Born in 19th-century Poland, Joseph Conrad lived an unusual life as a traveler. Drawn to reading, maps, and dreams of becoming a sailor, Conrad led a versatile life, traveling the world, and writing masterpieces that only a man with such training could compose. Only once one understands the full and active life of Joseph Conrad can short stories like “Amy Foster” and “An Outpost of Progress” be appreciated in their entirety. The latter have the particularity of being set in a foreign setting and their respective protagonists are launched into an unknown environment, a context which will seem familiar to most travelers. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why violent video games should not be banned"?Get the original essayIndeed, in "Amy Foster", Yanko, originally from Eastern Europe, is shipwrecked in England; as in “An Outpost of Progress”, Carlier and Kayerts, both firmly anchored in Western Europe, find themselves somewhere in the Congo. At first glance, these two destinations seem to have nothing in common. However, what connects the central characters of these two stories is that they are all thrust into a new environment and have no choice but to face the unknown. The objective of this article is therefore first to show the main divergences between the two stories and to bring them together, but also to examine their similarities and finally to discuss whether the protagonists of each story suffer in the same way from their exile despite the variations. because of space and cultures. If one were to ask what distinguishes “Amy Foster” from “An Outpost of Progress” or vice versa, the answers would be endless. However, a comparison between two opposite things makes no sense if they have nothing in common and this explains the need to initially connect these two stories. Additionally, some differences between these stories can be surprisingly erased or at least reduced in some way, such as the locations in which they take place and the reasons that compel the protagonists to travel. As mentioned above, the places where the main characters are found have nothing in common. Yanko finds himself in a British village, Colebrook, an area mainly described as rural; while the protagonists of “An Outpost of Progress” travel to a much more exotic place, Africa. Furthermore, the situations of the protagonists are different: Yanko does not know where he is, like the reader and conversely, Carlier and Kayerts seem aware of their location while their audience only knows that they are in Congo, a fairly large region. It seems, however, that all these variations from one story to another have no meaning, as M'hamed Bensemmane explains: "This is considered unimportant by the narrator, who prefers to concentrate on the strangeness of the place, and seeks to obtain a change of scenery. “familiarization” rather than targeting the particularities of the two sites (Bensemmane, p. 2). The reasons for the protagonists to settle into their new environment also lie in another divergence between the stories. Indeed, Yanko does not intend to settle in England since he initially wishes to go to America but is shipwrecked, unlike Carlier and Kayerts who both wish to settle in the Congo. Kayerts repeats that he had come to earn money for his daughter Mélie, because Carlier had been sent there by his family. Even if the latter seem at first glance satisfied with their new workplace, when Carlier says that “[he] regretted, like Kayerts, his old life” (Conrad, Heart ofDarkness and Other Tales, p. 7) and the fact that “[the two men […] only cared about the passage of days which separated them from the return of the liner” (ibid., p. 8), then their desire to return home cannot be disputed . Therefore, what once again connects the two narratives is the desire of each protagonist to leave the places in which they are trapped. We can conclude that there is a divergence between the places where the stories take place and the reasons that lead the protagonists to where they are. However, what brings "Amy Foster" and "An Outpost of Progress" together is that all the central figures are thrown into unknown lands and have no choice but to stay there. Thus, a confrontation of the adventures of the protagonists can be evoked as the stories converge towards central aspects. Indeed, Yanko, Carlier and Kayerts are faced with similar experiences in their new respective territories, such as cultural and environmental differences, difficulties linked to relationships with locals and communication. In fact, this accumulation leads the heroes of both stories to an eternal feeling of strangeness, nostalgia and loneliness. Once a country's borders are crossed, cultural differences are inevitable and their impact can be surprisingly great for outsiders. The way of behavior, the climate or simply a change in food tastes give the foreigner the impression that he will never feel at home. For example, the distance between Eastern and Western Europe is not very impressive on a global scale. However, in "Amy Foster", Kennedy relates that for Yanko, "England was an unknown country" and that "he might have expected to find wild beasts or wild men here" (Conrad, Selected Short Stories , p.103). It is also surprising that Yanko knows little about the maritime world when he describes ships as "a steam engine that sailed on the water" or a "big house on the water" (ibid., p. 106). Even fundamental elements like earth, grass or trees are unfamiliar to him in this new environment (ibid., p. 114). Culturally speaking, he never ceases to wonder about the opening hours of churches in England since they are only open on weekends. According to him, by restricting openness, the residents of Colebrook also limit the time spent in prayer (ibid., p. 116). As a devout believer, Yanko's habits of praying before bed are also viewed with skepticism by others. Later in the story, when Yanko tries to seduce Amy, he gives her