Homecomings are powerful moments whether it’s returning to a place from your past or simply revisiting old memories, they often force us to confront the differences between who we were and who we’ve become. In the protagonist’s case, his visit to Berlin is not just about reconnecting with family but also about reconciling the past with the present. After many years away, returning to his birthplace, visiting his mother’s grave, and interacting with family members, he finds that the city, once familiar, feels strange and foreign.
This return journey offers insights into how we change over time. The protagonist’s experience in Berlin forces him to come to terms with the city’s transformation, mirroring his own internal shifts. His encounter with the changes in Berlin the bustling streets, the new faces, and the changes in his family becomes a metaphor for his own evolution. He is no longer the same person who left, and neither is the city. Yet, in this moment of dissonance, there’s a beautiful realization: despite the changes, both the protagonist and the city still share something fundamental a connection to the past, a deep sense of identity that remains even when everything else has shifted.
The themes of legacy, family, and identity in this story come together as the protagonist navigates the complex emotions of revisiting his past. In doing so, he learns that home is not just a physical place but an internal space where memories and experiences constantly evolve.