Postcolonialism in "Disgrace"

Although seemingly having nothing to do with on another, J.M. Coetzee's novel, "Disgrace" does have implications of post-colonialism and the ideas that are associated with it. Particularly dealing with the aftermath of a domineering force crushing a subservient one, Professor Lurie's affair with his student in the first part of this novel, seems to point towards the same ideas and the same effects that post-colonialism has on a country that has newly been granted freedom.

Since this is only the very beginning of the novel, relationships and the resolution of David's affair with Melanie is not yet released, it is a little difficult to see the connection. However, there are similarities between this story and Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" that illuminate relationships of dominance and human relationships and how others are seen in relation to one another. As Achebe says, "As everybody knows, Conrad is a romantic on the side. He might not exactly admire savages clapping their hands and stamping their feet but they have at least the merit of being in their place, unlike this dog in a parody of breeches. For Conrad things being in their place is of the utmost importance." In Coetzee's novel, the main character is also a romantic and has his expertise in romantic poetry and his love for literary study as opposed to communications. There is some evidence that there is an assertion of power, especially because he is a professor and as Melanie's father says to him, "We put our hands in the hands of you people because we think we can trust you". David Lurie, with his sexual awakenings found in whores and young teen girls, completely contradicts the idea of being a romantic and admiring his students for their intelligence by soiling his position with perversion and lust.

There is still a want for placement and for perhaps these women to stay where they are supposed to, anything less than this will complicate his life unnecessarily. Soraya can never spend the night with him because "he knows too much about himself to subject her to the morning after..." The woman he sleeps with have a place for him and have a particular role to play. There is no other interest in them and perhaps this is the way it worked for the colonizer. There was no interest in the country, nor in the relationship they would share other than the resources.

Since this deals with sexual relations and the major part of the section deals solely with Luire's appearance before a board and dealing with his guilt that he refuses to admit he has, it does raise the question of. "how does this relate to post-colonialism at all?" But, if you look at the power that Lurie has over Melanie and the sexual force he exerts on her by abusing his position of authority, it as exactly what happened to the colonized countries. There is no guilt that is evident from the colonizers and the intent of both Lurie and them are very similar. There was not necessarily a malicious initial intent, however, circumstances being what they were, the colonizers were not left with any other choice but to act as they did. Lurie saw women (in particular, Melanie) as something to overcome and to take over and he did this through sex. Colonizers saw weaker countries in the same way, only they overtook them by assertion of culture, law, religion and force.