The men of Disgrace don't need to assert their masculinity through any particular acts rather, they can act as they please simply because they are men. In Disgrace, male characters assert their masculinity by dominating women.

In what ways is David's sense of masculinity compromised in the novel? Why does he refer to castration so often?.

When Lucy thinks about marrying Petrus as a means of protection, does it characterize the country as being a male-dominated society, or does it merely show that Petrus is someone who personally has a lot of power in their community?.

On the Film Adaptation An article on the film adaptation in the Sydney Morning Herald, August 16, 2008. Disgrace, 2008 This adaptation stars John Malkovich as David and Jessica Haines as Lucy.

Is there any trait that we can use to define 'maleness' for the characters in Disgrace? The Guardian names Disgrace as the best British, Irish, or Commonwealth novel to be written between 19 (October 8, 2006).

What are some different ways in which the men in Disgrace assert their masculinity?.

In a book that pays close attention to the sexual dynamics between men and women, it's not surprising that questions of gender roles come hurtling to the forefront. We can look at the three intruders' rape of Lucy as an example of how masculinity can be used as a means of suppressing femininity. This shows us an ingrained attitude about masculinity in opposition to femininity. When Petrus says that he wants his firstborn to be a boy, he explains that boys should show girls the proper way to behave. In Disgrace, Coetzee pushes us to look at some of the more complicated issues that spring from masculinity, particularly through the ways male characters treat women.

But masculinity isn't just about gender alone it's also about how gender affects one's actions, identity, and attitudes. You've got masculinity and you've got femininity, characteristics of the male and the female. On one hand, masculinity can be characterized as one specific side of the gender coin.

What is it, exactly, that makes a man a man? This is a complex question that lies at the heart of Disgrace.

Disgrace novel themes