IRP Notes Package: Allusion, Symbolism, and Motifs

Allusion

Coetzee alludes often in his writing to literature, historical events and figures, classical mythology and pop culture. These allusions often hold a great deal of sub-textual information. The following is an analysis of two of the more significant allusions.

The youngest member of the trio of thieves that steal from the Luries and rape Lucy is named Pollux. This is likely an allusion to the Greek myth, Castor and Pollux. Castor and Pollux are half-brothers. Their myth involves in part the kidnapping and rape of the Leucippides, Phoebe and Hilaeira, who become pregnant as a result of the rapes. This aspect of the myth is very similar to the plotline of Disgrace as Lucy (note the phonetic similarity between Lucy and Leucippides) becomes pregnant when Pollux and his quasi-brothers rape her. Furthermore, the myth of Castor and Pollux culminates with Idas- the fiancé of one of the Leucippides- trying to kill Pollux. Pollux is saved when Zeus (his father) intervenes and kills Idas. This again is similar to the plotline of Disgrace when Lurie is trying to get Pollux arrested, but Petrus (Pollux’s father- figure) protects him by withholding his personal information. (139)

Another significant allusion that Coetzee makes is to Lord Byron and his lover Teresa, Countess Guiccioli. This allusion happens several times through the beginning and middle sections of the novel, but it is really featured closer to the end. Indeed, near the end of this novel, the allusion to Byron becomes an aspect of the plot. This allusion is significant because Byron comes to symbolize Lurie. We see this in three ways. Firstly, they share similar characteristics. They are both scholars of the English language. They are both immersed in romantic...

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...act, the initial conflict has been actively ignored by the protagonist. Once Lurie leaves the city to visit Lucy he avoids, to the best of his ability, conversation about Melanie. He even avoids thinking about her too directly- whenever she happens to cross his mind, Melanie is referred to as “the girl”. (65,89)

In the middle section of this book, a new main conflict is introduced with the rape of Lucy and the aftermath of this event. This new main conflict is, in a way, a response to the initial main conflict. Both conflicts centre on rape and the subsequent actions of the victims and the perpetrators. The new main conflict helps to establish the socio-political environment of the countryside of South Africa which contributes to the setting of the novel. It also triggers significant character development in Lucy and David, which will be further analyzed below.