In the novel, Disgrace, Coetzee shows the reader a new person in not only David Lurie, but in Lucy as well. We do not see their new characters until after the traumatic event, the break in. In Lurie's old character he was a womanizer. He took advantage of women in many ways, the most important of them, physical. Even though he says that his actions are only a result of his desires, this is no excuse. Even though Lurie's stay with his daughter initially was to escape the media and madness that his story had created in the town of the university, it may have been Coetzee way of letting the reader know this new place would possibly not only create a new life, but a new person. He is not able to see the abuse that he has been carrying out until his daughter is taken advantage of and raped. Now, he is able to look at things from a different perspective, the perspective of a father not being able to protect his daughter. Coetzee allows for the reader to see a more sensitive side of David after the event as well. The old David seemed to just believe what he was doing was right and that was the end of it. David was very critical of his daughter and her lifestyle. He did not have any regard for the farmlife or animals. It is not quite clear whether David is just more sensitive towards these things now because Lucy was stripped of things and they meant the world to her? Lucy is also a new person after she is raped and robbed. Lucy's previous life was simple, but she was happy. Coetzee goes to show that one does not have to be living in luxury just to be happy. She was content with simply the satisfaction of helping animals and vending. Afterwards Lucy is withdrawn, unhappy, and quiet in many ways. Her silence is what is killing her father inside and out. He does not understand how it is possible for her to keep quiet about the rape, but Lucy is determined to. She not only lost her animals, but is almost as if Coetzee is trying to show us that she lost her soul. Even though a piece of her is missing she will not speak up because it will compromise the bigger issues in society and possibly make matters worse.
Chanel Merchant
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I agree with Chanel in that we see David as a new person when he moves in with his daughter Lucy. His perspective does take a dramatic change after the fact he is unable to protect his daughter. David was not able to see what he did to Melanie was wrong. In chapter 17 when he goes back to his life, he does see what he did was wrong. He apologizes with empathy to Mr. Isaacs which does show us the reader he has changed for the better. Lucy on the other hand has become very aware of herself. She is seen in the novel to be carefree and always in overalls and just happy. In chapter 15 we see at the party that Petrus throws she dresses up. On page 128 David thinks to himself, “Unusually, she is wearing a knee-length dress and high heels, with a necklace of painted wooden beads and matching earrings.” Lucy has changed but not for the better. Her silence speaks volumes because her rape was atrocious and for her to not say anything is horrendous. Keeping silent I feel that Lucy is trying to keep society from judging her as a victim. She realizes that what the white men have done to the black women is in effect what has happened to her in reverse and if she talks and reports it she will be harassed even more due to the color of her skin.
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