# XIX: The Night Before Death explained — The Slaves of the Padishah

> Chapter companion for The Slaves of the Padishah by Mór Jókai.

## What happens

On the eve of an execution, Hassan Pasha locks Azrael and Mariska together with a chain, but Azrael reveals a plan to escape. She and Mariska cut their hair to form a rope, and Azrael prophesies that Hassan will die a day after her. The chapter also includes a flashback to a tender moment between Azrael and Feriz Beg, where she tells him to watch for a sign at dawn.

## Themes in this chapter

### Fate and Death

Azrael's prophecy of her own death and Hassan's, and the looming execution, highlight the inescapable nature of fate.

### Love and Sacrifice

Azrael and Mariska sacrifice their hair for freedom, and Azrael's love for Feriz is shown in her final instructions.

## Character check-ins

### Azrael

Devises the escape plan, cutting her hair to make a rope, and prophesies her own death and Hassan's.

### Mariska

Prays before her child, then joins Azrael in cutting her hair to aid the escape.

### Hassan Pasha

Anxious and suspicious, he locks the women together and fears the coming execution.

### Feriz Beg

In a flashback, he shares a tender moment with Azrael, kissing her forehead and receiving her cryptic instructions.

## Key lines

> Pray not now, thou wilt have time to pray later.

Don't pray now; you'll have time for that later.

_Azrael interrupts Mariska's prayer to focus on the escape plan._

> I have nought to do with doors or guards; we are going to escape through the window.

I don't care about doors or guards; we'll escape through the window.

_Azrael reveals her plan to bypass the guards by using the window._

> Wouldst thou cut off thy hair?

Are you going to cut off your hair?

_Mariska is shocked when Azrael prepares to cut her hair for the rope._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_slaves_of_the_padishah_se/chapters/xix-the-night-before-death
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_slaves_of_the_padishah_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_slaves_of_the_padishah_se/chapters