I agree with webzontin's comment: it is sad when you see it was a metaphor for a person saving others. the fire escape gets walked on and left behind as people use it to get out of a situation that is dire.
In time, the paint might chip (wear and tear on the soul), but the iron (the person) stays strong as the years go on, no matter who has stepped on it to help themselves, and they often never even look back to the fire escape. The fire escape is basically the person that gets used telling all the people that have used it that they should see what the fire escape (person) has seen through their eyes, and that all these people should learn to save themselves.
I agree with webzontin's comment: it is sad when you see it was a metaphor for a person saving others. the fire escape gets walked on and left behind as people use it to get out of a situation that is dire.
In time, the paint might chip (wear and tear on the soul), but the iron (the person) stays strong as the years go on, no matter who has stepped on it to help themselves, and they often never even look back to the fire escape. The fire escape is basically the person that gets used telling all the people that have used it that they should see what the fire escape (person) has seen through their eyes, and that all these people should learn to save themselves.