Empty Spaces and Free Will(y)
My paper looks to investigate the role of empty space as a driving force behind characters’ actions within The English Patient and Disgrace. A number of characters in these novels seem plagued by empty spaces of all varieties; for instance, the geographical gaps between ‘home’ and the current setting, the cultural disparities suffered by migrants, the physical distance between one’s past and present, and the mental separation from both other characters and the narrative action, take their toll on Lurie, Kip, and Almasy (to name a few). These gaps perpetuate the motifs of the homeless wanderer and the exiled individual, fuel the decontextualization of individuals who land in ‘the space between’, and alter the responsibility, free will, and actions of their inhabitants. Looking at the interplay between decontextualization and action or inaction, my paper will consider the possibility that people’s decisions led them into the strange limbo between places, times, and values. While the disparities between different characters’ situations lead to ambiguities in the relationship between empty space and free will, they all raise interesting points about forgiveness for one’s lack of action: those occupying the empty spaces are seemingly doomed to reflect upon their situations without achieving peace. Thus, within these novels, direct action tends to transform the conquerer into the victim. What does this mean for the Booker Prize and England itself, taking into account the fact that the books were produced in former colonies?
- Manjula Raman
Awesome ideas Manjula! This idea of “empty spaces” is a fascinating subject to explore. The landscapes of both novels, the farm and the desert, function as sites of confusion and epiphany. The motif of “the homeless wanderer” fits in perfectly with your argument. Perhaps it might be interesting to consider Coetzee’s journey as an author and how he too has played out the fate of the “homeless wanderer” – residing all around the world for brief periods of time. How are you going to structure the essay though? In terms of characters or themes? You refer to multiple forms of “empty spaces” (from the mental to the physical to the emotional) – are you going to tackle all of these in the paper? Are you going to focus on one or two characters specifically or multiple characters more broadly?