Disdainful David Lurie’s qualities as the representation of the coloniser’s qualities

relationship, the feeling that someone or something is worthless or not important enough to deserve one’s attention grows stronger. It is mentioned in the text that David Lurie dislikes Bev Shaw, a friend of his daughter. He underestimates her not only because of her physical appearance but also because of her job. His attitude to Bev Shaw is clearly seen in the following conversation. She’s not a fool. She does an enourmous amount of good. She’s been going into D Village for years, first for Animal Walfare, now on her own.’… ‘That’s wonderful, then. I’m sorry, my child, I just find it hard to whip up an interest in the subject…Everyone is so cheerful and well- intentioned that after a while you itch to go off and do some raping and pillaging. Or to kick a cat’ Coetzee, 1999: 73. David’s negative perception that sees Bev Shaw as unimportant person is the result of the conviction he holds. David thinks of himself as a superior man so he will not respectfully accept the local people and their activities. David, with all of his pride and dignity, just applies his principle of life when he has to be in a position in which he must deal with the locals. This attitude continues when he finds his daughter tries to follow the local’s way of life. Assuming the local’s job is worthless, he tries to persuade his daughter to get prestigious profession. It can be seen from the conversation between David and his daughter. They are not going to lead me to a higher life, and the reason is, there is no higher life. This is the only life there is. Which we share with animals. That’s the example that people like Bev try to set. That’s the example I try to follow…Yes, I agree, this is the only life there is. As for animals, by all means let us be kind to them. But let us not lose perspective. We are of a different order of creation from the animals Coetzee, 1999: 74. 48 PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI Here, it can be seen that, due to his belief, David questions his daughter’s choice. He thinks that his daughter’s choice might be a misled choice since she does not realise her position in the society. He feels his daughter has the capability and the confidence to find honourable career. In this way, David has too low opinion of the locals’ activities. He does not want to know and understand the reasons why most of the local people spend their time in this business. It should be noted that the conduct of David Lurie is the effect of racial stratification system in which there is a dominant group and dominated minority groups. Based on the premise that the European people are superior to local group members, it is difficult for David Lurie to consider the ability of Petrus. His opinion about Petrus is clear in the following quotation. ‘Depend on Petrus? Because Petrus has a beard and smokes a pipe and carries a stick, you think Petrus is an old-style kaffir. But it is not like that at all. Petrus is not an old-style kaffir, much less a good old chap. Petrus, in my opinion, is itching for Lucy to pull out. If you want proof, look no further than at what happened to Lucy and me. It may not have been Petrus’s brainchild, but he certainly turned a blind eye…Coetzee, 1999: 140. From what David says above, it is indicated that he looks down on Petrus. He assumes that Petrus is unable to tackle important matters. He does not want to hear Bev Shaw’s opinion about Petrus. He just relies on his personal judgement rather than facts. It can be emphasised that he is disdainful towards the local people because he believes he is the superior one. However, this quality is added by Coetzee to strengthen the fact that the main character of David Lurie is the coloniser. 49 PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI

C. The depiction of Western Hegemony through David Lurie

From the previous analysis, it is noted that there are similarities found between the main character in the novel and the labelled qualities of the coloniser. Thus, the life of David Lurie Coetzee described in his novel is the reflection of the coloniser. Here, Coetzee employs David as his tool in expressing his ideas. That is why David’s qualities are created in such a way. However, it is important to understand that colonialism works within the actions of prejudice, discrimination, and segregation. The use of stereotypes, and the use of legal barriers and norms are the main mechanisms to support this system. It should also be noted that prejudice, discrimination, segregation, and the mechanisms are ineffective without power, meaning to say, with power, all of these actions and mechanisms to maintain the superiority of dominating group can be accomplished. In the text, the main character of David Lurie is depicted first as the European, the lecturer, and as an old man, highlighting the fact that he is the one who has power or authority in the society. David Lurie is known as the one who holds his Eurocentric view tightly. This Eurocentric view influences not only his paradigm but also his manner. It can be seen when he is only creating literary works that based on his own culture. In the course of a career stretching back a quarter of a century he has published three books…In the past few years he has been playing with the idea of a work on Byron. At first he had thought it would be another book, another critical opus. But all his sallies at writing it have bogged down in tedium. The truth is, he is tired of criticism, tired of prose measured by the yard. What he wants to write is music: Byron in Italy, a meditation on love between the sexes in the form of a chamber opera Coetzee, 1999: 4. 50 PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI Here, he wants to give an impression to the local people that his culture is worth learning to, discussing about and performing. He does not want to consider the local’s culture and tradition because he thinks that the local’s culture and tradition are lack of values. As a result, he does not want to join to the local’s party. He is not interested in it even he is invited by the locals. It can be seen in this quotation as follows. ‘I have been thinking about this party of Petrus’s. on the whole, I would prefer not to go…Preparation for Petrus’s festivities begin at noon on Saturday with the arrival of a band of women half a dozen strong, wearing what looks to him like churchgoing finery. Behind the stable they get a fire going Coetzee, 1999: 126-127. From what he says above, it is clearly seen that David looks down on the culture and tradition of the local people. He does not appreciate the local’s culture and tradition. It means the conception, which locates the European at the top position over the others, is completely constructed in his mindset. Therefore, David underestimates the abilities of the local people. He assumes that the locals are in the lower status and they do not have rights to get prestigious and worth living. It can be seen when he talks to his daughter. Unusually, she is wearing a knee-length dress and high heels, with a necklace of painted wooden beads and matching earrings. He is not sure he likes the effect. ‘All right, I’ll come. I’m ready.’ ‘Haven’t you got a suit here?’ ‘No.’ ‘Then at least put on a tie.’ ‘I thought we were in the country.’ ‘All the more reason to dress up. This is a big day in Petrus’s life’ Coetzee, 1999: 128. Here, David does not like the fact that Petrus comes at a very fortunate time. He thinks that it is impossible for the local people to be rich because of their abilities. 51 PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI