Abstract This paper explores J.M. Coetzee's view of a changing South Africa as seen through his novel "Disgrace." The paper discusses Coetzee's position as a white liberal in South Africa and shows how his views are reflected in the experiences of David Lurie, the novel's protagonist. The reviewer sees Coetzee and Lurie as experiencing a conflict regarding the post apartheid social and political climate. According to the paper, this results in cynicism and pessimism. The paper also points out that few Black characters appeared in the novel, and that these characters were described in a negative light. The reviewer saw this also as a reflection of Coetzee's ambivalence about the new South Africa.
From the Paper "The truths surrounding Coetzee's views on racial politics are carefully embedded in his novels, leaving any ultimate meaning openly contentious. Within Coetzee's novel Disgrace are passages which reflect what Kwame Dawes: The Writings of J. M. Coetzee. Special Issue of the South Atlantic calls Coetzee's "conflicted white liberal sensibility." "
Abstract This essay includes analysis of the way Friday is described by the author in comparison to the way he is described in 'Robinson Crusoe' by Daniel Defoe, a look at the importance of Friday's feet and what they represent, dicussion of class implications,and the symbolism within the novel.
From the Paper "In this essay, I intend to discuss the opinion that the character of Friday is central in the book Foe by the South African writer, J. M. Coetzee. I will look at the importance of his character and how he influences the story as a whole. I feel that the quote below is very true, and I shall go on to prove this in this essay. ""J. M. Coetzee deconstructs the text of Robinson Crusoe in his novel Foe, which subtly centralises the character of Friday" (James McCorkle) Foe is a book in which Coetzee raises many interesting issues. The four main areas that are dealt with are: the treatment of the truth in narratives, pro-feminism, race and the treatment of ethnic minorities, and the truth about history. It also contains ideas about society and the class struggle. At one point when Susan speaks, it is almost as if Coetzee is talking about his own writing: "Alas my stories seem always to have more applications than I intend"" (Foe, 81) "
An analysis of the novel "Foe" by J.M. Coetzee according to the narrative theory which states that humans rely on narratives to make sense of their lives.
Abstract 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."
Abstract This paper analyses the role and presence of Foucauldian discourse and power in sexual and social relations in J. M. Coetzee's "Disgrace". It looks at some of the existing discourses and power relations in "Disgrace" in order to see how the characters are dominated by the power and discursive representations as the controlling forces found in the novel. In addition, the paper also studies the reactions of the antagonist and the protagonists to the social codes which are defined, legalized, and applied by the forcing discursive systems and power relations.
Outline:
Introduction
Power And Discourse: A Foucauldian Analysis
Postcolonial Power Relations And Discourse
Conclusions
From the Paper "The study of power in sexual and social affairs in Disgrace promotes making a paradigm in which the modality of colonizer/colonized binary opposition is destroyed. Petrus is not a colonized Negro, but a man who "has a vision of the future in which people like Lucy have no place" (156). This sentence shows that the power shift is still in progress, because Lucy lives in the vicinity of Petrus, and she may marry him and submit her land to him. This alteration in power relations causes the formation of the specific discourses which brings about the blacks' reaction to the white's presence. These discursive collections do not eliminate David's pessimism to Petrus. He thinks that "Petrus engaged three strange men to teach Lucy a lesson, paying them off with the loot" (157). If so, David's unconscious signals the growth of the postcolonial power transition from colonizer to colonized. Lucy is aware of the reason for the blacks' hatred of the whites. She "acknowledges that whites are on the debit side of the ledger and henceforth will live as intruders in South Africa" (Bonnici 90). "
Abstract This paper explains that J.M. Coetzee's "Disgrace", an allegory of rape and reconciliation of South Africa's past and present, depicts a "new", post-apartheid South Africa wherein deep societal changes and crimes of the past haunt the present, obscuring reality. The author points out that South Africa has one of the highest incidents of rape in the world; and, in "Disgrace", Coetzee exploits this characteristic to frame the political questions, which face the country. The paper relates that the book suggests that South Africa should recognize apartheid but to dwell on it and to blame it for the problems, will only lead to more grudges and distrust.
