David Lurie’s Inner Development Regarding Women and Nonhuman Nature in J. M. Coetzee’s “Disgrace” (1999)

Term Paper , 2015 , 18 Pages , Grade: 2,3

Didactics for the subject English - Literature, Works

The work at hand takes a closer look at J.M. Coetzee’s novel “Disgrace” from 1999 from an ecocritical and ecofeminist perspective. It is paid special attention to the protagonist’s attitude and relationship towards women, the countryside and what he considers as wilderness, and animals.

The main question here is how the protagonist’s attitudes change. So in other words, it is taken a look at how the protagonist’s “new” unfamiliar environment influences his character. First of all, the reader gets a brief summary of the story itself and its narrative style.

In the following chapter the protagonist’s attitude towards women is elucidated. In relation to this, David Lurie’s current crisis of identity is taken into consideration because it might influence his view on women.

The next chapter deals with the difference between rural and urban areas and, in relation to this, the protagonist’s perception of “otherness”. After this it is taken a look at the protagonist’s perception and relation to animals.

Finally, the last chapter contains a conclusion and an answer to the question how the protagonist’s attitudes towards women, nature, and animals changed. Beyond any doubt, read from an ecocritical perspective, “Disgrace” offers many more interesting issues that are worth being worked on.

1 Introduction

2 “Disgrace” – Content and Style
2.1 Summary
2.2 Narrative Perspective

3 “He is the one who leads, she is the one who follows” – David Lurie and Women

4 “Bread in the oven and a crop in the earth”- Urban vs. Country Life

5 “They can smell what you are thinking” – David Lurie and Animals

6 Conclusion

7 Bibliography

• College: University of Bonn (Anglistik)
• Grade: 2,3
• Author: Deborah Heinen (Author)
• Publication Year: 2015
• Pages: 18
• Catalog Number: V306699
• ISBN (eBook): 9783668047396
• ISBN (Book): 9783668047402
• Language: German
• Tags: David Lurie, Women, Nonhuman Nature, J.M. Coetzee, Disgrace