Having been forced into denying that the silver is on the Great Isabel (i.e., that mankind's true value is in the individual), Nostromo comes up with an alternative location that is stunningly symbolic. We recall that the sea in Nostromo symbolizes the fundamental ungovernability of men; indeed, the picture of Sotillo here vividly reminds us of Decoud's Bolivar quote that trying to govern America was like having "ploughed the sea." Placing the false silver in this location thus symbolizes government. Sotillo's endless, maddening disturbance of the water in search of a treasure that isn't there, corresponds to the endless, maddening, futile attempt to find the dream-ideal through government, through political disturbances of the ungovernable people.

It is with this wonderful, climactic image that the People's allegorical journey to socialism is complete. Having concealed their true purpose of simmering revolt, they themselves have suggested perpetuating society on the basis of government that they know to be futile, in order that they may continue to exist within it and conspire against it, without having to renew their old fidelity.