From the Paper "Raped in her home by three black males, who she sees as wanting to subjugate her (159), she decides not to even mention the "truth" of what happened in order to keep peace. In Coetzee's new South Africa then, the men subjugate women as whites once did to indigenous people. Lucy's decision to give birth to the mixed-race baby represents an acceptance of past crimes and their aftermath but also a next step, for as she reminds her father, "it will be a child of this earth."(216) The infant can be seen as the new South Africa: biracial, born of hate and violence, yet one for whom "love will grow" (216). Furthermore, her refusal to return to Holland suggests that the migration trend among young white South Africans isn't the way to go. She stays "not for the sake of an idea," (105) but because to leave would be a "defeat," (161) an acceptance of the impossibility of harmonious race-relations in South Africa."
Abstract This paper focuses on the title character in the novel, Michael K and his experiences in South Africa during a time of civil unrest. Coetzee's novel depicts the story of Michael K, an unattractive and unintelligent young man who embodies the power of the human spirit and need for freedom, despite tremendous setbacks. The writer of this paper explores the manner in which Michael K strives to insulate himself from the despair of the war that rages around him in a South Africa, which is ravaged by apartheid. The writer contends and explains why Coetzee is successful in presenting a clear and succinct view against the arbitrariness and absurdity of war. The writer discusses the author's clear intention in providing a powerful insight into the essential human need for freedom of choice and action.
From the Paper "In the book, Michael K strives to insulate himself from the despair of the war that rages around him in a South Africa that is ravaged by apartheid. Eventually, he succeeds in distancing himself from the unpleasantness of the world around him, and even from the terrors and absurdity of war. Through the story of Michael K, Coetzee is deeply successful in creating a clear and succinct comment against the arbitrariness and absurdity of war. His vision of South Africa is that of a nation that is in the grip of a civil unrest that makes prisoners of both black and white. Michael K shows both the futility and beauty of the human struggle to find meaning amidst this chaos."
Tags: literature, analysis, apartheid, south, africa
Explores the characters of Moll Flanders and Roxana from Daniel Defoe's "Roxana: The Fortunate Mistress" and "The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders", as well as the characters in J.M. Coetzee's "Foe".
Abstract The paper discusses Daniel Defoe's novels "Roxana: The Fortunate Mistress" and "The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders", which depict the heroines as trapped in a patriarchal society. The paper then looks at J.M. Coetzee's "Foe", which provides a synthesis of Defoe's heroine icons through the character of Susan Barton. The paper demonstrates how Roxana and Moll display attributes of male strength through determination and will, while Coetzee's Susan Barton and accompanying characters attempt to reflect the Defoe feminism in a more flexible light.
From the Paper "Defoe's Roxana and Moll Flanders are stark representations of the 19th century struggle for women who sought a place in society for themselves. In the midst of British Imperialism, the role of the woman remained static, while opportunities to become successful in business, education and politics expanded. This background is essential in the setup of both Roxana and Moll, as the characters battle from shoddy upbringings to the pinnacle of wealth and social acceptance. Moll's rise through the social and class ranks of society begins as an orphan. Through marriage after marriage, Moll takes on a variety of roles, from housewife, con-artist, to thief to convict. It is important to note the tone of the narration, as Moll seems nonchalant in explanation of her history: "...and let any one judge what must be the anguish of my mind, when I came to reflect that this was certainly no more or less than my own mother, and I had now had two children, and was big with another by my own brother, and lay with him still every night." (Defoe 20). The ending is happy however, and the main point is not lost as a result. Although Moll eventually finds happiness in America, it is the trials and tribulations that defines her as a male equal."
Tags: patriarchy, feminism, heroines, male, strength, Crusoe, island
An analysis of how both Toni Morrison's novel,"The Bluest Eye", and J. M. Coetzee's novel, "Disgrace", subtly comment on the race and gender within their respective societies.
Abstract This paper analyzes, compares and contrasts Toni Morrison's novel, "The Bluest Eye" and J.M. Coetzee's novel, "Disgrace". The paper describes the approach to gender and race in each book and notes that, although they have fundamental differences, both Morrison and Coetzee contend that, despite political actions to create a "colorless, raceless, genderless" society, social stigmas are hard to eliminate.
