Disgrace J. M. Coetzee
Mary
May 2nd, 2013
African Literature
Final Paper
Retribution from Rape
In the book Disgrace J. M. Coetzee focuses on the effects of post-apartheid in South Africa. It is a book that has won much prestige and criticism. Yet even with all of its fame some people take offense to it arguing that Disgrace is fundamentally a racist book. However, I believe that one has to overlook these accusations in order to discover the possibility of justice hidden in the situations. Disgrace is not a novel focusing the stereotypical relationship between blacks and whites in South Africa, yet, these relationships are impossible to avoid. The novel attempts to use these relationships to demonstrate justice and retribution through the rape of Lucy, Lucy’s response to that rape, David’s sexual encounters, and his relationship with the dogs.
In order to understand the importance of this novel one must first understand the historical events that happened as the novel was written. The novel takes place in post-apartheid South Africa in the late 1990’s. In 1995 a new constitution was enacted that abolished apartheid, the lawful segregation of race. While this was an important step, it was not enough to satisfy the injustices of the previous decades. The government soon established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) to expose and remedy the crimes committed during the apartheid era. This was a way to allow victims to be heard, but not all persons decided to avenge the past actions through legal means.
The story begins with a fifty-two-year-old professor David Lurie claiming that his mind has solved the problem of sexual desire. He describes this to be accomplished through weekly sexual relations with a “honey-brown” prostitute. When his first solution fails, he begins an “affair” with a student thirty years his junior. Throughout the narration of this “affair” it is heavily implied that the woman was at one point raped by her professor. After a complaint was
May 2nd, 2013
African Literature
Final Paper
Retribution from Rape
In the book Disgrace J. M. Coetzee focuses on the effects of post-apartheid in South Africa. It is a book that has won much prestige and criticism. Yet even with all of its fame some people take offense to it arguing that Disgrace is fundamentally a racist book. However, I believe that one has to overlook these accusations in order to discover the possibility of justice hidden in the situations. Disgrace is not a novel focusing the stereotypical relationship between blacks and whites in South Africa, yet, these relationships are impossible to avoid. The novel attempts to use these relationships to demonstrate justice and retribution through the rape of Lucy, Lucy’s response to that rape, David’s sexual encounters, and his relationship with the dogs.
In order to understand the importance of this novel one must first understand the historical events that happened as the novel was written. The novel takes place in post-apartheid South Africa in the late 1990’s. In 1995 a new constitution was enacted that abolished apartheid, the lawful segregation of race. While this was an important step, it was not enough to satisfy the injustices of the previous decades. The government soon established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) to expose and remedy the crimes committed during the apartheid era. This was a way to allow victims to be heard, but not all persons decided to avenge the past actions through legal means.
The story begins with a fifty-two-year-old professor David Lurie claiming that his mind has solved the problem of sexual desire. He describes this to be accomplished through weekly sexual relations with a “honey-brown” prostitute. When his first solution fails, he begins an “affair” with a student thirty years his junior. Throughout the narration of this “affair” it is heavily implied that the woman was at one point raped by her professor. After a complaint was
Cited: Coetzee, J. M. Disgrace. London: Vintage 2000, 1999. Print. Cornwell, Gareth. "Realism, Rape, And J. M. Coetzee 's Disgrace." Critique 43.4 (2002): 307. Academic Search Complete. Web. 2 May 2013. DEKOVEN, MARIANNE. "Going To The Dogs In Disgrace." Elh 76.4 (2009): 847-875. Academic Search Complete. Web. 2 May 2013. Mardorossian, Carine M. "Rape And The Violence Of Representation In J. M. Coetzee 's Disgrace." Research In African Literatures 42.4 (2011): 72-83. Academic Search Complete. Web. 2 May 2013. Roy, Sohinee. "Speaking With A Forked Tongue: Disgrace And The Irony Of Reconciliation In Postapartheid South Africa." Modern Fiction Studies 58.4 (2012): 699-722. Academic Search Complete. Web. 2 May 2013.