Resumo de Disgrace - J.M. Coetzee

The critic Colin Bower has been extremely harsh in his criticism of David Lurie, the protaganist in Disgrace. Referring to him as a repellent human being is a gross misrepresentation of David Lurie?s character. Indeed, what does come across in my reading, is his overwhelming humanness. Admittedly he has a penchant for women, as indicated by his numerous sexual encounters throughout the book. But so do countless other men in our society, most of whom are bound by the sanctity of marriage. Colin Bower goes further in his criticism of the writer by referring to him as a misogynist, whose characters follow suit. On the contrary, David Lurie comes across as very charming and caring and definitely not heartless towards the opposite sex. He enjoys being with Soraya the prostitute as indicated by the following lines. Also negating the misogynist theory is the fact that David Lurie enjoyed the company of all the women in his life.However, David Lurie has a huge fear of growing old and losing his youthfulness. This is revealed several times in the book.Another significant description of David Lurie would be that he is a man of principles who displays strong moral courage. Although facing the disgrace of being dismissed from his position of professor at the university and the humiliation of having his affair with a student splashed in newspapers, he refuses to apologise for his actions. He admits having an affair but will not apologise.David Lurie has also accomplished a great deal in his academic career. He was a professor of modern languages and is now offering a course in the Romantic poets and is also adjunct professor of communications. He has also published three books during his career. Presently, he is toying with the idea of writing a musical piece on Byron in Italy. His academic progress and abilities speak volumes about his intellect.Another aspect of David Lurie?s character that I find endearing is his fatherly love for his daughter Lucy. She is the first person he seeks out after his dismissal from the university. We learn that he has also helped her buy the smallholding where she lives, as any father would help a child financially.After the attack on the farm and her rape, he is terrified for his daughter?s safety and offers to help her relocate to be safe. Lucy stubbornly refuses to leave the farm. He learns she is pregnant and will not abort the baby. In spite of his outrage at her decision, he finally resigns himself to the fact that he will be grandfather to a child of rape. As a concerned father, his decision to remain near his daughter at this crucial time in her life is admirable.Also very heartening is his compassion for animals. When he finds that Petrus has tied two sheep in the heat on a bare patch of ground, it annoys him tremendously. He releases them towards water and abundant grass.David Lurie also becomes very close to one of the dogs that is destined to be put down by Bev Shaw. He helps out at the clinic where sick and unwanted dogs and cats are mercifully put down by Bev. He has the task of disposing of these animals too and is very pained at their last moments on earth. However, they carry out their gruesome duties with respect and dignity to the animals.David Lurie, in Disgrace, comes across as reserved but loving towards his conquests, caring, fatherly, intelligent, and, like every man, very affected by his approaching old age and deteriorating looks. It is a great shame that a person of his calibre has his life and career yanked from under him for a trivial affair which was not rape by any means. Rape is associated with forcefulness and violence and David Lurie was not a violent man.David Lurie is just a regular person, a person who has to deal with the realities of everyday life and weather the storm of his trials and tribulations.

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