From the Paper "Coetzee's novel "Disgraced" focuses on the life of David Lurie in post-apartheid South Africa. In the wake of political reforms that has changed the policies of the entire government, Coetzee attempts to show through his novel that racism and sexism are still as prevalent as ever. Lurie is castigated from society for his love of Byron Romanticism, and demonized as a sexual offender because of his illicit relationship with a much younger student. Ultimately, the plot surrounds the brutal rape of David's daughter Lucy, which results from the neglect of the rural community outside of Cape Town. The purpose of Coetzee's novel is to reveal the truth behind South African social lore, instead of the equality that is suppose to pertain to the post apartheid era, it is evident that without much structural support there is little political changes can make on social opinion and stigma. Ultimately the same sentiments that existed preceding the apartheid are still evident through this narrative. It is a story of dehumanization and indignity, with the focus on the fall of David Lurie's self-respect and a deeper understanding of social stigma."
Abstract This paper is a comparison between the two novels "Life and Times of Michael K" and "Robinson Crusoe". It includes a discussion of the relationship between these two novels, focusing on how Coetzee uses references to Defoe's novel to create the meaning of his own text. It also tries to answer the whys and so-whats raised by the text.
An analysis of the theme of responsibility in "Complicity" by Iain Banks, "Waiting for the Barbarians" by J.M. Coetzee and "Le Mur" by Jean-Paul Sartre.
Abstract This paper deals with the theme of responsibility in three works of world fiction; Iain Bank's "Complicity" (Scottish), Coetzee's "Waiting for the Barbarians" (South-African) and Sartre's story "Le Mur" ("The Wall") (French). It analyzes whether the characters in these different works are responsible for their own fate and whether they can also be held responsible for the fate of others. It attempts to show through the literature how our actions or even the lack of them bring forth ethical questions on our responsibilities towards the consequences of our actions and on the degree of responsibility we have in this regard towards others.
From the Paper "Sartre makes the question of responsibility even more complicated. In his story le Mur he asks the question if an individual is responsible for something he caused but could not expect to cause. The protagonist of the story is Pablo, as a member of the resistance captured by soldiers he is given two choices by his captors. Or Pablo gives away the hiding place of the leader of the resistance or he is executed. At the beginning of the story he refuses to give his leader away and is put in prison. In the room where he is held prisoner Pablo goes trough many different stages of fear, and at the end his (regular) life now seems precious, but far away: ??C"est un sacr" mensonge.?"
This paper is a book review of Nobel Prize winner J.M. Coetzee's "Disgrace" about sexual and racial 'others' who help the protagonist regain his sense of moral responsibility as a father, teacher and human being.
Abstract This paper explains that, on the surface, the title refers to the fall from grace, which the main character David Lurie has recently experienced in his professional life as a college professor, who has been left with nothing, neither romance nor vocational recourse. The author points out that the book begins by Lurie resolving to attempt to completely segment sexuality from his human interrelations with people; however, he begins to feel affection for one of the prostitutes he has implicated in his solution, an act that foreshadows his involvement with his student and his subsequent falling from his position and status in South African society. The paper relates that the title's second level or resonance refers to Lurie's lesbian daughter Lucy, who has to some extent chosen her disgrace or marginalized status.
From the Paper "But merely because Lucy loves her work does not mean that she can avoid calamity. The issue of sexual disgrace again arises after the Lurie's daughter is raped, in a fashion that causes him to further call into question the issues of female sexuality and male protectiveness from a father's rather than a lover's point of view. Lurie realizes he was totally helpless to physically protect his daughter from sexual molestation. As a man and a father, he could not save Lucy from unwanted sexual danger, seemingly confirming what he sees as her apparent distrust and dislike of men."
Abstract The paper explores the theme and impact of colonialism as it is portrayed in J.M. Coetzee's "Foe" and Daniel Defoe's "Robinson Crusoe." The paper focuses on the theme of European colonialism.
From the Paper "Basically an extension of Daniel Defoe's "Robinson Crusoe" J M Coetzee's "Foe" recounts the story of Susan Barton's experiences on a deserted island with Crusoe and Friday and her attempt to get Foe to write an account of these experiences. In Coetzee's story we see a transformation of colonialism and its ideology into one of existential meaninglessness in "Foe.""
Abstract This literary study examines the villain and the victim in the novel "Disgrace" by J.M. Coetzee. It analyzes the characters of David Lurie as the main villain of the novel and David's daughter Lucy who is considered to be the victim of the novel. The paper describes the plot of the story with quotes as it focuses on these two protagonists and their roles in the story.
