Joseph Conrad was born in Poland at the end of 19th century. As a traveller, he lived an extraordinary life. Conrad’s life was multi-skilled and multi-faceted. His passion for reading, maps, sailing and the desire to be a sailor led him on a journey around the globe. Conrad also created works of art that could only have been written by a person with this background. The full life of Joseph Conrad is only understood once you have read “Amy Foster” or “An Outpost of Progress”. These stories are set in foreign settings, and the protagonists find themselves in a strange environment. This is a familiar context for most travelers. Yanko, an Eastern European, is shipwrecked and stranded somewhere in England. Carlier & Kayerts from Western Europe are stranded somewhere in Congo. These two destinations seem to be completely different at first. The central characters of both stories are forced to confront an unknown environment. The purpose of this essay is to compare and contrast the stories, as well as to find similarities. Finally, it will discuss whether or not the protagonists suffer from exile in the same way, regardless of the cultural and geographical differences. Answers would be numerous if asked to differentiate “Amy Foster’s” story from “An Outpost of Progress”, and vice versa. The comparison of two different things would be meaningless if the objects were completely unrelated. For this reason, it was important to link these two short tales in the very first instance. Some differences can also be eliminated or reduced, for example, the locations in which the stories are set and the motives that drive the protagonists on their journeys. In addition to the above, it is worth noting that the places the characters live in have no a priori connection. Yanko lives in Colebrook – a rural area of Britain – while the protagonists of An Outpost of Progress travel to Africa. Carlier, Kayerts and Yanko are all in different situations. Yanko is unaware of his location, whereas the reader is. M’hamed Bensemmane says that these differences between stories are not important. The narrator is more interested in the strangeness and unfamiliarity of the location, rather than the specificities of each site. In addition, the differences in the stories also include the reasons for the protagonists’ move. Yanko does not want to move from America to England. He was shipwrecked in America and he has no desire to return. Carlier, however, is willing to relocate to Congo, as are Kayerts and Carlier. Kayerts says that he was sent to Congo by his family, while Carlier had been told to go there. Carlier tells Conrad that, “like Kayerts,” he regrets the old life. The two stories are bound together by the need of the protagonists to leave their situation. The stories have different settings and reasons for the protagonists to be there. “Amy Foster”, like “An Outpost of Progress”, has central characters who are placed in unfamiliar countries. They have no other choice than to remain there. As the stories overlap on key aspects, it’s possible to compare the protagonists and their adventures. Yanko Carlier and Kayerts all face similar challenges in their new countries, including the differences between cultures and environments, communication difficulties and the difficulty of relating to locals. In fact, the accumulation of these experiences leads to the protagonists of both stories feeling a sense of perpetual foreignness, loneliness and nostalgia. The cultural differences that are created when one crosses borders are unavoidable and can have a surprising impact for foreigners. Outsiders may feel uncomfortable because of the way they behave, or the change in climate or food preferences. In terms of distance, Eastern Europe isn’t that far from Western Europe. Kennedy says in “Amy Foster”, that Yanko would have been surprised to discover wild animals or wild men (Conrad Selected Short Stories page 103). Yanko’s lack of knowledge about maritime life is surprising. He refers to ships as a “steam-machine on the waters” or “a house on the waters” (ibid. p.106). In this new world, he has no idea what earth, trees or grass are. His curiosity about England’s churches is based on his cultural background. The only time they are open there is at the weekend. According to him, limiting opening hours limits the amount of time that people spend praying (ibid. p.116). Yanko prays before going to bed, and the other believers are also suspicious of this habit. Yanko later offers Amy a piece of ribbon to try and seduce Amy. He does this as he did in his own country. This gift is no different from any other, yet in the East it was much more significant. Yanko also feels disturbed in British society because he ignores marriage procedures (ibid. page 118). Yanko’s attempt to dance in Colebrook and share the tradition is viewed negatively by the locals. He is twice rejected. The landlord calls this dance “acrobat trick in the tap room” and gives the outsider a black eye. Yanko will have to adapt himself to British culture, even if it is not possible for him to succeed. Kayerts claims, just after he has stepped off of the boat, that “the climate is not any worse than it is at home” (Conrad’s Heart of Darkness). Ironic, considering how strong the sun is in Congo and the effects it has on both men. Carlier, Kayerts, and the narrator try their best to settle into their house as soon as they arrive. The narrator believes that this is an “impossible task”. The cultural differences are less noticeable in “An Outpost of Progress”, since the protagonists of that novel have less exposure to a civilized society than Yanko. In a way, however, they suffer as well from their new surroundings: they have been conditioned to live in Europe and now, in this completely different environment, they feel “like prisoners who are liberated, but don’t know how to use it” (ibid.). The two men quickly become lost in their routine and begin missing the small things that make up their lives. This shows how the African lifestyle makes them miss the spice of their European existence (ibid. p.6-7). Carlier, Kayerts and their lazy, unambitious work days seemed to be “interminable” for them. The food is another difference. The Company doesn’t provide the men with enough food, something they may not be used to. Gobila’s daughter provides local food made with new flavors. The narrator tells the story of tribes that were fed rice, which they weren’t used to, and made them “unhealthy” and “miserable”. Carlier and Kayerts are also affected by the differences in culture and environment in each country. They all struggle to find a place they can call home. A new culture can only be discovered by getting to know its inhabitants. In both stories, the first encounter between the protagonists and locals is not easy. While there are some changes in both relationships, it is not possible to imagine a complete integration of foreigners. Yanko was a dreadful character to the locals in Amy Foster. Conrad, Selected Short Stories (p. 108-9), describes Yanko as “a horrible-looking man”, “a funny sailor”, “a nondescript and miry thing sitting cross legged on a bunch of loose straw swinging like a wild bear in a cage”. Yanko’s “inexplicable strangeness”, is described by some as “a maniac” in the same book, and also a monster, “crazyman” or “crazy creature” (ibid.). In addition, as if this wasn’t enough to describe him, he has been compared many times with an animal. He is locked up in Swaffer’s office, is dressed in horse covers, and is as panicked as any bird trapped in a cage. In the later part of the story, we learn that, even after he becomes more civilized and accustomed to humans, he still is not allowed to sit at the table. Yanko has special relationships with several of the locals. Kennedy is his friend. He confesses to never missing a discussion with him. Yanko also attracts the attention of Mr Swaffer. The most likely reason is that he was attracted to Yanko by the low-cost labour. Amy Foster, a mysterious character, was the first to approach Yanko in a fearless manner and appeared as an Angel. As previously mentioned, the relationship that Yanko has with the residents of Colebrook is evolving. Yanko becomes more humanized after saving Swaffer’s granddaughter. The kitchen table is his new eating place and he’s paid for any work he completes. Kennedy claims that, despite these slight improvements, the people “got used to him”. But they never did” (ibid. page 116). Best examples include the fact that they never accept Yanko dances. Another is when Amy’s father tells him that Yanko was good with sheep but that he was unsuitable to marry Amy (ibid., page 119). Myrtle Hooper says that Yanko, who is in this situation, is not a complete stranger, but is still far away from being a Colebrook inhabitant. “There is no inherent right or superiority in the culture [Yanko] meets: it’s just the fact that he needs to follow its dictates to survive.” He integrates himself to some degree, but not fully: Krajka says that “the English villagers refuse recognition of the new-comer’s ethnic ego and despise its values”. Yanko only remembers home when left alone. The Norway pines that Swaffer has on his property, for example, remind him of his homeland and he thinks fondly of them as his brothers. It appears that rejection finally leads to nostalgic feelings. In “An Outpost of Progress”, Carlier & Kayerts only make observations about the natives. The foreigners, this time, are the ones who refer to the inhabitants as “funny creatures” or “fine animals”. They insult their bodily smell by saying “Don’t stink!” (ibid.). And they speak about them like cows in an animal market. They mock the faces of others and criticize their physique from an elevated perspective. Some of their residents are also treated with special respect. Makola is their all-rounder and is seen in a humane light because he understands their language, obeys them, and is helpful. He is one of story’s most mysterious characters and no true friendship is established. Carlier, Kayerts and Gobila (the chief of the neighboring village) also become fast friends. They praise Gobila for being friendly and paternal. The relationship between Carlier, Kayerts and Gobila also changes in “An Outpost of Progress”, when they sacrifice some natives to get ivory. This ends their relationship. Then, to ease their consciences, they choose to blame Makola. The protagonists are left with no other friends but each other. Yanko’s