Disgrace is a novel set in post-apartheid (racial segregation) South Africa written by J M Coetzee which was published in 1999.The novel is about the violence and attacks taking place in Africa during this time.Also, the ultimate victim in most attacks are the women who are left to suffer and no one comes forward to help them. This is the writer’s way of showing how movements,wars,attacks ultimately target the fairer sex,also how women become the place to dispose frustration for a man and the society at large. The story is about David who is a fifty two year old Professor of English Literature at a University in Cape Town; the description given by the author tells us that he is a disinterested man who is living life for the sake of living; …show more content…
Lucy is adamant that “what happened is hers alone”, this implies that like Melanie, Lucy too chose to stay silent on her story. Since the novel is written from a male’s point of view, it raises many questions in the minds of the readers as to why Lucy chose to stay quiet about her rape, even though she knew that this will only empower her rapists and make her weak, Also David, being her father did not think of taking any action against the rapists of his daughter, instead let the drastic incident slide by. This incident brings to light the mentality of men in the novel and the world, where men who commit rape roam around freely, while the victim goes through the trauma of rape all her life.Also, The men like David who don’t take any action against the assault caused to their own family members, who don’t take a strong stand on anything and who are bothered with only their needs and don’t consider women important enough to be taken care of. The case of Lucy’s rape is in contrast to Melanie’s rape, where in Lucy’s case, she was forced and physically assaulted by the attackers, Melanie Isaac, the student of Professor David Lurie was initially mentally pressurized to have sexual intercourse with him, when David realized that she is young and fairly gullible, he started imposing himself on her and just like Lucy she chose to keep quiet. Melanie’s character comes across as somebody who has dual personalities. On one hand, she was a very opinionated student who was
Do you believe all women are smart enough to get an education or strong enough to go to war? In countries like Afghanistan and even America, there is a preconceived notion that women are simply best for bearing children, raising them, cleaning, and cooking for their husbands. From a young age, many women are given gendered roles, such as being taught by society to find husbands and care for children. For instance, girls are given baby dolls and kitchen sets for their birthdays instead of books. In Flashes of War, by Katey Schultz, the two stories “Deuce Out” and “Aaseya and Rahim” the protagonists Stephanie and Aaseya may live in different worlds, but they share much more than we think. Because of predetermined expectations that society has imposed upon women, Schultz’s book comes to a surprise since it defies pre-conceived notions of women.
...stingly, Lucy reveals a furtive desire to escape the traditional constraints that are placed upon her. Prior to being pleased with her committed relationship, Lucy complains, “why can’t they let a girl marry three men, or as many as want her, and save all this trouble?” (Stoker 92). Her desire for three husbands suggests a latent sensuality that connects her to the New Woman; she is torn between the need to conform and the desire to rebel (Senf 42). On the night of Lucy’s initial vamping, Mina witnesses her friend in the cemetery of Whitby: “it seemed to me as though something dark stood behind the seat where the white figure shone, and bent over it. What it was, whether man or beast, I could not tell” (Stoker 144). For Lucy, this exceedingly sexual scene acts as an exaggerated fulfillment of her earlier sexual curiosity regarding polygamy (Prescott & Georgio 502).
Dr. Bledsoe’s ideas and thoughts and actions should be re-examined now that the white society is analyzed. He is not a man of honor in any case, in any definition but knowing what to do should be tolerated by the readers and he should not be accused of being a hypocrite just because of the sympathy we have for the narrator. The abstraction of “honor” and “shame” may often lead to different perspectives. Ralph Ellison’s novel helps us to discuss the themes of honor and shame by providing disputable subjects, emplaced in the complex issue of racism. Now is the time to turn into ourselves and look for the true and honorable self. Please execute the shameless part of you gently…
Richard Gregory in ‘Shame’ described incidences of his childhood when he was made shameful every time by his ethnicity or by the fact that he did not have a dad. He describes a his childhood where he was humiliated in front of the whole class by his teacher and also loved helene . The teacher pointed out that he lived on the relief money collected by the class and had no dad which got him a scar in his memory as a shameful event . He could not forget how he was being on the side and everybody felt sorry for him, it was something that made him feel weak and guilty for no reason. Both of the essays portrayed the protagonists very strongly and had some of their weaknesses revealed which has notions connected with the perception of the people and society.
