In the novel “Disgrace”, why and how does Coetzee uses animals as a metaphor, and how does animal life can be compared with the main theme of the novel?
First I am going to explain how in the book some of the animal metaphors are related with negative issues about sex and animal instincts. The main theme of the novel is the same as its title, “Disgrace”, so then I will write about how animals and humans are related in the novel and how some of them live in disgrace.
Animal metaphors start since the first chapter, starting with Soraya. David thinks that having sex with her is like copulation of snakes. I think snakes are animals that are related with bad or dangerous things, they are cold and not friendly. Although snakes also have a special appeal and a weird beauty for some people, in the book David says: “She was on their books under Exotic.” (Coetzee, 1999). David Lurie says he has solved the problem of sex rather well visiting Soraya once a week, he has the necessity of sex as an animal instinct so he goes by the easy way without feelings and in his own way.
Everything is fine with Soraya until they see each other outside the sex time. Soraya is with her kids and in that moment David becomes a predator and Soraya a mother that is protecting her cubs. Soraya disappears, she wants David out of her life and these let us know what Soraya really thought about David, I think she had a negative impression about him as someone dangerous.
Then Lurie starts behaving again as an animal following his instinct when he invites Melanie out. An attractive young girl, easy to manipulate. And the best example the Coetzee gives us in the novel is when David “forces” Melanie to have sex “…like a rabbit when the jaws of the fox close on its neck....
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... property, no rights, no dignity”. “Like a dog”. (Coetzee, 1999). David change in the novel is different, I think he acts like an animal at first and does not regret on what he did because it was what he wanted. But at the end his work is to give “dignity” to the abandoned and miserable dogs providing them death instead of a life of suffering, he became a dog man. I related this with what the teachers on the committee wanted for Lurie, they wanted him to realize that what he did was wrong and it was better to understand it before things got more complicated. But for Lurie truly apologize for something that he liked was “death”. So at the end thanks to all the disgrace he lived and thanks to his job he finally regrets of what he did and understands all the chaos that happened in his life.
Works Cited
Coetzee, J. (1999). Disgrace. South Africa: Secker & Warburg .
Throughout the novel the characters are put in these situations which force them to obtain information about the people they thought they knew. The center of finding out who everyone is was brought into play through the death of Marie. The story is told by David, only twelve years old, who sees his family an community in a different light for who they truly are under there cover. By doing his own little investigations, often times eavesdropping, David saw through the lies, secures and betrayals to find the truth.
At first, David cares that his mother treats him badly. After awhile, he doesn’t care and becomes apathetic.
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