Superior David Lurie’s qualities as the representation of the coloniser’s qualities
seems that David wants to show his power as the white man in front of the others. He wants others to know and understand his position in the society. He does not
want others think he is a powerless man that cannot defence his own rights. However, in this moment, his opinion is different from his daughter’s opinion. It
can be seen when David talks to his daughter. ‘Lucy, Lucy, I plead with you You want to make up for the wrongs of the
past, but this is not the way to do it. If you fail to stand up for yourself at this moment, you will never be able to hold your head up again. You may
as well pack your bags and leave. As for the police, if you are too delicate to call them in now, then we should never have involved them in the first
place. We should just have kept quiet and waited for the next attack. Or cut our own throats’ Coetzee, 1999: 133.
It indicates that David Lurie asks his daughter to bring this case to the police in
order to show their superiority as the white people. It is also the matter of dignity as the White.
David always loves to think that the local people are unable to use modern tools to cultivate the land. He always associates the local people with something
that are traditional so that when he finds that Petrus uses tractor to cultivate his land, he feels that it is unusual phenomenon. It is clear in the following quotation.
Petrus has borrowed a tractor, from where he has no idea, to which he has coupled the old rotary plough that has lain rusting behind the stable since
before Lucy’s time. In a matter of hours he has ploughed the whole of his land. All very swift and businesslike; all very unlike Africa…Petrus
arrived as the dig-man, the carry-man, the water-man. Now he is too busy for that kind of thing Coetzee, 1999: 151.
It means that David underestimates Petrus as the local person. David assumes that the local people do not match with all modern things. According to him, the local
is just the second-class citizen so that it is unwise to let them deal with technology
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and its products since technology always refers to the European who discovered modern technology and created the products. It is also seen when he finds that
Petrus behaves like the European, he also thinks that Petrus does not fit it. ‘A girl is very expensive.’ He rubs thumb and forefinger together. ‘Always
money, money, money.’ A long time since he last saw that gesture. Used of Jews, in the old days: money-money-money, with the same meaningful
cock of the head. But presumably Petrus is innocent of that snippet of European tradition Coetzee, 1999: 130.
These assumptions are the signs of his superiority that he eventually tends to blame the local people as the inferior one.
David already has many experiences in making relationship with others. However, his experiences do not lead him to have better way of thinking towards
others. He still underestimates others if there is a chance for it. The culture in which he grows up may gives big contributions in establishing his manner and
behaviour. It seems that the feeling of superiority stays in his mindset and none can take it away from him. Once he underestimates Petrus who is the local person.
Later, he underestimates the other people. He dares to try many ways to make other people believed that he is the superior one. The depiction of the local people
who most of the time deals with trifles just like when looking after the dogs, and working in the garden also points out that the local is the inferior. The presence of
the local people in this novel helps to define the main character as the superior one with his contrasting image, idea, and duty.
His ambition to show his superiority can approximately be represented when David Lurie decides to come to Petrus’ party, which is held to celebrate the
land transfer. His ambition is clearly seen in the quotation taken from the novel.
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‘He is lying. He knows perfectly well. Lucy will confirm.’ But of course Lucy will not confirm. How can he expect Lucy to come out before these
strangers, face the boy, point a finger, say, Yes, he is one of them. He was one of those who did the deed?. ‘I am going to telephone the police,’ he
says. There is a disapproving murmur from the onlookers. ‘I am going to telephone the police,’ he repeats to Petrus. Petrus is stony-faced. In a cloud
of silence he returns indoors, where Lucy stands waiting. ‘Let’s go,’ he says Coetzee, 1999: 132.
David sees the chance to show his identity, as the superior one when he finds there is one of the robbers who rapes his daughter at that time. Although he knows
that his daughter does not want to bring this case before the law, he threatens the robber and Petrus that he will call the police in order to strengthen his position in
front of the local people. He wants to point out that the local people cannot treat Lucy and him badly. He will never scarify his pride and dignity as white people,
also as a man. It can be seen in the quotation as follows. As for him, he does not mind the attention. Let them know I am still here, he
thinks, let them know I am not skulking in the big house. And if that spoils their get-together, so be it. He lifts a hand to his white skullcap. For the first
time he is glad to have it, to wear it as his own Coetzee, 1999: 135.
At this point, it is seen that he holds his strong belief in his own ability to survive
and defend his rights. He knows that he will break the rules, which already become a consensus among the local people but he does not care about it. He
believes that the local people must follow the social rules which is established by the white people since the white people has higher status than the local. It is also
clearly seen that he is proud of being White because he knows that it means a lot in the society.
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