Reading through all of the difficulties players seem to be having with the game, I have noticed a pattern. The main issue seems to be one of expectations. Specifically, the game is defying the basic rules of behavioral psychology. Human beings will seek success and avoid failure, but the game does not recognize this.
1) Some player actions are "discouraged" by the narrative (e.g. "Do not bother me."), so players learn to avoid them. When that avoided action is required for further progress, the player becomes stuck because he or she continues to avoid it.
2) Some trigger events only "fire" occasionally. When a player tries to trigger an event with an action, and the event does not fire, the player (wrongfully) concludes that the action does not trigger the event. The player therefore abandons that action, so the event is never triggered.
3) Progress for some opportunities is hidden behind "failure." Players will naturally avoid failure (getting caught, making someone angry, failing to protect someone, et cetera), so the player ends up avoiding progress in the game.
--If you want the player to keep doing something, reward the player for it and he or she will keep doing it.
--If you want the player to keep trying despite failure, something in the game must convince the player not to accept failure.
--If you want the player to perform an action despite being told not to do so, you must provide a clear hint to ignore what he or she is being told.