Vage Sympathy toward Animals in J. M. Coetzee’s Disgrace (Published)
This report tends to focus on human-animal relationship by discussing how subversively the protagonist, David Lurie’s attitude toward animals changes, and how his attitude reflects life and ecological philosophy in Disgrace, which presents the chaos and complicated phenomena in South Africa society involving male-female, father-daughter, white-black, city-country, and human-animal relationship. Referring to life philosophy, there is no option but submission in living beings’ route to death. In other words, there is no apparent difference between the existence of animals and human beings especially when facing formidable or unavoidable external forces. Through writing materials concerning animals as creatures abjectly suffering from pain, captivity and death at the hands of humans, Coetzee provides readers space to imagine how animal beings might feel at the moment of torture instead of delectation. However, transition of David’s attitude toward animals from indifference to solicitude, and from solicitude to euthanasia elucidates how animal living and dying could be looked upon in human society and logic of ethic.
Keywords: Disgrace, Eco-criticism, Ethic, J.M. Coetzee, Philosophy, Sympathy
DUMB HEROES AND THE THEME OF HOPELESSNESS IN RICHARD WRIGHT’S NATIVE SON AND J.M. COETZEE’S LIFE AND TIMES OF MICHAEL K (Published)
The creation of inspiring heroes has always appealed to readers and critics alike. The hero is the one we wait on, measure his life with ours and find a place for him in our hearts. Depending on his performance, we adjust his clime with ours. This is what makes literature delectable and a sign post for every generation. Literature has expectations and that is why we appreciate some, those that meet our expectations; and we reject others; those we find objectionable. Bigger Thomas in Native Son by Richard Wright and Michael K. by J.M Coetzee we find are characters who task our senses. In between, we are trapped between the creative ability of their makers and what we know of our world. Recent global events will make us even query some of their actions. But where does heroism begin and dumbness manifest? Society has something it looks up to in every individual no matter the milieu he is born into as he has certain expectations.
Keywords: Dumb Heroes, Hopelessness, J.M. Coetzee