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DISGRACE

The book elaborates on the changes that took place in South Africa at the end of the

twentieth century where the experiences of the people were conditioned to various factors.

According to Tony D’Souza, from the National Books Critics Circle, Disgrace is an attempt

of explaining the behavior that the South Africans portrayed in 1999 during the election

period. The racial discrimination aspects are outlined in length, thus giving the reader an

opportunity to evaluate the situations as it was happening at that particular time.

The present state of South Africa can be defined by the actions that took place during

this particular juncture. The dehumanization state was on the rise, and the people did not have

an option but to rely on those of their color for survival. For instance, Lurie tells David that

he should not expect sympathy from anyone at any particular time (Coetzee 44). Through

this, rationalization of the human experiences could not be achieved and thus forcing the

individuals to fend for themselves.

According to Tonny D’Souza, the story line of Disgrace is crucial in elaborating the

difficulties that the South Africans were going through during the second democratic

election. The use of violence and manipulation to achieve whatever the people set in mind

goes a long way in the determination of the type of communities that were being tolerated,

and the authorities could not offer better help. The spread of the violence across the country

is portrayed by the few characters in the book whereby Coetzee outlines the various factors of

the roles that they play. The acts of violence elaborate the difficult times that the country was

going through and the different techniques that the authorities had to use to make the country

better.
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Works cited

Retrospect: ‘Disgrace’ Coetzee’s Masterpiece. Tony D’Souza. 20

Coetzee, J M. Disgrace. New York: Viking, 1999. Print.