Moral Squalor and Corruption

The novel depicts a sordid London underworld of shady shops, poverty, and moral decay, where characters like Verloc and the Professor embody a profound lack of ethical restraint.

Conrad addresses criticisms of the tale's 'sordid surroundings and moral squalor,' and defends his detachment from the squalor and sordidness of the setting.

The anarchist talk of cruelty and violence, the squalid shop, and Verloc's commercial survey of his failing business underscore the moral decay surrounding the characters.

The Professor's cold, amoral justification for giving explosives to anyone and his disdain for conventional morality underscore the moral decay within the anarchist circle.

The Assistant Commissioner's self-deception and the police's manipulative tactics reflect moral decay.