Monygham's first mention is cleverly situated: he is throwing cynical doubt on Nostromo's devotion to Captain Mitchell, a view that contradicts the narrator's own assessment but which is later proven to be true. His cynicism is thus clear-sighted, but at this point we don't know it: a good example of how Nostromo undermines its own text and illustrates both a surface history and a cynical underlying truth.

Allegorically, the matter in question is not trivial -- to doubt Nostromo's devotion to Captain Mitchell is to doubt the People's allegiance to their rulers and to the cause of material progress. The allegory points up the depth and profundity of Dr Monygham's cynicism.