Theme Of Apartheid In J. M. Coetzee's Disgrace

When reading J. M. Coetzee’s Disgrace, before delving into the character studies interwoven in this novel, it is essential to first understand the backdrop of Apartheid as an institution. Apartheid had a socioeconomic effect on the different cultural groups in South Africa that eventually affects the main protagonists in this novel. Disgrace, a novel by J.M. Coetzee, implies that David Lurie embodies the pre-arpartheid era, while Lucy represents post-apartheid.

Old South Africa is best described by Mark Uhlig, “The seeds of such violent conflict in South Africa were sown more than 300 years ago, with the first meetings of white settlers and indigenous black tribes in an unequal relationship that was destined one day to become unsustainable” (116).

Apartheid was considered a necessary arrangement in South Africa, as the Afrikaner National Party gained a strong majority political control of the country after the 1940’s and the economic dependence on their fertile natural resources, such as diamond and gold mines and other metals such as platinum. This required intense labor and the white dominant control over the repressed black majority allowed for an

Interestingly, this is represented when he is given an opportunity to show some type of remorse, by way of contrition of his actions, as written by Coetzee “ ‘A spirit of repentance’ “ (58). However, David cannot bring himself to do that. It is as if he is incapable of viewing his errors in this light and suggests a subtle arrogance that he doesn’t believe he has done wrong. It’s not just that he doesn’t appear able to face up to his responsibilities, but rather that he may well be emotionally incapable of doing so. Institutions, such as Apartheid in South Africa, tend to disable an individual’s sense of morality in order to satisfy one’s