Chapter 16

Themes

There are four evident themes in chapter sixteen of the novel.

Remorse- Said feels remorse as he feels responsible for Nur’s disappearance through out the chapter. He continually asks rhetorical questions to make sense of the situation at hand. Said knows that he had never given Nur the “sincere emotional relationship” (261) that she longed for.

Despair and loneliness- Said loses hope that Nur will return, “Emotions and instincts told him… that he would never see Nur again,” (264), “a woman… adrift on a sea of waves of either indifferent or hostile,”(265) and as a result he becomes consumed by an overwhelming sense of loneliness, “When [Said] was with other his stature seemed… giantlike: he had a talent for friendship, leadership, even heroism. Without all that there was simply no spice to life… he really did not like being alone.”(263)

Realisation- It is the mental journey this chapter takes Said on, that awakens him to the feelings he has towards Nur, “the terrible depression he felt made him aware that [Nur] had penetrated much deeper within him, and that she should never have been separated from this life of his which was shreds and tottering on the brink of an abyss.”(264) Said also comes to the realisation that there is nothing he can hide from, “circumstances were after him”(265) and the best thing for him to do is to, “get out as soon as he possible could.”(265)

Chapter 16

Imagery

Animal imagery is used on a single occasion in this chapter on page 262 when Said’s consumption of left over food scraps is being described, “He consumed them all, ravenously gnawing on the bones like a dog.” This imagery is effective in this part of the novel as it helps build the picture of the mental toll Nur’s disappearance is taking on Said as his way of eating is not human but vulture like.

 

There are two examples of violent imagery in the chapter, the first is when Said is in a moment of reminiscence, dreaming back to the Nabawiyya days, the palm tree days,

“They’re gone forever, cut off by blood, bullets, and madness.” (261) This imagery not only shows how blasé Said is with regard to brutality but also that he is conscious of the implications of the violence he has inflicted upon his life and others. The second reference to violence is when Said asks himself a rhetorical question posing the idea of there being a “murderous loneliness” (263) if Nur was to never return. Said’s fear of being alone is like a form of murder, a slow, painful death, and murder is something he can relate to through infliction.

 

The use of adjectives with reference to “dark” and “darkness” represents a loss of hope. The hope of ever seeing Nur again, “Closing his eyes in the darkness, he silently acknowledged that he did love her and that he would not hesitate to give his own life to bring her safely back.” (264) And in the instance of his dreaming, “He saw her there in the dark” (264) making Nur seem as if she is only an illusion, that she no longer exists. 

Chapter 16

Characterisation

Said’s character is further established at this point in the novel as we are exposed to a more vulnerable man through his suspicions as “Suspicion had tainted his blood to the last drop now.” (260). The perception brought upon by his past experience with infidelity is playing on his mind. The constant use of rhetorical questions throughout the chapter only fuels his doubt, “Wherever could she be?” (262), “…had Nur come back yet? Would she return at all?” (263). 

 

This suspicion leads to the unveiling of Said’s great insecurity, the insecurity he feels within himself  and in relationships, “He remembered how sure he was once that Nabawiyya belonged to him, when in reality she probably never loved him at all…” (260) making it difficult for him to trust intimacy again.

 

We also learn that Said does not like being lonely, “He really did not like being alone.” (263). His fear of loneliness and the thought of “lost affection and companionship” (264) from Nur is what I feel leads him to the recognition that, “[Nur] had penetrated much deeper within him than he had imagined… she had become a part of him.” (264), and that “He did love her” (264). 

 

Said’s fear of being alone seems somewhat ironic. As it is common knowledge that the consequence for committing a crime, particularly one of murder, leads you to being put behind bars… alone. To kill, which is what he is setting out to do in order to seek revenge is another factor that makes him feel even more alone and isolated from a normal life.

 

In this chapter Nur displays some unusual characteristics. Her unexplained, unpredicted disappearance is out of the ordinary as in previous chapters she was always by Said’s side, “[Said] could only conclude that Nur does not want to come back, does not want to save him from the tortures of solitude in the dark.” (261). This worries Said as it is not like Nur to not tell him where she is going and then to not return. Her absence also seems peculiar to her landlord when she comes to collect the rent, “at this time of day she’s always home. And she’s never been late with the rent before.” (265). 

 

Chapter 16

Sense of place

The initial setting of the chapter follows on from the previous chapter fifteen, in Nur’s apartment just before morning as “dawn was close”(260).  After midnight Said ventures out “over the waste ground” (262) to Tarzans coffeehouse. The chapter concludes back in Nur’s apartment.

Chapter 16

Plot Summary

Said is waiting in Nur’s apartment for her return and to his dismay she has not come back. This causes a lot of mental anguish for Said as he feels helpless not knowing Nur’s whereabouts or safety. Said’s suspicion and despair intensifies as every minute without Nur passes. Through periods of reminiscence Said comes to many realisations; the possibility that he is to blame for his actions and he may possibly be part of the reason Nur left as he could not be what she wanted in a man, and how strong his feelings truly are for her. After feeling more alone than ever Said begins to sense that, “circumstances are after him now, as well as the police,” (265) and “the best thing for him [is] to get out as soon as he possibly [can].” (265).

Hello world!

Welcome to WordPress.com. This is your first post. Edit or delete it and start blogging!