From the Paper "When David is fired for seducing Melanie at the College, he eventually goes to live with his daughter, Lucy. Lucy owns a farm and also works at an animal shelter in the region. Although David has been disgraced, his daughter takes him into her home and he begins to work alongside her as a farmer. However, the simplicity of life that David is seeking is not present, as he and his daughter are attacked by three black men. Lucy is raped, which changes David's misogynist view of women. Certainly, Lucy is the victim in this story, as she must now live with the memory of her attackers and the pain that she endured."
Abstract In this article, the writer discusses that, in the work 'The Fall' by Albert Camus and 'Waiting for the Barbarians' by J.M. Coetzee, there is a consistent theme of guilt. The writer notes that guilt pervades the minds of the main characters in the novels as a pervasive conflict of character. The writer maintains that each main character attempts to reconcile his guilt with regard to his inner desires and outward actions and does so with ruthless self-loss. The writer discusses that each of these novels is contentious of the human condition and the main characters range between absolution for inaction and action in a corrupt human system and the allowance of guilt and punishment for the same. The writer concludes that neither character truly comes to or even really seeks true forgiveness, even from himself as both go about their daily lives realizing over and over how cruel the human system is and how each one of us knowingly and unknowingly becomes a cog in the wheel of human cruelty and destruction.
From the Paper "The Magistrate is seeking self resolution and absolution by choosing not to witness the bloodthirsty destruction of these prisoners at the hands of the imperialists. He has decided to save himself the grief and absolve himself from further blame by refusing to allow the spectacle to burn into his memory the nature of the system he supported and aided for so long. The magistrate is the purest example of the imperialist "going native" as has occurred in so many other real and imagined situations, where the innocent and ambitious person is blindly led by the convictions of their corrupted system to seek out fortune in a foreign land and then comes face to face with the more similar than different faces of the "natives" he is bound to expel, kill and control.
"His ideas pervade him as he endures the public humiliation of torture and thinks about the ways in which he and his administration will be remembered. The resolution is that there is not great memory for the man and he wonders why he objects to public spectacles, like that of his own public hanging, which he is currently enduring."
Tags: corruption, self, destruction, conflict, of, character
Abstract This paper argues for the fact that both these were intertextual novels. It explains that 'Foe' has strong intertextual links with 'Robinson Crusoe' as well as other Defoe novels. It shows how "Robinson Crusoe" also has its foundations firmly set in other stories, despite it being heralded as the 'first' desert island adventure.
From the Paper "Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe has often been heralded as the very first "desert island" adventure, much emulated and reproduced. Foe by J.M. Coetzee is just one of these pastiches, bringing an original and feminine angle to the Robinson Crusoe story. Foe is very different from the normal imitations of Robinson Crusoe, which usually just plant Daa different character in the same plight as Crusoe. In his take on the classic castaway story, Coetzee has actually planted his own character into the same situation as Crusoe ? the very same island in fact, with Crusoe still there. He has planted his own character into the story itself, not just a similar situation. Coetzee then removes a character from the original story (Friday) and plants him in a completely different situation (away from the island and into "civilized" life), inverting the usual treatment that writers give to the story. Obviously, Foe is a novel relying entirely on the plot of another story as its base and so is filled with intertextual references, however to what extent does Robinson Crusoe, the story that originated the genre of island adventures, contain obvious references to other books? As J. Paul Hunter begins his critique on Eighteenth Century Fiction: ?No book comes into the world altogether naked, new, or alone. Every text has a past and a history of its own, and its friendships with people and other books identify the place it seeks in the world and establish its relationship with potential readers.? (Before Novels, p.ix) Robinson Crusoe must therefore have absorbed some influences. No author writes entirely independently, without being influenced in any way by their society and the literature around at the time. However, it can be difficult to identify any single distinct influences. Interestingly though, some of the sources of inspiration for Defoe when writing Robinson Crusoe, despite it being acknowledged as the "original" castaway story, are easily identifiable, leading to the argument that although Robinson Crusoe was seen much as the first book of its kind, intertextuality is still very much in evidence."
Tags: alexander, barton, desert, island, selkirk, susan
