The Quest Of Selfhood-A Social Psychological Reading Of J.M. Coetzee's Disgrace

In 1999, Disgrace won the prestigious award—Man Booker Prize. In 2003, it was the same novel which won the more famous Nobel Prize. Most of Coetzee's works are under the social background of colonial life and conflicts in South Africa, and Disgrace is no exception. When the system of apartheid was brought to an end in South Africa in 1994, a series of social problems were incurred, such as the changes of the social identities of the white colonizers in South Africa; the changes of the social identities of the native Africans; the white colonizers' quest of self identity in post-apartheid period and the conflicts between the white and native black in South Africa, etc. Through the analysis of the psychological changes of the protagonist—Lurie, Disgrace unveils a series of social problems between the white and black. At the same time, Coetzee also expresses his concern about the serious consequences caused by the colonial system.In Disgrace, Coetzee mainly discusses three important characters: Lurie, Lucy and Petrus. Through the depiction of the three figures, Coetzee gives the readers an overview of the social reality and the causes behind those social problems in South Africa. The newly-independent South Africa is then undergoing an upheaval which at the same time exerts a deep influence on the psychological condition of the people in that country. Through disclosing the social contradiction and conflicts between the white and black in Disgrace, Coetzee criticizes the system of apartheid, especially the racial discrimination of white colonizers toward the native Africans. The meaning and influence of his discussion and comment on the decline of colonialism, social and cultural dilemma is far beyond his contemporary. Through the depiction the gap and misunderstanding between Lurie and his daughter—Lucy, Coetzee implies that the disgrace which the white colonizers have suffered is inevitable during the development of its history. With that development, the descendents of the white colonizers are expiating in the price of their honor and dignity. This thesis mainly analyzes the changes of social identities of the protagonist—Lurie who thinks that he is still under the protection of apartheid system. As a matter of fact, his suffering of the loss of superiority and privileges is because of the changes of the social identities. The cultural system that the white colonizers have long been proud of is losing its advantages and this shows the decline of the western civilization and the loss of self identity beneath the superficial prosperity in South Africa.Coetzee not only analyzes the changes of the social identity but also presents to us the process of Lurie's quest for the self identity and self realization. This progress is mainly realized by three steps: the first one is through helping the dogs on the farm. Lurie finally realizes that he has a similar situation with the abandoned, dying dogs after the ending of apartheid; secondly, Lurie gradually accepts the reality partly because of Lucy's attitude toward their social status under the new circumstances. Unlike Luire, Lucy is well aware of their situation as a descendent of white colonizers after the independence of South Africa. Thirdly, the conflicts between Petrus and Lurie are inevitable and necessary, since Petrus represents the native black Africans who newly won their independence. It makes sense that they are striving eagerly for their rights both politically and economically, while Lurie represents the descendents of colonizers who still cannot believe that they have lost their privileges over the colored and native people. The attitude of black man—Petrus who works on the Lucy's farm also plays an important role in the process of Lurie's realization of his loss of privileges and superiority.