Their initial characterizations play on the stereotypes of the ideal “mother” and “wife,” respectively, yet once Lucy dies, all that remains is Mina’s chaste model of the perfect mother. She mothers the men in the group, going as far as embracing Arthur Holmwood as he weeps for his diseased fiancée, Lucy. Lucy also offers to comfort Quincey P. Morris, another of Lucy’s suitors. Moreover, the men in the group praise Mina for her intellect; Van Helsing goes so far as to state “She has man 's brain, a brain that a man should have were he much gifted, and a woman 's heart” (Chapter 18, 30 September, Dr. Seward’s Journal). Lucy can type, follows her husband’s study of the law, and keeps an account of the entire adventure, but the men on her side insist that she is too weak to fight. Even at the beginning of the novel, Lucy states, “when we are married, I shall want to be useful to Jonathan, and if I can stenograph well enough I can take down what he wants to say in this way and write it out for him on the typewriter” (Stoker 43). This implies that the purpose of a wife is to be an accessory to her husband’s skills, and to be dependent on him for original ideas. Mina must operate under these terms and conditions in order to represent a facet of what women ought to be, and this standard and internalized mentality concerning the role of women in relation to men suggests that part of what it means to be
Disgraced by Ayad Akhtar brings race, politics, religion, and ethnic identity all to the table in his 2013 Pulitzer Prize winning play. In modern day society these are the major social issues we see. What the audience fails to realize is that in Disgraced Akhtar has caused them to involuntarily embrace the double standards involving gender present in America. Women walk a fine line to not be a victim of “slut shaming.” “Despite its moniker, slut-shaming has little to do with actual sexual activity. Rather, it is largely a function of gossip, cliques and social control.(Tarrant)” Both Amir and Emily, the two main protagonist in the play, are victims to the others misconducts at some point in this play. The audience however finds themselves empathizing
“In Spite of Women: Esquire Magazine and the Construction of the Male Consumer” Much of society’s perception of women today, according to Kenon Breazeale in the piece, “In Spite of Women: Esquire Magazine and the Construction of the Male Consumer”, is based upon the attempts to construct women as consumers. Breazeale claims that much of society’s one-dimensional view of women has everything to do with how consumerism has been viewed primarily as a feminine attribute. Using an in-depth analysis of the early years of Esquire Magazine, Breazeale uses an academic, stoic tone in an effort to remain impartial, although it is rather apparent that she feels strongly against the magazine and all it stood for during this time period. Breazeale effectively
In 1930’s and 1940’s South Africa, many people suffered through traumatic events, whether it be a robbery, a loss of livelihood, a beating, or the ultimate tragedy, the loss of a loved one. In his novel Cry, the Beloved Country, Alan Paton makes sure that this is not left out of his true-to-life, albeit fictional, account of life in South Africa. James Jarvis is the recipient of this tragedy in the novel. His son, Arthur Jarvis, is murdered in his home by Absalom Kumalo during a botched robbery attempt. This sudden loss breaks Jarvis’ heart and sends him reeling. He goes to Johannesburg for the trial and ends up realizing that he really didn’t know his son at all. Reading his son’s writings causes him to have a moral conversion, and he begins his new life when he returns to Ndotsheni. Even though James Jarvis is a man of few words, he has much to say after his son’s death and he speaks through his actions.
"Hills Like White Elephants" by Ernest Hemingway, is a great example of women's role in the last century. The story is told in a simple form of dialogue between a man and a young woman nicknamed Jig. Although there is an important decision to be made, nothing of much importance is talked about. In the story, Jig does not have much influence in her relationship with the man, even when it comes to an abortion.
