One of Joseph Conrad's satirical and ironic treatments of imperialism, which his character Marlow would condemn in Heart of Darkness (1902; see separate entry)as the exploitation of the earth at the expense of people of races less fortunate than the white, is "Outpost of Progress." As such, it invites comparison with Heart of Darkness, Nostromo (1904; see separate entry), and other Conrad works. In "Outpost of Progress," Conrad's disenchanted view of imperialism is presented more openly and with perhaps less ironic subtlety than in his more mature works. Hence, it has been customary to view the work as a rough sketch for the powerful tragic vision of Heart of Darkness. Both Kayerts and Carlier, the naive European agents, fall into gradual moral decay during their months at their isolated station. Although at first they try to.....
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