Dr. Monygham's dream-ideal, like all the others in the novel, is an "illusion" and an "intoxication," and like the others, it renders him "dangerous." Compare the dangerous insanity of Charles Gould's "fixed idea." It also makes Monygham "proud," a startling turnabout for a man almost dogmatically humble. The narrator takes pains to show that Monygham's love is purely of an ideal nature -- it is a "spiritual detachment" unconcerned with physical "hope and reward."

The love of Dr Monygham for Mrs Gould is obviously a plot requirement here, and given his otherwise universal "misanthropic mistrust of mankind" the temptation is to swallow it either as a contradiction in his character for plot purposes, or a proof of Mrs Gould's supernally angelic nature. In fact we should do neither, but recognize it as a keen allegorical insight on the part of Conrad into the relationship between cynicism and altruism. Cynicism, of course, is the condemnation of mankind for having nothing but the lowest motives. However, one can only condemn mankind from the standpoint of having sympathy for its victims, i.e., for mankind itself. Without sympathy, there could be no outrage or condemnation. Thus altruism -- the doctrine of sympathy for mankind -- is one that cynicism must love, not as a contradiction but as a prerequisite of its own outlook. It is also allegorically correct that cynicism must love altruism secretly -- to admit its love aloud would be to undermine its own condemnation. See Mrs Gould's line to Monygham, "People don't know how really good you are. You will not let them know."