‘‘An Outpost of Progress’’ may rightly be viewed as a less masterful attempt to explore the themes and setting that would later prove critical to the success of Heart of Darkness . However, the story offers insight into Conrad’s later work because of its relative lack of ambiguity and unmistakable narrative voice. It is also…
Tag: An Outpost of Progress
An Outpost of Progress – Themes – Colonialism
Civilization Versus Savagery The descent of Kayerts and Carlier seems to reflect the notion that there exists in every ‘‘civilized’’ person a potential for savagery that is kept at bay by the comforts of modern society. The men are described as ‘‘two perfectly insignificant and incapable individuals, whose existence is only rendered possible through the…
An Outpost of Progress – Irony – Literary Devices
Omniscient Point of View ‘‘An Outpost of Progress’’ is told through an omniscient, or ‘‘all-knowing,’’ point of view. With an omniscient narrator, the reader can be given insight into the thoughts of many different characters, rather than just a single viewpoint character. For example, the story begins by providing a glimpse of the world through…
An Outpost of Progress – Analysis
It would be easy to simply label ‘‘An Outpost of Progress’’ a tale that depicts the horrors of colonialism and focus serious scholarly attention on some of Conrad’s meatier, more symbolic works. Indeed, the relative lack of critical study of the story suggests there are few treasures to unearth in its comparatively short length. However,…
An Outpost of Progress – Setting
European Colonialism in Africa ‘‘An Outpost of Progress’’ was written at a time when European colonialism in Africa was at its peak. In the latter half of the nineteenth century, two distinct but related factors contributed to an all-out race among European nations to claim portions of the African continent as their own territories. First,…
An Outpost of Progress – Characters
Carlier Carlier is the second-in-command of the African trading station where the story takes place. He is described as ‘‘tall, with a large head and a very broad trunk perched upon a long pair of thin legs.’’ Carlier is a former cavalryman who, despite serving in the military, never received a commission and counts on…
An Outpost of Progress – Summary
‘‘An Outpost of Progress’’ takes place at a trading station in an unnamed African location, presumably at the end of the nineteenth century. After the station’s founding agent dies from fever, the director of the trading company assigns an employee named Kayerts to be in charge of the station, with another man—Carlier—to serve as second-in-command….