A narrative of forgiveness : South Africa Forgiveness in the novels of J.M. Coetzee
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2010-08
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en
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The main subject of this master thesis was forgiveness in South Africa. The purpose of this
study was to investigate how the novels of the Nobel Prize winner J.M. Coetzee reflect the
discourse on forgiveness in South Africa from 1974 (during Apartheid) to 2009 (after
Apartheid). Other aims coming from this central question were to find out what forgiveness
is, whether it can be stimulated, and how it was stimulated by the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission South Africa. Finally, it was studied whether Coetzee reflects whether
forgiveness took place or not, and whether he was hopeful for the future.
The methods applied were that of close reading and text analysis. The theoretical study
examined forgiveness from four perspectives: a. philosophical/critical, b. theological, c.
psychological and d. political. The practical study examined and analysed the novels playing
in South Africa of J.M. Coetzee.
It was found that the novels reflect the discourse on forgiveness and the time frame in which
the discourse took place. The novels of Coetzee reflect the discourse by showing the doubts
and thoughts about all aspects of forgiveness. The results revealed that the novels are an
important historical source for research on forgiveness in South Africa.
The principal conclusion was that novels are a good source to study history and the opinion of
one person at least, and a specific group of persons at most.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen