For five years, Gebrail has harbored a deep resentment toward the city and its modern structures, which starkly contrast with his lost home in the desert. He views the stone buildings, metalled roads, and glass windows as mere illusions, representing the same dead sand that once defined his life. This contempt manifests especially during moments of vulnerability, such as when he returns home drunk and lashes out at his family.

Gebrail expresses this cynicism to his wife, revealing his belief that the city is simply a façade for the desert's true nature. His children, confined in a dark room, symbolize his entrapment within an environment he despises, reinforcing the idea that urbanization has stripped away the essence of his past. This ongoing struggle indicates a profound dislocation and yearning for a life that feels authentic and connected to his roots.