Upon finishing Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee one aspect that still lingers in my mind is David Lurie’s alienation from society. When David decides to return to Cape Town he comes home to a raided house where he discovers that someone was living there. Lurie finds that his finances are “in chaos” and his life basically his life has been turned upside down–”He wanders through the house taking a census of his losses….No ordinary burglary. A raiding party moving in, cleaning out the site, retreating laden with bags, boxes, suitcase (Coetzee 176). After soaking it all in, David decides to get out of house and visits his old job where he finds his name on the door replaced by a “Doctor S. Otto”. The next day David takes a trip to the store where he finds an old friend (Elaine) that keeps the conversation short and sweet. It is obvious here Elaine wants to get away from Lurie fast by offering her spot in line up to him–”‘Wouldn’t you like to go ahead of me?’ she suggests instead, gesturing toward his basket. You have so little’” (Coetzee 180). It is as if David has now become “other” due to the scandal with Melanie Isaacs. Lurie has come home to a town where he is not welcome in which the community makes clear. It is in this that Lurie can sorta sympathize (of course not completely) with the events that occurred on Lucy’s farm. Of course these incidents are different in action, but the nature of the events are very similar. This incident has become increasingly powerful in that Lurie and Lucy (South African whites) can begin to understand “other” and empathize only through that disgrace.
**********************************************************************
In evaluating and interpreting the end of Disgrace, I have found that although David Lurie has not changed and still does not view the affair with Melanie as wrong, he has seen through Lucy what kind of effects “incidents” have on women. He also has been able to identify love through his job at the animal shelter which has softened his view a little. It seems that through this job Lurie is able to reform and learn the strength of love and what it represents.
I believe that Lurie learned lessons from the situation happened to Lucy, his daughter.The punishment for his rape of Melanie is rightly as severe as can be. I even think his daughter Lucy’s rape is a well-deserved punishment for Lurie’s undesired sexual encounter with Melanie. Clearly the sins of the father are being visited upon the child. It was the said part.. but finally..
Lurie realized what real love is..
Comment by Sunny An — November 4, 2009 @ 3:38 pm |