Paul turns to the Novril to escape the terror of his circumstances. The storm’s arrival, as with other natural phenomena, suggests a shift in Paul’s situation, though it is not clear whether this change is good or bad. Annie’s disregard for her animals illustrates her deep-seated lack of empathy. Paul’s preoccupation with Africa as a symbol of the “real world” makes its way into his novel, but here it becomes foreign, perhaps alluding to how distant Paul feels from the once-familiar outside world. The Bourkas’ stone idol recalls Paul’s initial perception of Annie’s powerful, godlike presence and control.