Compare and contrast ‘Disgrace’ with 'Jude the Obscure'.
J.M Coetzee’s ‘Disgrace’ literates Lurie’s attempt and failure of the seduction of a school girl, Melanie. This is a campus novel about the first flirtation between a university lecturer and a student. The aptly named novel suggests the possible overall outcome of having a relationship with a student.
‘Disgrace’ is written from a third person in favour of the protagonist, David Lurie’s point of view. Lurie is someone who has achieved what he wanted to in life, academically but perhaps not romantically? Whereas, Melonie Issacs, his student has yet to fully experience university life to it’s full and to achieve her academic goals. This novel is written in present tense which gives a sense of ominicity. (I really want this to be a word, but I mean ominous) in addition to this, it also gives a stark and detached, predatorily sense to the narration. Illustrating that Melonie is the prey. Coetzee’s choice of form makes the reader feel like the scene is unfolding before their eyes, giving the sense of immediacy and repulsion. Likewise, in Vladimir Nabokov’s ‘Lolita’ the reader is also repelled by the protagonist, Humbert who is similarly to Lurie, predatory of Lolita “and I looked and looked at her and knew as clearly as I know I am to die, that I loved her more than anything I had ever seen or imagined on earth, or hoped for anywhere else.” Humbert Humbert’s character is also similar to that of Lurie, as they are both ‘creepy’ older men trying to seduce someone they cannot have. Lurie- his student and Humbert, a ‘nymph’, Delores (Lolita).
The second extract ‘Jude the Obscure’ (‘Jude’) written by Thomas Hardy is over 100 years older than ‘Disgrace’ and is an example of a bildings roman novel, following the major life events of Jude, a stonemason. ‘Jude’ begins with a ‘rude awakening’ both metaphorically and literally as his is hit in the ear by a pigs penis by one of the country girls by the river. This is something unexpected of Victorian literature as I was under
‘Disgrace’ is written from a third person in favour of the protagonist, David Lurie’s point of view. Lurie is someone who has achieved what he wanted to in life, academically but perhaps not romantically? Whereas, Melonie Issacs, his student has yet to fully experience university life to it’s full and to achieve her academic goals. This novel is written in present tense which gives a sense of ominicity. (I really want this to be a word, but I mean ominous) in addition to this, it also gives a stark and detached, predatorily sense to the narration. Illustrating that Melonie is the prey. Coetzee’s choice of form makes the reader feel like the scene is unfolding before their eyes, giving the sense of immediacy and repulsion. Likewise, in Vladimir Nabokov’s ‘Lolita’ the reader is also repelled by the protagonist, Humbert who is similarly to Lurie, predatory of Lolita “and I looked and looked at her and knew as clearly as I know I am to die, that I loved her more than anything I had ever seen or imagined on earth, or hoped for anywhere else.” Humbert Humbert’s character is also similar to that of Lurie, as they are both ‘creepy’ older men trying to seduce someone they cannot have. Lurie- his student and Humbert, a ‘nymph’, Delores (Lolita).
The second extract ‘Jude the Obscure’ (‘Jude’) written by Thomas Hardy is over 100 years older than ‘Disgrace’ and is an example of a bildings roman novel, following the major life events of Jude, a stonemason. ‘Jude’ begins with a ‘rude awakening’ both metaphorically and literally as his is hit in the ear by a pigs penis by one of the country girls by the river. This is something unexpected of Victorian literature as I was under