A Major Minor Literature: The Grass Is Singing and Disgrace

1 ABSTRACT This thesis deals with the comparative analysis of the novels The Grass Is Singing by the British writer Doris Lessing, and Disgrace (1999) whose author is the South African-born novelist and scholar J. M. Coetzee. Both works portray fundamental problems of Southern Africa, which is racism and colonialism, more precisely its continuing consequences. They are, however, separated by almost half a century, and the profound social changes that took place during that time are significantly reflected in the content, form and the overall message of both works. The analysis of the novels is preceded by a detailed overview of the colonial and postcolonial history of the region with a special emphasis on the Republic of South Africa and Zimbabwe where the stories are set. Particular attention is given to the history of the first white colonizers who made up the present-day ethnic group of Afrikaners, and their struggle for national liberation against the British colonial Empire, because it is this element that disturbs the usual view on postcolonial literature. After a brief introduction to the literary work of both writers, including relevant biographical information and the synopses of the books under review, the next part of the thesis is devoted to literary criticism. Some basic notions and concepts of..