Chapter 17 Analysis - The Thief and the Dogs

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In chapter 17, Said arrives at the Sheikhs house, seeking refuge, only to realise that he left his uniform in Nur's house. He also realises that the police are closing in on his whereabouts. He is scared because the uniform that has been left at Nur's house will have traces of him, and will therefore lead the police straight to Said. This chapter as a whole is a sign of Said's stupid decisions finally coming back to haunt him as he will soon be captured. In chapter 17 for the first time really Said is beginning to be seen as helpless and close to giving up. He has still not taken any responsibility for his actions and continues to blame other people and talk endlessly about revenge on Illish and Nabawiyya, however.  The theme of the passage that is a constant throughout the story is fate. Said is constantly running and hiding throughout the story and was always bound to be caught up with, in this passage you see the police and everything that Said has done wrong eventually catching up to him. Said also knows it and that is the reason that he is becoming so helpless and weak. The conversation with the Sheikh that Said found tough and annoying also played a part in pushing Said over the edge.