Gender Race and Narrative Strategies in the Novels of John Maxwell Coetzee

Abstract

The present research work attempts to study gender, race and narrative newlinestrategies in the novels of John Maxwell Coetzee. John Maxwell Coetzee is a newlineSouth African novelist and a winner of the Nobel Prize for literature in 2003. newlineHe is one of the well-known white writers of contemporary South Africa who newlinenow lives in Australia. J.M. Coetzee is notable for bringing Apartheid to newlineworldwide stage. He faced the challenge of accurately portraying the black newlinepopulation in his writing as a white South African author. Coetzee has newlinegenerally been investigated and thought about in relation to colonialism. newlineHowever, some aspects of his novels have received less attention than others. newlineIn the light of this background, the present research work examines the gender newlineequations, racial dynamics and use of various narrative strategies in the novels newlineof J.M.Coetzee. The present research work is concerned with the novels written newlineby J.M.Coetzee. The researcher has selected eight novels of J.M. Coetzee for newlinethe study which are as follows: Dusklands, In the Heart of the Country, newlineWaiting for the Barbarians, Life and Times of Michael K, Foe, Age of Iron, newlineDisgrace and Boyhood: Scenes from Provincial Life. newlineThe present research work examines gender roles, their historical newlinecontext, and the quick changes in social situations that have led to shifts in newlinegender norms. The research work also looks at Apartheid, its effects, and how newlineroles were reversed in the post-Apartheid era. It explores the racial dynamics of newlineSouth African society. The research work studies the role and significance of newlinevarious narrative strategies employed by J.M.Coetzee in his novels. As the newlinefocus of the present research work has been on gender, race and use of newlinenarrative strategies, the other aspects of J.M.Coetzee s work has not been paid newlinemuch attention on. newlineThe first chapter highlights the issues arising out of apartheid policy and newlineits effect on South African society. It presents a brief historical review of South newlineAfrica and focuses particularly on apartheid and racial segregation that