Postcolonial interpretations of the novel, while not as intensive as that of "Heart of Darkness", point to similar themes in the two novels – the protagonist sees himself as part of a 'civilising mission', and the story involves a 'heroic adventure' at the height of the British Empire's hegemony. Conrad's use of a protagonist with a dubious history has been interpreted as an expression of increasing doubts with regard to the Empire's mission; literary critic Elleke Boehmer sees the novel, along with "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde", as part of a growing suspicion that 'a primitive and demoralising other' is present within the governing order.