As can be inferred from the plot summary, the overall tone of the novel is rather dark. Terrorism, which was becoming the plague of the late 19th century, is the central theme of the story. In addition, the fates of most of the characters are tragic, and this list includes Adolf Verloc and his family. According to Feklistova, Joseph Conrad received considerable criticism upon the release of the novel.
As stated by the critics, “The Secret Agent” appeared too gruesome and dark, which disturbed the audience by the immense tragedy of the plot. However, the author himself explained the tone of the novel by the influence of the setting. Conrad said that the darkness and hostility were naturally nurtured by the city of London in its late 19th-century state. By that time, the capital of Great Britain had become an actual megapolis. While this status implied considerable economic and social advantages, there were certain negative implications, as well.
In “The Secret Agent,” Joseph Conrad made an attempt to highlight the effects of intense urbanization on the lives of people. Feklistova writes that “the population of London skyrocketed from one million in 1801 to 6.5 million in 1901.” Such exponential growth redefined the idea of living in a city, prompting the emergence of the very concept of urbanism. In a colossal megapolis, an ordinary man is likely to remain unnoticed and even lost. Conrad’s story relies on the fuss and scale of London as the perfect background for the covert operations of Verloc’s anarchist friends. With millions of people scattered across dark streets, law enforcement finds it more difficult to identify and prevent threats in a timely manner.
In addition, the colossus of a megapolis prompts its residents to feel alienated, which eventually pushes some of them to anti-social activities. As an individual succumbs to the urban pressure, his agency becomes compromised. The novel demonstrates several examples of this phenomenon, namely through Verloc, who attempts to juggle the cooperation with anarchists, foreign agencies, and even the Commissioner’s office.