In Coetzee's novel Disgrace, the reader is thrust into the whirlwind setting of post-apartheid Africa. Coetzee, a native of South Africa, has typically written novels based on life in his home nation. However, these novels have taken a different thematic approach over time with the country's transition from apartheid to a post-apartheid nation.
Coetzee was one of several novelists that helped bring apartheid to global attention. These novels typically covered the crooked racial policies and violence of South Africa. However, after apartheid, Coetzee's thematic portrayal of his native country depicts another dire situation in regards to violence, crime, and bloodshed. In Disgrace it is obvious to the reader that even without the apartheid, the nation is in a dire situation with the crimes committed against Lucy and David.
One apartheid-era novel that Coetzee wrote is entitled Age of Iron. In this novel, the female protagonist, while dying of cancer, witnesses the violent atrocities that are committed against the blacks of South Africa by those more privileged whites. With blacks being the victims of Coetzee's apartheid-era novels, it is interested to see how things have changed in Disgrace as two rich white people are victimized by three black men. This reversal of victimization is strikingly similar to the type of racial reversal that occurred in Wide Sargasso Sea with the slave emancipation of Jamaica in 1838. Antoinette went from holding superior positions in society to being victims of a larger demographic of emancipated slaves. In the same manner, David and Lucy have gone from more privileged members of society to victims after the extinction of apartheid.
Coetzee was one of several novelists that helped bring apartheid to global attention. These novels typically covered the crooked racial policies and violence of South Africa. However, after apartheid, Coetzee's thematic portrayal of his native country depicts another dire situation in regards to violence, crime, and bloodshed. In Disgrace it is obvious to the reader that even without the apartheid, the nation is in a dire situation with the crimes committed against Lucy and David.
One apartheid-era novel that Coetzee wrote is entitled Age of Iron. In this novel, the female protagonist, while dying of cancer, witnesses the violent atrocities that are committed against the blacks of South Africa by those more privileged whites. With blacks being the victims of Coetzee's apartheid-era novels, it is interested to see how things have changed in Disgrace as two rich white people are victimized by three black men. This reversal of victimization is strikingly similar to the type of racial reversal that occurred in Wide Sargasso Sea with the slave emancipation of Jamaica in 1838. Antoinette went from holding superior positions in society to being victims of a larger demographic of emancipated slaves. In the same manner, David and Lucy have gone from more privileged members of society to victims after the extinction of apartheid.
I really like the parallel you made with Disgrace and Wide Sargasso Sea about the issue of changes in power dynamics between the two races. In both novels there is a shift in power from the white population to the repressed black population. In addition to that, just like the newly freed black Jamaicans abused their newfound power and burned down Antoinette's house; the three man who attacked Lurie and his daughter abused and misused their new position in a post-apartheid society.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree; the correlation between Disgrace and Wide Sargasso Sea is fascinating, and helps bring new insight/context to both novels. I also like how you outline the developing trend of Coetzee's works and how the reflect the political and social realities of South Africa at the times of their writing. The idea that you could almost trace the political heartbeat of South Africa through the library of Coetzee is really intriguing prospect that I think speaks very highly of the author.
ReplyDeleteI looked into some of Coetzee's other works and agree with your ideas. Like Matt said it speaks highly of the author if they take the time and effort to connect their works through such a powerful and complicated theme.
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