Final answer:
Refurnishing the family's flat signifies an effort to cope with feelings of displacement and a loss of purpose, reflecting broader themes within literature on family dynamics and societal change.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Alex attempts to refurnish the family's flat, the context implies a sense of displacement and a struggle to adapt to the changing environment within the home space. Refurnishing could be an attempt to regain a sense of control or to reconnect with past familiarity by altering the physical aspects of the living space. The text suggests that the family dynamics and individual roles have been destabilized, perhaps by technology or societal shifts, leading to feelings of redundancy and a loss of purpose. These thematic concerns are often explored in literature to comment on broader social issues or internal character conflicts.