Coetzee’s Disgrace: An Analysis of Humankind and their Sexual Instinct

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Coetzee’s Disgrace: An Analysis of Humankind and their Sexual Instinct

            One of the most features that enable an individual to be human is through sexuality. The physical act through expression is a prerequisite process for reproduction. Apart from the need for procreation, life and study deliver social contextualization that extends beyond such limitations. In the book Disgrace, Coetzee is instrumental in delivering the same. The aim of this paper is to show an analyzed form of concept regarding sexual instincts and the enabled overlap as witnessed from animals and humans through literal materials. Coetzee challenges the traditional view of perception in comparison between non-human and human beings. The author uses juxtaposition to deliver the message on modern day understanding of concept regarding life, embodiment, and death. On one hand, Coetzee uses animal understanding to show sexual instincts and their borders in terms of irrelevance in the argument, while the author uses political and ethical approaches to deliver the measured outcome. The argument deliberated by David Lurie is the implementation of sexual instincts inn struggle for pleasure of the physical domain and extending beyond the social boundaries (Neimneh 1570). The resultant issues regarding sex involve affection, comfort, and developed love while alienation of isolation as well as loneliness is realized. In the ethical and spiritual approaches, ecstasy while the psychological processes are magnified through the experience. The above is through juxtaposition on the instincts biologically, gender construct and predetermined notions by Coetzee.  

            At the beginning of the novel, Coetzee use the problematic blights of sexual desire to articulate his argument through juxtapositions. The protagonist is presented as the main problem. He stated that the man at the age of fifty-two and divorced, had to mind his own business as well as ensuring that he took care of his sexual desires. Neimneh (1571) argues that the frustrations enabled in Lurie’s life, career and circumstances force him to indulge in numerous sexual affairs. It is witnessed through the streetwalkers, some of the part-time prostitutes and including a departmental secretary. Coetzee then uses the flawed logic as means of correcting the notion on sexual desires trough juxtaposed result after the affairs were known. In David Lurie’s part, he lost his job and dignity. After being found guilty before the committee of investigations, he had to vacate from his position. It shows the gender constructions through Coetzee’s delivery as opposed to Eros.

            In Disgrace, the treatment of the body as source of the sexual problem is enabled through the tone. There is a collision between public and private entities of any individual and understanding the differential behavior between humans and animals, as well as desire and love. The author delivers the connection between power, desire and the main theme of disgrace. In this, Coetzee tries to explain on an aging man’s failure to address his sexual desires while refusing to die at the same time. The difference contained is shown through the number of guilty persons, like the magistrate who was disgraced after being shamed in public. In this, the comparison to animals is merely driven by instinct without contemplated measures as opposed to humans. Coetzee then juxtaposes it with the flawed logic since clear understanding could have prevented the same. The metaphorical linking between men and animals justifies the comparison.

            One of the major literary techniques used in delivery of the argument based on sexual desires is imagery. Coetzee uses the co modification of the body to depict juxtaposed purposes of desires through the physical aspect. For example, he describes the prostitute as honey-brown body as means of ensuring there is a mechanical relation. Secondly, he describes the stares and glances depicted by the men as flash like arrows. Coetzee deliberates on the argument as being from Eros through description and ensuring that it was a generated procedure. On the opposite, he delivers the notion of association to the men in question, who carried out he disgraceful acts through moral and ethical eyes (Van 19). The opinion can be changed especially when the consent of expressing the desire is equally met with a willing other party. The treatment of animals cannot be equated to the same especially with excuse for amoral actions.   

            Coetzee uses symbolism to liken desires by humans into that of animals. For example, Lurie likened his desire of having sexual intercourse to Soraya like snakes copulating. The though behind it was shown through the lengthy, absorption mechanism and ensembles towards elements like temperature. Through the comparison, animals showed more of the Eros as opposed to gender construction in this argument. Ion another instance, Lurie used his ageing to symbolize the same on animals (Neimneh 1571). Through the disgraced state, he though he should be castrated just like the animals. He stated that animals usually coped well even though there was slight sadness. The precedent of Lurie is followed by the desire of the gender disparity especially like that of women who had engaged in the act. Symbolism in this instance showed that Coetzee had flawed and decided to correct the mistake through likening of the desires.

Work Cited:

Neimneh, Shadi. “Coetzee’s Postmodern Bodies: Disgrace between Human and Animal Bodies.” Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 4. 8, 2014: 1569-1575.

Van, der V. A. E. J.m. Coetzee’s Disgrace. London: Continuum, 2010. Print.