Racism and ambivalence in J.M. Coetzee’s Disgrace

Racism is one of the important issues which is spread widely around the world. South Africa is one of the countries where racism is being instituted into Apartheid. Although Apartheid is abolished, racial relation between white people and black people is still susceptible break into conflict. In this case, Disgrace is chosen as the prototype that represents that condition. The research pervades racial prejudice and racial stereotype that white people give to black people. Included how the stereotype contributes in determining image and identity of black people. The research also discusses the ambivalence that emerges from racial discourse. In sum up, I have chosen the postcolonial theory of literary criticism to be constructed as theoretical standpoint. The result of this research shows there is racism in Disgrace. It is marked by the belief of one’s race superiority. Racism in Disgrace is considered as modern one because it is focus on cultural hierarchy not on the difference of physical traits. Prejudice and stereotype is the sign that the belief of superiority still remains in white people mind. The representation of black people through stereotype indirectly builds their image and identity. The image and identity that white people give to black people mostly have negative sense. While this racial relation also creates ambivalence. Furthermore mimicry appears as ambivalent phenomenon. Mimicry that is shown from white people and black people signifies the ambivalence of identity. Thus dichotomy of superior and inferior of one’s race is undetermined