247: Heart of Darkness

Publié en 1866, 'Toilers of the Sea' est un roman de Victor Hugo qui se déroule sur l'île de Guernesey après les guerres napoléoniennes. L'histoire suit Gilliatt, un pêcheur rejeté par sa communauté, qui tombe amoureux de Deruchette, la nièce d'un armateur local. Lorsque le navire de ce dernier est détruit sur un récif, Gilliatt se lance dans une quête périlleuse pour récupérer la machine à vapeur, affrontant les éléments et un poulpe géant. Le roman explore les impacts de la Révolution industrielle sur l'île et les luttes personnelles de Gilliatt.

Heart of Darkness, written by Joseph Conrad, is a novella that examines the horrors of Western colonialism. The story is narrated by Marlow, who recounts his journey as a riverboat captain for a Belgian trading company in the Congo. Marlow's journey takes him deep into the African jungle, where he encounters the enigmatic and brutal ivory trader Kurtz. The novella delves into themes of power dynamics, morality, and the psychological impact of colonialism on both the colonizers and the colonized. It is a landmark of modern fiction, known for its narrative and symbolic power, as well as its acute psychological penetration.

The novel follows Jim, a promising young sailor who rises through the ranks but faces a critical moment when he abandons the ship *Patna*, which is carrying Muslim pilgrims to Mecca, during a storm. Despite the ship not sinking, Jim's actions lead to an official inquiry and the loss of his officer's certification. Narrated by Marlow, the story delves into Jim's journey as he seeks redemption and a new life in the remote territory of Patusan. There, he becomes a leader and earns the trust of the local people, but his past eventually catches up with him in the form of the pirate Gentleman Brown, leading to a tragic conclusion. The novel explores themes of honor, integrity, and the psychological complexities of Jim's character.