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Part 5, Chapter 17
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
Mallow reviews reports detailing Korell’s defeat after three years of war, noting the minimal damage to Foundation forces. Jael warns Mallow about the growing influence of Sutt and the Religionists, emphasizing the risk of a special election that could remove Mallow from power. Mallow brushes off the warning, trusting his strategy and pointing out that Jael, as Minister of Education and Propaganda, is responsible for managing internal threats. When Sutt arrives, the two face each other for the first time since Mallow’s trial. Sutt demands an end to Mallow’s economic strategy and insists on returning to missionary conquest, while Mallow counters by offering Sutt a coalition role if he cooperates.
Mallow’s confidence in his economic strategy sets him apart from both his allies and rivals. By dismissing Jael’s concerns about Sutt’s influence, Mallow emphasizes his reliance on systematic planning and delegation rather than reacting impulsively to threats. His offer of a coalition to Sutt reflects his pragmatic approach to power, where cooperation is valued over conflict if it serves the larger goal. This interaction shows how Mallow’s political maneuvering is as central to his leadership as his economic strategy, keeping him ahead of his opponents.
Themes
Mallow explains the details of his approach to Sutt, describing the economic leverage the Foundation holds over Korell. He describes how the withdrawal of Foundation trade caused industrial and household technologies reliant on nuclear power to fail. This gradual collapse, he argues, created dissatisfaction among Korell’s population and financial elite, weakening the Commdor’s control. Mallow rejects Sutt’s call for a direct military offensive, arguing that such an approach would provoke the Empire into intervention. He stresses the advantages of economic pressure, which avoids open conflict while eroding Korell’s ability to sustain itself.
Mallow’s explanation of his economic tactics highlights his understanding of indirect control through resource dependency. By cutting off trade, he weakens Korell’s infrastructure and social stability, forcing dissatisfaction to spread among its citizens and elites. His rejection of military conquest demonstrates his foresight, as provoking the Empire could escalate the conflict beyond the Foundation’s control. Mallow’s reliance on economic pressure not only spares the Foundation from entering an unnecessary war, but it also ensures that Korell’s defeat is internal and inevitable.
Themes
Sutt accuses Mallow of treason, claiming his actions align with those of an Imperial agent. Mallow has Sutt arrested, brushing aside Jael’s concerns about rebellion. He asserts that the Foundation’s prosperity, tied to his control of trade and industry, will prevent unrest. Mallow notes that Seldon’s crises are resolved through broader societal forces, not individual heroics. Confident in his plan, Mallow concludes that future leaders will face their own challenges just as he has faced this one. The book ends with a quotation from the Encyclopedia Galactica, which reveals that Korell eventually surrenders to the Foundation. Because of his success, Mallow becomes the next great figure in the Foundation’s history along with Seldon and Hardin.
By referencing Seldon’s crises and downplaying individual heroics, Mallow connects his achievements to the broader trajectory of the Foundation’s history, positioning himself as a steward of its destiny. The closing acknowledgment of Mallow’s success in the Encyclopedia Galactica cements his legacy as a transformative leader, placing him alongside figures like Seldon and Hardin as a cornerstone of the Foundation’s rise to power.
Themes