a ribbon as he would have done in his country. The Eastern man is aware that this gift has no greater effect on Amy than any other gift, but in his culture it would have been much more meaningful. What also bothers Yanko about British civilization is that he ignores the marriage procedure (ibid., p. 118). Finally, the most striking example in "Amy Foster" regarding cultural differences is that when Yanko wants to dance and share this tradition with the people of Colebrook, it is frowned upon and he is rejected twice. The owner describes this dance as “acrobat tricks in the taproom” and the stranger ends up with a black eye (ibid., p. 117). Yanko therefore has no choice but to conform to British culture in order to integrate even if he will never completely succeed. The biggest change between Africa and Europe is probably the climate, even if Kayerts, barely off the boat, says that "it's not at all worse than at home, provided you don't expose to the sun” (Conrad, Heart of Darkness and Other Tales). , p. This is an ironic statement knowing how hot the sun can bepowerful there, but also knowing the impact of the Congolese climate on two men throughout history. Once Carlier and Kayerts arrive, they immediately settle into their new home, doing their best to feel at home, “an impossible task” according to the narrator (ibid., p. 6). The cultural contrast is less salient in “An Outpost of Progress,” because the protagonists are less confronted with another civilized society than Yanko. But they also suffer in a certain way from their new environment: they were used to being conditioned by European society and once they arrive in this new place, they feel like "prisoners who, released after many years, do not know not what to do.” use to take advantage of their freedom” (ibid., p. 6). They quickly feel lost and begin to miss the simple things of their daily lives, showing that the peaceful African routine of the two men makes them miss the spicy little things of their European lives (ibid., pp. 6-7). Indeed, as lazy and unambitious workers, Carlier and Kayerts' days seemed very long, even “endless” to them (ibid., p. 8). Another difference can be observed in terms of diet. The men are not well supplied by the Company, a lack to which they are undoubtedly not accustomed. It is therefore Gobila's wife who provides them with local food (ibid., p. 10), made with new tastes. Regarding the nutritional variation from one culture to another, the narrator also tells the story of certain tribes who had to be fed rice by the Company, a nutrient to which they were not accustomed and which made them "unhealthy and miserable” (ibid., p.13). In conclusion, Carlier, Kayerts and Yanko are all affected by the cultural and environmental differences depending on the country they are in and although they try to feel at home, none of them succeed. Another aspect that goes hand in hand with discovering a new culture is getting to know the locals. In both stories, the first contact between the inhabitants and the protagonists is somewhat difficult. Although there is some evolution in each relationship, complete integration of foreigners does not seem possible. In "Amy Foster", the townspeople's first impression of Yanko is miserable. Indeed, the children call him "a horrible-looking man", some boys call him a "funny tramp", while Smith thinks he is "a nondescript, muddy creature sitting cross-legged among a heap straw loose and swinging from side to side. like a bear in a cage” (Conrad, Selected Short Stories, pp. 108-9). Yanko is also described as “inexplicably strange” and described as “maniacal” (ibid., p. 109), “creature” or finally “crazy” (ibid., p. 112). Additionally, as if all these qualities weren't enough, he is often compared to some kind of animal. He locks himself in a Swaffer building, cleans himself like a cat, covers himself with horse blankets and panics like a bird in a cage (ibid., p. 112). Later in the story, the reader learns that once he is a little more civilized, he is still not allowed to eat at the kitchen table like humans do. Fortunately, Yanko develops special relationships with certain residents. Kennedy became his friend and admitted that he never missed an opportunity to chat with him (ibid., p. 107). Another person who is interested in Yanko is Mr. Swaffer. However, cheap labor is probably the main reason he did so. And finally, the mysterious Amy Foster is the first to approach Yanko without fear and as a result, appears to her like an angel. As mentioned above, the relationshipbetween Yanko and the residents of Colebrook evolves. This happens on the day he saves Swaffer's big girl and from that point on, Yanko seems to be viewed in a more humane way. He is now allowed to eat at the kitchen table and is paid for the work he performs (ibid., p. 116). However, despite this slight improvement, Kennedy explains that “eventually people got used to seeing it. But they never got used to him” (ibid., p. 116). The most relevant example is that the locals never accept Yanko's dances and when he wants to marry Amy and his father states that "[Yanko] was very good with sheep, but was not fit to be married to no girl” (ibid., p. 119). Of the position Yanko finds himself in, halfway to a complete stranger but still far from a resident of Colebrook, Myrtle Hooper explains: "There is nothing inherently right or superior in the culture that [Yanko] encounters: it is simply the case that he must obey her dictates in order to survive. He does, to a certain extent, but is never fully integrated: in Krajka's words, "the English villagers refuse to recognize the cultural ego of the newcomer, despise the values ​​of his ethos, totally deny all elements of its ethos. (Hooper, p. 54) Moreover, it is when Yanko finds himself alone that he remembers his homeland. For example, the Norwegian pines on Swaffer's property remind him of home and he nostalgically views them as his brothers (ibid., p. 115). It ultimately seems that rejection leads to nostalgia. In “An Outpost of Progress”, the relationship with the natives is limited to the observations of Carlier and Kayerts. This time, it is the outsiders who compare the inhabitants to beasts, calling them “funny brutes” or “beautiful animals” (Conrad, Heart of Darkness and Other Tales, p. 8). They mention their body odor with rude comments such as "They don't stink!" » (ibid., p. 8) and speak of them as if they were cows in a cattle market. They make fun of their faces and judge their musculature from a superior perspective. They also maintain special relationships with certain residents. Makola, their jack of all trades, is considered more humane because he speaks their language, is obedient and helpful. However, he remains one of the most mysterious characters in the story and no real friendship is formed. Carlier and Kayerts also quickly become friends with Gobila, the chief of the neighboring village. They describe Gobila as friendly, even fatherly, and appreciate the furniture he provides them. There is also a shift in relationships in "An Outpost of Progress" when Carlier and Kayerts indirectly sacrifice natives for ivory which ends their relationship with Gobila. They then decide to blame Makola for this tragedy in order to ease their conscience. This is how the protagonists find themselves without any other friends. Like Yanko, it is when the two men are alone together that they list with nostalgia all the good things they left behind in their country, such as "the streets, the sidewalks, the cafes, [their] long-time friends ; all the things they saw day after day; all the thoughts suggested by familiar things” but also “the clanging of sabers and spurs of a fine afternoon, the barracks jokes” (ibid., p. 6-7). Therefore, in both stories certain relationships are formed between foreigners and locals, they all evolve but unfortunately it seems that they are heading towards the worst and that is where nostalgia sets in. Linked to human contact, communication also plays an important role in both stories. In reality, it is its absence which explains the tragic destiny of eachprotagonist. In “Amy Foster,” it is evident that the inability to communicate is Yanko's biggest problem and her “speech […] remains the mark of her difference” (Hooper, p. 59). Supporting this idea, the narrator sprinkles evidence of this problem throughout the story. For example, he compares Yanko's speech to "broken English that sounded curiously like the speech of a young child" (Conrad, Selected Short Stories, p. 103). The mysterious side of the protagonist is also seen in his way of communicating when he prays with “incomprehensible words” (ibid., p. 116) or when he speaks to himself several times without anyone being able to understand his intention in doing so. . . The narrator also highlights the frightening aspect of this language when the protagonist "babbles out loud with a voice that would make you die of fear" (ibid., p. 108) and the story could have ended well if Yanko's speech hadn't been scary Amy, especially after the child was born. If Yanko sees the baby as a way to have someone who could understand him and with whom he could finally communicate properly, that only creates a source of anxiety for Amy. Indeed, Hooper explains that “his fear of Yanko is his fear of the stranger, and his fear of the stranger is his fear of his language” (Hooper, p. 60). Finally, it is essential to remember that the lack of communication skills is what leads Yanko to his death, when he asks for a glass of water and Amy thinks he is hallucinating. In "An Outpost of Progress", Carlier and Kayerts' constant incomprehension on many subjects is also due to a lack of communication. They are unable to share anything with the natives who only "rude babbling" (Conrad, Heart of Darkness and Other Tales, p. 7) and although they like Gobila, they "did not understand […] this old and incomprehensible creature” (ibid., p. 9). The same goes for when they have an unexpected visitor who “gives a long speech” (ibid., p. 11), the protagonists only attach importance to his movements and not to the content of his speech. At one point, they even have difficulty communicating with Makola who usually masters their language but who “seems not to understand, seems to have forgotten French – seems to have completely forgotten how to speak” (ibid., p. 12). Additionally, like Yanko, communication is also what led both men to their deaths. Indeed, it begins with an insignificant dialogue about sugar, drifts towards preoccupations with authority, and ends in a manhunt. Ultimately, what happened was that Carlier didn't say anything, which made Kayerts believe that he was armed and he shouted to his father believing that he himself was going to be killed . In other words, what causes men to die is misunderstanding due to lack of communication. Finally, we can say that Carlier, Kayerts and Yanko, all have experienced the life of foreigners and experience cultural differences, acquaintance with a foreign population and suffer from an inability to communicate with them. This accumulation of unhappy experiences forms a whole called exile. In his article titled “Yanko's Footprints: Edward Said and the Exile Experience,” Mohammed Salama compares Said's thoughts on the subject with Amy Foster's story. Above all, Said asserts that “exile is strangely fascinating to imagine but terrible to experience.” He then explains that it is a "forced irreparable gap between a human body and a native place, between the self and its true home" (Said, p. 173), an image full of meaning once we read “Amy Foster” and “An Outpost of Progress.” Salama highlights Said's view of Conrad's version of exile, believing that: "Its ugliness and austere depiction of the human condition, an excellent example of the predicament of the exile, of his perpetual stranger, of his./25474235>.