising action. I believe that with this empathy he is beginning to forgive the woman back home who, after all, is not blameless. Just a humble opinion.
East Berlin, he's a long way from home. He sees this unfortunate girl. No-one pays any attention to her but he is able to summon up some empathy by imagining its someone he loves. I think it's about how people's troubles lack impact on us (are weightless and formless) until we make the effort to empathise. Washing his hands with hot water is another sensitising action. I believe that with this empathy he is beginning to forgive the woman back home who, after all, is not blameless. Just a humble opinion.