Even this tiny bit of staging holds multiple levels of meaning. To Monygham, his look at Nostromo is merely for emphasis. But in the metaphoric context of this scene, in which Monygham is unveiling the cynical truth of the higher world (and is even sitting in a professorial posture), the question carries the flavor of a teacher prompting a student. Hence Nostromo's shrug.

As we see in the next chapter, Hirsch is shot because he spits on Sotillo. I will point to evidence that Hirsch does so because he is finally expelled from his overmastering dream-ideal of fear, much as Nostromo has been expelled from his dream-ideal of reputation. This deeper connection adds yet another layer to Monygham's interrogative look.