# XXII explained — Krakatit

> Chapter companion for Krakatit by Karel Čapek.

## 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.

## Themes 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/krakatit_se/chapters/xxii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/krakatit_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/krakatit_se/chapters