Thesis Statement. Petrus is a symbol of changing social status of blacks post the apartheid system in South Africa. On meeting Petrus, he represents the rural part of the country. He identifies himself based on the duties he does; He works for Lucy by taking care of her farm and her dog. Petrus is committed to his family; his wife lives far off but he still goes to visit her. He is loyal to his employer and is dependable. However, he has a dream to become more than just a helper and to improve his life. This comes to pass when he marries Lucy and she transfers a piece of land to him. (Coetzee, p.76). He stands up to David, Lucy’s father, about Lucy traveling to Cape Town. Also about an altercation David had with a boy, Pollux, in a party. The changing dynamics are clear in the novel. David is convinced that Lucy does all these in order to do what is right for the injustices that had persisted among the black people during the apartheid period. With the changing social status, there is change in power. Petrus is an interesting character in the way he evolves throughout the novel. He moves from a position of weakness to power. With the land transfer, Lucy and David are rendered powerless. Petrus does nothing with the power he acquired; he is adamant to take any action following Lucy’s rape by the intruders. David keeps pushing him to take action and even lies that the police are in pursuit of the offenders. (Coetzee, p.160) He remains adamant. David and Lucy are both at odds with the intruders due to Petrus’s passivity. References. Coetzee, J. M. (1999). Disgrace. London, England: Secker & Warburg. Works Cited Kochin, M. S. "Postmetaphysical Literature: Reflections on J. M. Coetzee’s Disgrace." Perspectives on Political Science, vol. 33, no. 1, 2004, pp. 4-9, doi:10.3200/ppsc.33.1.4-9. Cole Paustian, Megan. "Living Beyond Apartheid: The Territorial Ethics of Reconciliation." Safundi, vol. 15, no. 1, 2014, pp. 101-122. Coetzee, J. M. (1999). Disgrace. London, England: Secker & Warburg. .

1. Thesis Statement.
Petrus is a symbol of changing social status of blacks post the
apartheid system in South Africa. On meeting Petrus, he
represents the rural part of the country. He identifies himself
based on the duties he does; He works for Lucy by taking care
of her farm and her dog. Petrus is committed to his family; his
wife lives far off but he still goes to visit her. He is loyal to his
employer and is dependable. However, he has a dream to
become more than just a helper and to improve his life. This
comes to pass when he marries Lucy and she transfers a piece of
land to him. (Coetzee, p.76). He stands up to David, Lucy’s
father, about Lucy traveling to Cape Town. Also about an
altercation David had with a boy, Pollux, in a party. The
changing dynamics are clear in the novel. David is convinced
that Lucy does all these in order to do what is right for the
injustices that had persisted among the black people during the
apartheid period.
With the changing social status, there is change in power.
Petrus is an interesting character in the way he evolves
throughout the novel. He moves from a position of weakness to
power. With the land transfer, Lucy and David are rendered
powerless. Petrus does nothing with the power he acquired; he
is adamant to take any action following Lucy’s rape by the
intruders. David keeps pushing him to take action and even lies
that the police are in pursuit of the offenders. (Coetzee, p.160)
He remains adamant. David and Lucy are both at odds with the
intruders due to Petrus’s passivity.
References.
Coetzee, J. M. (1999). Disgrace. London, England: Secker &
Warburg.

2. Works Cited
Kochin, M. S. "Postmetaphysical Literature: Reflections on J.
M. Coetzee’s Disgrace." Perspectives on Political Science,
vol. 33, no. 1, 2004, pp. 4-9, doi:10.3200/ppsc.33.1.4-9.
Cole Paustian, Megan. "Living Beyond Apartheid: The
Territorial Ethics of Reconciliation." Safundi,
vol. 15, no. 1, 2014, pp. 101-122.
Coetzee, J. M. (1999). Disgrace. London, England: Secker &
Warburg.