What thing, precisely? Observe that Nostromo has suddenly become murderous, armed
with gun, knife and axe, threatening the death of Decoud and Hirsch and the destruction
of the lighter -- in other words, he is in open revolt against the entire little
society. This adventure, of course, will end with Nostromo (symbolically, the
People) rebelling against the larger society by becoming a thief and a supporter
of radical politics.