Rape equals racism?

The topic of rape is the one of the central theme in the book of Disgrace. Though, many of my classmates have argued that the relationship between Melanie and David was not rape but somewhat based on consent. I believe it was rape on the basis of David’s unwanted introversion to his young student life and his inability to see past his own desire and take into account hers.  On the extreme version, Lucy’s life is violent ruined when she is brutally raped and her dogs are killed. Rape, I believe is Coetzee’s metaphoric method of discussing the complexity surrounding race relations in post-apartheid South Africa.

            The ambiguity surrounding the relationship between David and Melanie is similar to that of the middle class blacks and whites. Though, the inequality and hostility of the pervious years are gone there still exists a disconnection between the two parties. David describes his sexual explorations with Melanie as “not rape but still unwanted”. Just like the presence of whites in South Africa to some blacks particularly those in cities is no longer a threat but still unwanted. Unwanted in the sense many whites like David do not see themselves as imperialists but rather victims of an unfair system that has placed them in a negative light. This is similar to the Laurie’s response to accusation surrounding his relationship with Melanie. He saw himself as a merely a victim of Eros or a person of simply respond to his desire and does not deserve to be actually punished for it. They are therefore not truly aware of the underlying racial tensions that still exist and become confused in situation where they treated less that they believe themselves to deserve.

            However, in rural areas where poverty and class division is more rampant, the presence of whites is seen as a rape of the people’s freedom. This is because the effects of the apartheid still raw in the hearts of the locals. Petrus is described as a well to do man who as a result of the changes in society is able to obtain a piece of land for farming. Though, it is technically a great thing, many still see the injustice of people like Petrus who are natives of the land still having to rely on Lucy for a way of living. The automatic upward social mobility granted to whites is still being denied to blacks especially for those in the poor sections of the country. Unlike those in the living in the cities, their disapproval comes out in terms of violence or creating a clear distinction between the two races.  Petrus, though fond of Lucy seeks to disassociate himself from her and those close to her in order to establish clear boundaries.  Therefore the rape is Lucy is symbolic of the “justifiable” hostility many rural black South African continue to have for their white countrymen.