What is The South Sea Idol

The South Sea Idol that stands in Maurice Wimpey’s backyard is symbolic of primitive culture and supernaturalism. While Wimpey puts on the airs of a highly civilized man, he worships this idol apparently every morning, in the same way he seems to worship violence and bloodshed. The fact that the all-seeing gaze of the idol is frequently referred to suggests that this primitive desire for sacrifice is something that finds mankind in all forms of society and all throughout history.