Use Of Literary Devices In Communicating Theme In Disgrace By JM Coetzee

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Use of Literary Devices in Communicating Theme in Disgrace by J.M Coetzee

Irony

Disgrace is a work of fiction put forward by J.M. Coetzee that tells more about a

professor of fifty-two year old, David Lurie. As per the plot, David committed a chain of

oversight which falls into a philosophical account of disgrace. Much of his actions were

opposite of what the entire public would like to see from a professor. Thus such disgrace action

made the whole novel to contain the main theme of irony. Consequently, the theme of iron for

such is defined as a result of events that are contrary to the expectations. The irony is amiably

employed to build a sense of mystery and satire throughout the book.

In the novel, there happens to have a sealing relationship between love and iron; hence,

there are various forms of love and irony, and both are interlaced vigilantly in the novel. First,

there is the passionate irony of romantic love, where Eros demonstrated to a partner and to a

lover. On the other hand, Ludus is given an iron of a casual lover, where sex is the order of the

day without commitment. David attempts to pardon his affair with Bev, the daughter’s friends,

persuades himself of having done charity work. He shows verbal irony, telling off himself issues

which are not in agreement with his actual actions. For instance, the famous prostitute, Soraya,

when she left their array, David said that he would let her go; nevertheless, David goes ahead

sending her a confidential detective to investigate where she stays. This is used in the novel to

expose on how human beings are social animals that cannot honor words of their mounts; and

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that, their statuses are not directly related with their actions. Additionally, there is as well

situational irony throughout the novel. For instance, after the affair of David with Melanie

reported to a school board, David is expected to apologize, but he instead proclaims himself

being at fault and affirms it with no regrets.

Imagery

The roles of animals in the novel were literary used as imagery in Coetzee’s Disgrace. Coetzee’s

Disgrace uses animals in making a number of statements about Professor David Lurie; the main

character in the novel. Dogs that David interacts with are imageries of his transformation to be

more passionate. When David describes sexual link with a prostitute, he refers himself as a

snake, relating his lovemaking as “absorbed, lengthy, abstract, and rather dry” (Coetzee 13).

Thus such a snake comparison reveals his life position with love at one point in the story; and

snakes are usually signified as an emotionless, cold creature in literature. Being reptile, they lack

emotional complexity, which is observed in many mammals. Furthermore, David went ahead

and compares himself with a butterfly. This insect represents an element that lacks emotional

response with passion (Moffat 420).

Symbolism

In his narration, Coetzee's Disgrace applied a number of symbolisms. The message was well sent

within the scope and the disposal of the author, characters and a larger capacity of audiences.

However, the most common one is the symbolic form of the dog. A number of times dogs are

mentioned in the novel; David illustrates how dogs were packed down when especially female

dogs when are in heat. The narrator brought out issues that surround dogs as they undergo

reproduction course of action and problems experiences with the owners. For such, whenever

there happens to have a bitch in the surrounding area such dogs get excited; then the owners

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would beat it up; “thus the deprived dog hates its own scope of nature” (Coetzee 90). Thus David

indicated dog-like actions when sending his apologies to Isaac after getting down on his all fours.

It is like a dog doing such actions before the master as a show of remorse. By so doing, David

feels negative about dogs and perceives them lacking pride and agency; thus dogs are deemed

disgraceful.

Uses of Metaphor

Maltreatment of animals

The consciousness shown by nature of David as an animal with the cruelty experienced is

raised throughout the novel. Similarly, a partial transformation of David’s attitude could be

interpreted as means for outlining his amounted distress for himself. Thus Coetzee avoided

providing a simplistic transformation of a selfish protagonist. However, by portraying his

decision honoring dead dogs, for instance, it is likely to see a transformation in David, which

even he seems to be not aware of it.

Professor of Communications

The new position of David is both symbolic and ironic. It is more of ironic since the

position illustrates his failure rather than the capability to communicate (Gibson 432). Lack of

communication is more highlighted in the course of the book when words like apartheid and rape

are infrequently mentioned; although both are central storyline concerns. The position of

Professor of Communications is figurative, then, as such, it signposts the futility of such kind of

academic arrangement due to flawed David’s characterization. Thus when examining David’s

character and his role more broadly, it shows how few people communicates their fears and

desires.

Reparations

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There lacks direct analogy between the committees of truth and reconciliation during South

Africa post-Apartheid and the committee which David supposed to attend after charged with the

sexual nuisance. However, in the novel, there is an indirect allusion which invites questioning of

a genuine sorry for the past crimes. The perception of public sincerity, penance, and forgiveness

are analyzed when David’s guilty appeal is not satisfactory to people who deem him as being

more abject.

Foreshadowing

In the novel, the author used intensely foreshadowing to bring out an imperative image of the

narration. In a number of ways, foreshadows is deemed to be David's life. He is a disappointment

person and at the same time is a failure in love (Farrant 111). Similarly, the new position is

another form of David’s foreshadowing since it illustrates his failure rather than the capability to

communicate. Coetzee drew parallels among different instances of powerlessness and power.

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Work Cited

Coetzee, J. M. Disgrace. New York: Penguin, 1999. Print. McNamara, Donna, and Bonnie

Clairmont. “History of Sexual Violence.” InteractiveTheatre.org. Aaron Propes, 2000.

Web. 5 Dec. 2017.

Farrant, Marc. "‘Very Much the Tortoise’: A Review of The Slow Philosophy of JM Coetzee."

Brief Encounters 1.1 (2017).

Gibson, Suzie. "The Power of Literature in JM Coetzee’s Elizabeth Costello." Australian

Folklore 30 (2017).

Moffat, Nicola. "Rape and the (Animal) Other: Making Monsters in JM Coetzee’s Disgrace."

Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society 43.2 (2017): 401-423.

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