In Disgrace by J. M. Coetzee, we are faced with increasingly more contrasts as the story progresses. The novel explores the troubling tensions between generations, sexes, and races through its plot. At first we are introduced to David’s sexual encounters which seem to contrast him in age. Although he is a 52 year old man, as well as a father of a young daughter his sexual encounters typically consist of under age girls such as Soraya and Melanie.
Then we are confronted with the issue of sex. Does David in fact believe there are different standards for him because he is a male? It seems that there is no remorse for Melany from either the school or from David himself. In fact the school even criticizes her for daring to put in such a complaint, “this young woman who is dragging your name through the mud…of course I blame her!” (Coetzee 45). This shows that Melany is looked as an inferior because she is a female in contrast to the male figures in her society.
Following this part of the novel, an underlying conflict becomes apparent. It seems that there is more to the contrast of male authority verses female inferiority at play. We are encountered by the complexities and racial conflict in South Africa, through a historical context. Now we begin to see inferiority verses superiority being caused by racial discriminations and standards. The situation where David, a white man takes advantage of Melanie, a black girl seems irrelevant in comparison to the black men that rape Lusy. The contrast in color, being black or white greatly affects the public’s reaction to the crime being committed.
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I also agree with Diana, I believe that David is now seeing life from the other side he witnesses his daughter as a victim and therefore sees it as someone doing wrong to her. However, that was not the case with Melanie, he never believed that he was doing wrong by her. Race doesn't come in to play until this section of the chapter and we find out that Melanie is black. We discussed early on that It becomes ironic that David is upset by Lucy being victimized by black men. Is it alright for a white man to harass a black student but not alright for black men to rape Lucy? Both situations are morally wrong and in this case finally feel remorse unfortunately this is not the case, so says our society.
ReplyDeleteThrough Coetzee's juxtaposition of whites and balcks (David/Melanie and Lucy/the rapists), as well as the consequences that resulted from those relationships, readers note a divergence from the stereotypical norms. David, a white male professor with considerable authority is challenged by Melanie, a black female student of his. In the end, he suffers the consequences of his actions. From this atypical upset of power and race, Coetzee alludes to the changing racial and power structures of post-apartheid South Africa.
ReplyDeleteAlthough David is slower to realize society's changing dynamics, Lucy has come to terms with being a white woman in South Africa. Her race makes her a target for contempt and for those seeking retribution, while her gender objectifies her to be a victim of male sexual desire. From this text, Coetzee is blurring the lines of race since her salvation is inherent in accepting protection and patronage from Petrus, an African man. This "blending" of racial relations is especially apparent when Lucy becomes pregnant as a result of her rape. From this, Coetzee seems to be hinting at the future possibility of South Africa to become an egalitarian society (like that of animals), where there are no race or class distinctions made.