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Part 5, Chapter 14
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Foundation, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Historical Forces vs. Individual Effort
Religion as a Tool of Control
Crisis and Adaptation
Power and Governance
Summary
Analysis
Jael warns Mallow against running for mayor, citing the fickleness of mob support, but Mallow insists on maintaining control by having Manlio and Sutt arrested for inciting illegal priestly involvement in politics. Declaring his intent to become mayor and high priest to manage the Seldon crisis, Mallow predicts Korell will declare war with nuclear ships supplied by the Galactic Empire. When Jael asks about his strategy, Mallow cryptically states he plans to do “one hundred percent of nothing.”
By predicting Korell’s war with Empire-supplied nuclear ships, Mallow demonstrates his awareness of the geopolitical landscape and the threats that external forces pose. His cryptic remark about doing “one hundred percent of nothing” suggests a strategy rooted in patience and subtle manipulation—he relies on economic and social forces to achieve his goals without direct confrontation.
Themes
