J.M. Coetzee's "Foe"

Paper Summary:

This analysis takes a narratoloigical approach and how it applies to the novel "Foe". Through this novel Coetzee seems to question the validity of the narrative theory, which believes that humans use narratives to make sense of their lives. The writer shows how the result is a bizarre and somewhat chaotic portrayal of the characters.

From the Paper:

"One of the basic assumptions of a narratoloigical approach is that humans rely on narratives to make sense of their lives. Authority on narratives Julia Wood asserts that "humans make sense of themselves through stories, or narratives" (241). She goes on to say that these narratives are "most urgently sought out when experience does not make sense" (242). When an experience feels particularly bizarre, chaotic, or just doesn't fit into a preconceived construct, we seek to create and tell a narrative in order to make sense of the seemingly insensible. While this can be exemplified in innumerable ways in everyday real-life, authors also reveal this tendency with their fictional characters in novels. Characters constantly try to tell their story and want to create a narrative about an experience. Usually this narrative is effective in communicating with others and making sense of a situation. However, through writing Foe, J.M. Coetzee seems to question the validity of this principle."

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• Comparison Essay # 26885 : "Robinson Crusoe" and "Foe"
• Analytical Essay # 5503 : "The Character of Friday in Coetzee's 'Foe'"

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