Characterization and narration;
David Lurie’s struggle with post-apartheid South Africa in Disgrace
Written in 1998 by John Maxwell Coetzee and later awarded with a Booker
prize for literature, Disgrace is one of the most internationally well-known South African
novels of today. Describing the life of protagonist David Lurie, an English professor at the
Technical University of East Cape in Cape Town, Disgrace reveals the hedonistic sexual urges
which the 52-year-old white divorcee is incapable of
controlling leading to new consequences in post-apartheid South Africa. Yet this story can be
seen as more relevant on a broader context as the struggle of David Lurie with modern
society can be argued as representable for the struggle to emancipate by
the white population in post-apartheid South Africa.
Firstly, In the post-apartheid era the white population struggles with the loss of power to
the black emancipating population in South Africa. Lurie’s focalization is a vital instrument
to funnel Lurie’s ideas about South Africa and to understand the chronological events
which occur in the time frame spans in. David’s role as focalizer is particularly evident in
the beginning of Disgrace “Melanie-melody: a meretricious rhyme. Not a good name for
her. Shift the accent. Mélani: the dark one.” (p. 18, Coetzee, 1998). This quote serves as
an example of Lurie’s perspective. Melanie Isaacs, a student whom David had an affair with,
is treated by David as an object, a certain item which can be collected, named and
forgotten without any further personal implications for him. Later on in Disgrace it becomes
clear that his actions are now with implications due to a changing society. “ Re-
education. Reformation of the character. The code-word was counseling.’” (p. 66, Coetzee,
1998). Lurie has to justify for his abuse of power before a university commission in
what he calls “A TV show” (p. 28, Coetzee, 1998). Lurie lost his position of power to
a member of the emancipating black population, and he now faces the consequences for
his abuse of power which previously went unpunished. To emancipate Lurie must give in to
the values of a modern South Africa and change his ideas and attitude, or face
the consequences for his actions, something which he ultimately refuses. This
ultimately leads to his resignation as an adjunct-professor. This draws similarities to the
situation in post-apartheid South Africa wherein powerful members of the white South
African population who once profited from racist apartheid policies had to justify their
actions and behavior before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) or accept
judicial actions against themselves. Focalizer David Lurie as a powerful white man struggles
to accept the values of a modern South Africa or face the implications just as
other powerful white South Africans in that time.
, Secondly, another problematic struggle in Disgrace is David Lurie’s relationship with South
African state institutions. Supported by the shift in narration by David Lurie in
Disgrace emphasizes contrasts and conflicts with society. Through the
observed focalization of protagonist David Lurie, Lurie does not only struggle with
a changing society but also a changing government and political system. This has particular
significance in a conversation with Ettinger after the assault on Lucy’s farmstead; “The
best is, you save yourself, because
the police are not going to save you, not anymore, you can be sure.” (p. 98, Coetzee,
1998). This quote limits our view to what David is hearing and
seeing proving the claim that Lurie is the focalizer. This quote allows us
to see through Lurie’s perspective that both Lurie, Lucy and Ettinger have no trust in the
South African police being able to solve the crime as opposed to
the police in apartheid South Africa. Lurie just as most whites in the post-
apartheid era miss the paranoid protection provided by the apartheid government for
the white minority. Now David Lurie and other members of the white minority group have
to cope with the fact that the South African police will not offer the same protection again
leading up to alienation of the white class in South Africa as illustrated in the following
quote: “For the past three years, she and her husband have had their name on a list at the
New Zealand consulate, to emigrate.‘You people had it easier. I mean, whatever
the rights and wrongs of the situation, at least you know where you were.’” (p. 8, Coetzee,
1998). The struggle which Lurie focalizes with the South African state is representable for
the struggle of the white minority with the new South African state.
David Lurie’s struggle with post-apartheid South Africa in Disgrace
Written in 1998 by John Maxwell Coetzee and later awarded with a Booker
prize for literature, Disgrace is one of the most internationally well-known South African
novels of today. Describing the life of protagonist David Lurie, an English professor at the
Technical University of East Cape in Cape Town, Disgrace reveals the hedonistic sexual urges
which the 52-year-old white divorcee is incapable of
controlling leading to new consequences in post-apartheid South Africa. Yet this story can be
seen as more relevant on a broader context as the struggle of David Lurie with modern
society can be argued as representable for the struggle to emancipate by
the white population in post-apartheid South Africa.
Firstly, In the post-apartheid era the white population struggles with the loss of power to
the black emancipating population in South Africa. Lurie’s focalization is a vital instrument
to funnel Lurie’s ideas about South Africa and to understand the chronological events
which occur in the time frame spans in. David’s role as focalizer is particularly evident in
the beginning of Disgrace “Melanie-melody: a meretricious rhyme. Not a good name for
her. Shift the accent. Mélani: the dark one.” (p. 18, Coetzee, 1998). This quote serves as
an example of Lurie’s perspective. Melanie Isaacs, a student whom David had an affair with,
is treated by David as an object, a certain item which can be collected, named and
forgotten without any further personal implications for him. Later on in Disgrace it becomes
clear that his actions are now with implications due to a changing society. “ Re-
education. Reformation of the character. The code-word was counseling.’” (p. 66, Coetzee,
1998). Lurie has to justify for his abuse of power before a university commission in
what he calls “A TV show” (p. 28, Coetzee, 1998). Lurie lost his position of power to
a member of the emancipating black population, and he now faces the consequences for
his abuse of power which previously went unpunished. To emancipate Lurie must give in to
the values of a modern South Africa and change his ideas and attitude, or face
the consequences for his actions, something which he ultimately refuses. This
ultimately leads to his resignation as an adjunct-professor. This draws similarities to the
situation in post-apartheid South Africa wherein powerful members of the white South
African population who once profited from racist apartheid policies had to justify their
actions and behavior before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) or accept
judicial actions against themselves. Focalizer David Lurie as a powerful white man struggles
to accept the values of a modern South Africa or face the implications just as
other powerful white South Africans in that time.
, Secondly, another problematic struggle in Disgrace is David Lurie’s relationship with South
African state institutions. Supported by the shift in narration by David Lurie in
Disgrace emphasizes contrasts and conflicts with society. Through the
observed focalization of protagonist David Lurie, Lurie does not only struggle with
a changing society but also a changing government and political system. This has particular
significance in a conversation with Ettinger after the assault on Lucy’s farmstead; “The
best is, you save yourself, because
the police are not going to save you, not anymore, you can be sure.” (p. 98, Coetzee,
1998). This quote limits our view to what David is hearing and
seeing proving the claim that Lurie is the focalizer. This quote allows us
to see through Lurie’s perspective that both Lurie, Lucy and Ettinger have no trust in the
South African police being able to solve the crime as opposed to
the police in apartheid South Africa. Lurie just as most whites in the post-
apartheid era miss the paranoid protection provided by the apartheid government for
the white minority. Now David Lurie and other members of the white minority group have
to cope with the fact that the South African police will not offer the same protection again
leading up to alienation of the white class in South Africa as illustrated in the following
quote: “For the past three years, she and her husband have had their name on a list at the
New Zealand consulate, to emigrate.‘You people had it easier. I mean, whatever
the rights and wrongs of the situation, at least you know where you were.’” (p. 8, Coetzee,
1998). The struggle which Lurie focalizes with the South African state is representable for
the struggle of the white minority with the new South African state.
