Truth and Falsehood

The novel explores the power of lies and self-deception, as Razumov constructs a false revolutionary identity, only to be ultimately undone by the need to confess the truth and betray himself back into 'truth and peace.'

Conrad emphasizes that truth alone is the justification of any fiction claiming artistic quality, and he strove for scrupulous impartiality.

The narrator discusses the power of words and the difficulty of discerning reality from documentary evidence, noting that words are 'the great foes of reality.'

The narrator's knowledge of Madame de S——'s past and his concern about the 'baser instincts of mankind' versus Nathalie's 'unconsciously lofty ignorance' reflect a tension between hidden truths and naive idealism.

The narrator considers inventing a story to comfort Mrs. Haldin, highlighting the tension between truth and compassionate deception.