Marriage
In the text, marriage is shown to be corrupted. Firstly, Robert’s marriage to Celia is empty and meaningless, as it is merely a façade to hide the King’s illicit affair. Their marriage is not sincere and is not based on love or understanding. It is clear that the King himself does not respect the institution of marriage. He has affairs with many different women in the text and uses marriage to further his own interests. This is surprising, considering that when this text was set, the King was considered to be closest to God. However, the King in this text has no respect for the sanctity of marriage.
Death and disease
The imagery of death and disease recurs throughout the text. The novel is set against the backdrop of a plague outbreak in London, and we see the impact that the plague has on civilians. The residents of London are depicted as being incredibly ill, and many die. Later in the text Robert impregnates a patient at a mental hospital in London. She later dies in childbirth, and Robert is relatively unconcerned by her death, which represents his corruption and selfishness.
Wealth and luxury
The wealth the King and his associates is contrasted with the poverty and illness of the London civilians. While the King lives in luxury, his people suffer and ultimately die due to a lack of hygiene and resources. From King Charles II, Robert receives a large estate, with includes a thirty-room mansion, grounds and servants. Robert is obsessed with status, wealth and how he is perceived by others. It is these traits which symbolize his corruption.
Monarchy
The King is associated with imagery of the divine in this text, representing the view at the time that the King was divinely appointed. However, the King is presented as being corrupted. He has many mistresses and disrespects the sanctity of marriage by asking Robert to marry Celia so that he can continue to see her in secret. The King is presented as being the ultimate authority, possessing the power to grant wealth and prosperity. However, as Robert learns the hard way, the King also has the power to take this away.
The Fire of London
The Fire of London causes destruction and chaos, burning down many people’s homes and destroying their possessions. It is the fire which inspires Robert to help: "The calamity come upon this street was such that I did not feel able to turn my back upon the people's plight." He helps to save people's possessions and furniture, which illustrates the fact there is some good in him, despite his shortcomings.
