Disgrace by J. M. Coetzee Essay -- Literary Analysis

Report on the Novel: DISGRACE by J. M. Coetzee For a man of his age, fifty-two, divorced, he has, to his mind, solved the problem of sex rather well. On Thursday afternoons he drives to Green Point. Punctually at two pm. He presses the buzzer at the entrance to Windsor Mansions, speaks his name, and enters. Waiting for him at the door of No. 113 is Soraya. This weekly rendezvous with a prostitute is the closet thing to a personal and intimate relationship Professor David Lurie has. J. M. Coetzee' novel, "Disgrace," takes place in post-apartheid South Africa. The times swing chaotically in the great upheaval as South Africa's political power arm swings from a white ruling minority, to black majority rule. The power shift is anything but smooth; victims become victors and, likewise, oppressors become the oppressed. As the story opens, Croetzee's main character , David Lurie lives in Cape Town, South Africa, as a respected university professor. He lives a life of sexually fulfilled non-commitment relationships, misusing his authority and good standing in the community to fulfilling his sexual desires, with or without the permission of the women, he targets for seduction. He was born and raised as a member of the white minority, that ruled South Africa for decades during the apartheid era. He has not tempered his apartheid attitude, nor, changed his ways to adjust to the new South African post-apartheid era. He acts on his sexual desires and deems he answers to no man for what he does. Thus far, David Lurie's role in life has seen only a fleeting few personal relationships that were not lasting for any length of time. He has solely existed to pursue sex without any conscience regard, evening seducing yo... ...o Petrus, and agrees Petrus can publicly claim her as one of his wives. Lucy tells Lurie, the young rapist has returned, and he is Petrus' brother-in-law. Soon they both agree the young rapist is mentally retarded. As the book come to the last page – Lurie is at the shelter, and with tears in his eyes – he is carrying a dog he has formed an attachment to be put to sleep. SOURCES, other than the novel: â€Å"DISGRACE.† Ruman, Md. Abdul Karim Ruman. "Is Disgrace Justified?: Psychological, Ethical and Political Significance of the Title in J.M. Coetzee's Disgrace." web: http://www.articlesbase.com/literature-articles/is-disgrace-justified-psychological-ethical-and-political-significance-of-the-title-in-jm-coetzees-disgrace-2599298.html. Posted: Jun 10, 2010 wikipedia: web page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth_and_Reconciliation_Commission_(South_Africa)