He recognises clearly, as stressed by the repetition of “undesired” and the pausing, unconfident syntax, that he is at fault yet continued to act in this way. As David recognises the consequences of his actions in powerful detail, his immediate response – “Not rape, not quite that, but undesired nevertheless, undesired to the core” – implies that he must be a contradictory character. In their sexual encounters, “she is passive throughout” and “decided to go slack, die within herself for the duration.” In their second encounter, David goes to Melanie’s flat for only one purpose, and “nothing will stop him.” which suggests that she was raped.Ĭoetzee raises doubts about his narrator and the protagonist as David attempts to convince himself that it was not rape. The short and factual sentences reflect an impatience for the opportunity he seeks. It is taking up a lot of her time.” These thoughts are abrupt and David appears uninterested. The present tense gives the impression of a lack of control, which creates an uneasy tone throughout the novel and contributes to an uncertain reaction to David.Ĭoetzee presents David as ‘bad’ by suggesting that he raped Melanie, implying that his only interest in the relationship was sexual: “He asks her about her other courses. The reader must not only interpret the events and actions in the novel but disambiguate the attitudes of the narrator. Using the protagonist as narrator and speaking in the present-tense gives the reader an additional layer of understanding to consider when assessing David.
The rejection of narrative realism and an omniscient narrator often leaves the reader uncertain of what is ‘good’ and ‘bad’. His love for Lucy and his poignant reaction to the euthanising of dogs, where “tears flow down his face that he cannot stop,” show a different David to the thoughtless “intruder who thrusts himself upon” Melanie.ĭisgrace is written from David’s perspective and the narrative voice is undoubtedly his. The reader follows David through his conflicts as he makes slow progress in self-improvement. However, after being removed from the university in disgrace, he struggles with ageing and resolving his values with those of a shifting society. David seems ‘bad’ from the outset as “ninety minutes a week of a woman’s company are enough to make him happy,” and he shows a lack of emotional sensitivity with Melanie, thinking of her “as a quick little affair – quickly in, quickly out”.
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