Krakatit · Chapter
XXII explained
Prokop, desperate to find the veiled lady, devises a series of increasingly futile plans.
What happens
Prokop, desperate to find the veiled lady, devises a series of increasingly futile plans. He places a newspaper advertisement, consults a detective agency, and tries to trace a bank withdrawal, but all attempts fail. His obsession intensifies, and he decides to search for George Thomas, believing Thomas knows her whereabouts. He obtains a passport and leaves the country, heading to Balttin.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
Prokop’s emotional peak is the violent collision between his declared resignation (“It’s the end”) and his inv…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Obsession and Madness
Prokop's relentless pursuit of the veiled lady borders on mania, as he devises increasingly elaborate and futile plans.
- Fate and Free Will
Prokop feels driven by fate, yet his attempts to control the search through methodical planning highlight the tension between destiny and personal agency.
Characters to notice
- Engineer Prokop
Obsessively searches for the veiled lady, devising and abandoning multiple plans.
- Annie
Writes a letter to Prokop revealing the date of his arrival at Tynice, but asks that her father not know.
- George Thomas
Prokop decides to find him, believing he knows the veiled lady's identity.
Key passages
“I must set to work methodically,” Prokop decided.”
Prokop resolves to approach his search in an organized manner.
Shows his determination and rational approach to an emotional quest.
“It may be that it was an obsession; that he was a lunatic, an idiot, a maniac; but he would never give up.”
Prokop acknowledges his fixation might be irrational, but he is determined to continue.
Highlights his self-awareness and the obsessive nature of his search.
