Introduction

Coetzee: Disgrace

In this course, Professor Derek Attridge (University of York) explores J. M. Coetzee’s Booker Prize winning novel, Disgrace. We begin in the first module with a broad introduction to the novel, focusing on the novel’s narrative voice, its use of language, and the recurrence of words such as ‘soul’, ‘grace’, and ‘honour’. After that, we think about the broader historical context for the novel, most importantly the history and legacy of Apartheid and the complexities of racial relations in South Africa. In the third module, we look more closely at J. M. Coetzee himself, before turning in the final two modules to two of the key themes in the novel: first, the theme of (sexual) desire; and second, the theme of the treatment of animals.

Introduction

In this module, we provide a broad introduction to the novel, focusing on the novel’s narrative voice, its use of language, and the recurrence of words such as ‘soul’, ‘burn/burnt’, ‘grace’, ‘honour’, and ‘guide/escort’.