Pasolini's work is not merely a depiction of gratuitous violence and sexual perversion; it is a scathing critique of the fascist regime and the bourgeoisie. The film serves as a metaphor for the fascist state's descent into totalitarianism and the erosion of moral values. The characters' actions and fates are meant to reflect the societal collapse and moral decay that Pasolini saw as inherent to fascist ideology.