two friends, alone, also list all they miss about their homeland, including “the streets…the pavements…the cafes…[their] many-year-old friends…all the familiar sights they used to see every day…all the thoughts suggested” by these things. But they also remember the “clinks of sabres…and spurs…the barracks room witticisms…” (ibid.). In both short stories, foreigners form relationships with locals. The relationships progress, but unfortunately, they tend to go south. In both stories communication is also important. It’s linked to human interaction. It is the absence of communication that accounts for each character’s tragic end. Yanko is clearly the most affected by the inability of Yanko to exchange. His “speech […] is the hallmark of his differences” (Hooper p.59). This idea is supported by the narrator’s scattered evidence of this issue throughout the narrative. Yanko is compared with “broken English that was strangely like the speech a child speaks” (Conrad Selected Short Stories, page 103). When he speaks in “incomprehensible terms” or prays (ibid., page 116) without anyone understanding the meaning of his words, you can see his mysterious side. The narrator highlights the frightening aspect of the language by describing the protagonist as “babbling in a voice enough to make anyone die of fear” (ibid. p.108). Amy could have been happy if Yanko had not scared her with his speech, especially after the birth of the child. Amy’s anxiety will only increase if Yanko perceives the baby as an opportunity to find someone that can communicate with him. Hooper writes that Amy’s fear of Yanko stems from her fear to be foreign, and her worry about being foreign is her anxiety over his language. In conclusion, it’s important to recall that Yanko died because of his inability communicate. He asked Amy for water when she thought he was hallucinating. Carlier’s and Kayerts inability to communicate is a major factor behind their constant confusion. Even though they are fond of Gobila (Conrad, Heart of Darkness and Other Tales), they do not understand […] the old and incomprehensible creature (ibid., page 9). In the same way, when an unexpected guest “made a speech” in the ibid. (p. 11), protagonists focus only on his movement and ignore his content. Makola, the man who speaks their native language, is often difficult to understand. At one point, he even seems to have forgotten French. Communication, just like Yanko’s, is also the reason why both men died. The conversation starts out with a trivial discussion of sugar, then moves on to authority issues and ends in a desperate manhunt. Carlier didn’t say anything at all, so Kayerts thought he had a gun and shouted for his paterner, believing he would be shot. The men died because of a miscommunication. Carlier and Kayerts suffered the same cultural differences as Yanko and were forced to interact with a foreign population. Exile is the result of these unfortunate experiences. Mohammed Salama, in his essay “Yanko’s Feetprints: Edward Said’s Reflections on Exile”, compares Said’s thoughts with Amy Foster’s story. Said claims that “[e]xile can be strangely compelling in thought but awful to live through”. Said then explains it as an “unhealable gap” that is created between a person’s body and the native place they call home, and between them and their true self (Said, page 173). The image becomes clearer once you have read “Amy Foster”, and “An Outpost of Progress”. Salama summarizes Said’s view of Conrad’s exile. Its stark portrayal and ugliness of humanity, as well as his fear of losing communication, is what Salama finds most striking. Salama, page 240, adds that foreigners also suffer from a sense of being homeless and that their souls are nourished with nostalgia for home. In this paper, the two short stories analysed by Salama, Conrad and Said are true to their visions of exile. It is true that cultural differences cause an eternal foreignness. Bad relations with the residents create nostalgia. The journey itself can lead to exile. Joseph Conrad’s “Amy Foster” short story and “An Outpost of Progress,” while seemingly different, are actually quite similar. The two stories are similar, even though the setting is different. Both characters are in an unfamiliar place and can’t return home. Their journey has consequences: they find it difficult to adapt to their new surroundings, have trouble making meaningful encounters, and experience a communication problem. Yanko Carlier Kayerts are all exiles who suffer the same fate despite differences in culture and geography. Works Cited Bensemmane, M’hamed. Journal of the Short Story. Presses Universitaires d’Angers, 11 June 2013. Web. July 18, 2017
. Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness & Other Tales. Oxford University Press, 2008. Print. Conrad, Joseph. Conrad, Joseph. Wordsworth edition N.p. The company Clays Ltd. was established in 2015. Print. Hooper, Myrtle. The Conradian Vol. 21, No. 1. 21, no. 2, 1996: pp. 51-64. Web. 12 Jul. 2017.
. Said Edward W. Reflections On Exile And Other Essays Cambridge, MA: Harvard U Press, 2000. Print. Salama, Mohammad. Pacific Coast Philology, Vol. 42, no. 2, 2007: pp. 238-253. Web. 12 Jul. 2017.
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