The waiting for Barbarian

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Department of English organized  guest lecture so many times for the better understanding so as a guest lecture Prof. Dilip barad sir invited R.B. zala sir for " Waiting for Barbarian " from Saurastra University. He has good skill of  intersection and he  also do to deep reading in the text like read between the two line with various references. 

• About author:-

                                                      John Maxwell Coetzee was a one of the famous novelist, essayist, linguist, translator and also who was recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature. His first work of fiction was Dusklands which written in 1974. His second work was "Waiting for Barbarian" which published in 1980 which based on morality and it deals with human cruelty. The title taken from the Greek post “Constantine P. Cavafy”. Still at the end this story focus on imaginary Empire. For the more information about the author click here.

                                                     He has also written autobiographical novels, such as Boyhood, Youth and Summertime, short fiction, translations from Dutch and Afrikaans, and numerous essays and works of criticism. He was the first writer to be awarded the Booker Prize twice: first for Life & Times of Michael K in 1983.( Wiki.)

• About text:-

                                                     " Waiting for Barbarian " is a one of the best African novel. This novel written by J.M. Coetzee in 1980. This novel including may be six chapters but it's deep reading of white and Barbarian's mind and believes.

• Plot Summary:-

                                                        This is a story of an unnamed magistrate who was living in a remote outpost of the Empire. The magistrate lived a relatively quiet with uneventful life until being visited by Colonel Joll. Joll represents the Empire as he travels from town to town searching for news of the barbarians who live outside the Empire's borders. Rumors have spread that the barbarians are planning an attack against the Empire. Colonel Joll has been dispatched to investigate whether military action is needed. While visiting the magistrate's town, two barbarian men are found near the granary, where some grain has gone missing. Joll brings the men in for questioning, and the older man dies. The magistrate later learns that, under the duress of torture, the younger man had falsely admitted to knowing of an impending barbarian uprising. With this "knowledge," Joll has the ammunition he needs to launch a full-scale attack against the barbarians. The magistrate then feels compelled to investigate how the old man died and learns he died as a result of Joll's barbaric torture.

• Major Characters:-

1) The magistrate:-

                                                        The magistrate is an aging judge who thinks he is living a peaceful existence. But he slowly realizes his culpability in the mistreatment of others, namely the barbarians whose land the Empire colonizes.

2) The girl:-

                                                       The girl is an innocent nomad tortured by Joll during the campaign against the barbarians. She comes to live with the magistrate before eventually being returned to her people.

3) Mandel:-

                                                        Mandel is put in charge of the magistrate's imprisonment and torture. He exploits his position of power and eventually abandons his post.

4) The barbarians:-

                                                           The barbarians are natives thought to be plotting against the Empire. Fear of barbarian attacks fuels panic in the town, although the barbarians themselves are rarely seen.

5) The guard:-

                                                        The guard helps the magistrate carry the body of one of the prisoners Colonel Joll tortures.

6) Mai:-

                                                       Mai is the scullery cook with whom the magistrate starts a sexual relationship, although both parties are ashamed of their arrangement.

7) The old man:-

                                                       The old man is brought in for questioning by Joll after being found by the granary after an attack. He dies as a result of torture during his questioning, and his death prompts the magistrate to begin investigating the Empire's tactics.

8) The scullery maids:-

                                                       The scullery maids become the girl's friends while she is living with the magistrate. The magistrate imagines they gossip about him during their work. Before the girl came to stay with him, the magistrate sometimes slept with the young maids.

9) The soldiers:-

                                                       There are various guards and soldiers under Mandel's command. They disrespect the townsfolk and steal from the shops, arrogant in their power. They know that the townsfolk need them for protection and that they can get away with anything as long as they stay to protect against the barbarians.

10) The Star:-

                                                        The Star is the young prostitute the magistrate visits while the girl is living with him. The magistrate compares her to a bird. The Star abandons town and returns to "the motherland" in search of safety.

11) The townsfolk:-

                                                        The townsfolk represent the passive beneficiaries of colonization. They enjoy a peaceful, productive life behind the confines of their gates, rarely interacting with the native, outside world. Through fear and mob mentality, however, they are transformed into barbarians themselves when they actively partake in the torture of innocent prisoners.

• Central themes:-

A)  Savagery and Barbarism

B)  Truth

C) Dominance and Masculinity

• Comparison with other texts:-

1) Robinson Crusoe

2) The Tempest

3) The grain  of Wheat

• Unique features off the novel:-

A) Racism

B) Post colonial studies

C) Feminist studies

• Learning Outcome:-

                                                         This book shape me If I grow in any factors so that I have to resisted in front of all boundary with specific way. If I got a chance to so that I reveal reality of current society.  

• References:-

https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Waiting-for-the-Barbarians/

https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/literature/2003/coetzee/biographical/

Thank you....