Veli Jože

Veli Jože is one of Vladimir Nazor's most famous works, published in 1908. The story describes the priceless importance of freedom in the life of every human being, including the giant Jože. In addition, it shows greed in both giants and "little" people alike, because when freedom is gained and consciousness develops, a person often forgets what it was like not to have, stops appreciating what he has, and focuses all his energy on wanting to have everything he doesn't have. in inexhaustible quantities.

The importance of this novel is that it emphasizes how much freedom is worth and how when you don't have it for long you forget about it and accept slavery as something normal. Veli Jože remembered freedom, he imagined it, but those were memories from the long past, which he probably didn't even know if they were true. He only remembered that it was more beautiful and better before. He lived life as a slave, a serf without asking himself whether he deserved or could have better. People mocked him and took advantage of him, not realizing how important he was to them and how much he helped them.

The period in which the story of Joža is set is the period when the Republic of Venice ruled Istria, exploited its goods for centuries, so long that Istria and Istrians forgot the meaning of freedom and what it is like to be free. Even though Jože was a giant and had power, he felt powerless and small in front of his masters, he did not see his strength and the possibilities he had. It was the same with Istria, which obeyed without question, forgetting its value and greatness.