Fantasy vs. Reality in J. M. Coetzees Disgrace Essay -- Coetzee Disgr

Fantasy vs. Reality in J. M. Coetzees Disgrace J. M. Coetzees novel Disgrace is, on the surface, the story of a wayward college professor, Dr. David Lurie, who is aging into a disrespectful decline. But this story tells of not only the strife and wrenching change that exist in the microcosm of Luries mind, but also the parallel themes that underlie the social, political, and ethical systems that be the reality of present day South Africa. As David Lurie interacts with people and creatures outside his normal milieu, the interruption lines between his myopic view of the world and reality begin to crystallize with a disconcerting clarity.What goes on in your soul is dark to us... . These words are emblematic of the willful ignorance used to justify the actions of people, governments and society in a number of unfortunate circumstances. The alienation endemic in such a verbiage reinforces the notion that each of us is absolutely alone when it comes to matters of the soul. Often, this willful ignorance is the blindfold used to wrap ones conscious mind into a state of denial that permits the term quo to limp on.If a society can be guilty of misanthropic behavior, then it must first exist on the individual level. It is in private relationships that errors germinate and where true contrition belongs. The original context of this phrase is between Lurie and his colleges disciplinary committee. Having been caught misusing his authority to seduce a young student, the professor is asked to explain. Repentance would go a long way toward absolving his sin, but he is defiant. Though it is acknowledged that we fill our weak moments, all of us, we are only human (52), Lurie offers a justification but no contrition. As in Byrons La... ...is Lucy who must ironically point out reality by snapping, Wake up, David... this is Africa (124). Though he seems to be coming to harm with his true identity, the loss of perceived primacy is still humiliating. The best he can do is i dentify with those he had been blind to before, human and living organism alike. Lucy admits they have both in fact been reduced to having nothing, no cards, no weapons, no property, no rights, no dignity.Like a dog.Yes, like a dog. (205)But David Lurie has learned to have and to recognize dignity despite all indications to the contrary. The animals he tends all posses it as does he he has learned to concentrate all his attention on the animal they are killing, giving it what he no longer has difficulty in calling by its proper name love (219).Work CitedCoetzee, J. M. Disgrace. New York Penguin Books, 2000.