In the Naked Citadel by Susan Faludi, we are taken into the notorious Citadel were the halls are lined with depictions of stern-faced generals, and where young boys are merely unrecognizable as college students. Where they appear as mere boys dressed in professional cadet attire. Men that have been ruthlessly broken down, and stripped of their egos, by not only their upper class mates, but by faculty. In a relentless manner that was sought by generations of citadel loyalist and alumni in order to shape them into their man hood. However, in the year 1994 not a single female was allowed to attend at least not as a Citadel in uniform. And it would take a strong willed woman to break the long standing traditions and join in an all-male military-type
Lucy was attacked by three men and raped. He tries to seek restorative justice for Lucy but to no avail David cannot convince Lucy to press charges on the offenders for the attack. David and Lucy are very much alike, both stubborn and set in their ways. David refused to apologize or seek forgiveness for his inappropriate behavior at the University. Lucy refuses to press charges for the rape because she is determined to have this situation just go away without further damage to herself. Lucy is a strong person because most people would find it hard to forgive or move on from an assault without getting some sort of revenge. Coetzee states, “Lucy, Lucy, I plead with you! You want to make up for the wrongs of the past, but this is not the way to do it. If you fail to stand up for yourself at this moment, you will never be able to hold your head up again.” (133). David cannot comprehend how Lucy is able to continue to live on the farm where she has been assaulted and continue to see one of the attackers regularly without feeling rage or anger for letting them get away with the attack. David is enraged to get punishment for the assault that happened to him and Lucy. Unfortunately, David does not get the restorative justice he wants which is imprisonment for the attackers. It is implied that Lucy chooses to forgive the attackers and try to live a decent life with her unborn child being able to have a
The young man’s predicaments all revolve around his need to satisfy those that will judge him and he becomes trapped between the apartheid rule and humanity’s desire for equality and respect towards others. This is purely a personal issue that can be resolved solely by him, but should take into the consideration of those involved. We see glimpses of this coming through the young man, but being raised in an era of apartheid it overpowers his common understanding of respect.
This analysis endeavours to understand a bundle of quotes extracted from the work of Wollstonecraft, particularly her theories within “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman”. Firstly, we will primarily deal with Wollstonecraft’s relationship with Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and her vehement critique of his views on education and women in general. The second paragraph will attempt to contextualise her views per the historical and cultural events occurring around the time of writing, and debate whether Wollstonecraft’s theories were ‘male-orientated’ to compensate for her audience, or if through socialisation she genuinely believed women to be the imperfect ones, and that is was the responsibility of men to educate and validate their presence.
This paper aims to investigate some aspects of postcolonialism, feminism, as well as symbolism, allegories and metaphors. For this purpose I have chosen the novel Disgrace (1999) by J.M Coetzee. The story takes place in Cape Town, in post-apartheid South Africa. David Lurie is a white man and works as a professor of English at a technical university. He is a ‘communication’ lecturer and he teaches ‘romantic literature’ too. Lurie is divorced two times already and one gets the impression that he is not really satisfied with his job. His "disgrace" comes when he makes attempts to seduce Melanie Isaacs, one of his students, against her will. This affair is then remitted to the school authorities and a special committee is convoked to judge his actions.
Bibliography w/4 sources Cry , the Beloved Country by Alan Paton is a perfect example of post-colonial literature. South Africa is a colonized country, which is, in many ways, still living under oppression. Though no longer living under apartheid, the indigenous Africans are treated as a minority, as they were when Paton wrote the book. This novel provides the political view of the author in both subtle and evident ways. Looking at the skeleton of the novel, it is extremely evident that relationship of the colonized vs. colonizers, in this case the blacks vs. the whites, rules the plot. Every character’s race is provided and has association with his/her place in life. A black man kills a white man, therefore that black man must die. A black umfundisi lives in a valley of desolation, while a white farmer dwells above on a rich plot of land. White men are even taken to court for the simple gesture of giving a black man a ride. This is not a subtle point, the reader is immediately stricken by the diversities in the lives of the South Africans.