Merrick's fears, desires, ambitions, and hatreds are the catalyst for this story and the subsequent three novels in the series. He comes from a lower-middle-class background and keenly feels his inferior position in British society. In India, he finds a place where he can be on top, and he has developed a sophisticated justification for a virulent brand of racism. Merrick strongly believes that whites are the natural rulers of the world and non-whites must be made subject to them. He also believes that non-whites cannot ever improve their position and that they must be reminded of this.