Monstrosity, Alienation and Impossibility of Communication in J. M. Coetzee's Novels

In Monstrosity, Alienation, and Impossibility of Communication in J. M. Coetzee’s Novels, readers embark on a profound exploration of the intricate themes, enigmatic ideas, and monstrous forms that permeate the works of Nobel Prize laureate J.M. Coetzee. Building on this exploration, the book shows how Coetzee’s portrayal of monstrous bodies and stunted characters unsettles conventional assumptions about the body, identity, and communication. By examining pivotal novels such as Waiting for the Barbarians (1980), Foe (1986), Disgrace (1999), Boyhood (1997), and Youth (2002), the authors illuminate how these texts serve as vehicles for Coetzee’s complex ideas regarding monstrosity and deformity. They adopt an interdisciplinary approach, examining specific aspects of Coetzee’s novels through the lens of teratological studies, complemented by archetypal and impressionistic methods. This develops not only into a powerful analysis of the meaning of monstrosity and deformity in Coetzee’s novels, but also into a historical vision that provides a better understanding of human power, intellectual relationships, alienation, and (mis)communication in contemporary societies. Read more