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Waiting for the Barbarians

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In a frontier town of an imagined empire, the magistrate faces escalating conflict between the citizens and the government's soldiers, known as the "barbarians". The story, a fable with disturbingly real elements, evokes thoughts on conflicts and civilizations. The magistrate, a flawed character, grapples with understanding his tormentors while questioning his own role in the oppressive society.

The novel delves into themes of oppression, the struggle between oppressor and oppressed, and the complexities of the magistrate's character as he navigates his allegiance to the empire and his obsession with a barbarian woman. The writing style is described as lyrically written, reflecting on the magistrate's reflection on his life and society, revealing the internal conflict within him regarding his legacy and morality.

Characters:

Characters are deeply complex, representing moral dilemmas and embodying the struggles between oppressor and oppressed.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by its sparse yet lyrical prose, effectively conveying complex themes and deep emotional resonance.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around a magistrate in a border town facing moral conflicts as colonial forces invade the lives of the indigenous people. It raises profound questions about identity, civilization, and morality.

Setting:

The ambiguous setting enhances the allegorical nature of the story, emphasizing universality in the themes of colonialism and morality.

Pacing:

The pacing of the book is contemplative, focusing on character development and thematic exploration rather than rapid action.
I HAVE NEVER seen anything like it: two little discs of glass suspended in front of his eyes in loops of wire. Is he blind? I could understand it if he wanted to hide blind eyes. But he is not blind. ...

Notes:

The book is set in an unnamed empire, exploring colonialism and its impacts.
The protagonist, a magistrate, grapples with his complicity in the empire's oppressive actions.
Colonel Joll tortures prisoners, including a young girl, to extract information about the supposed threat from barbarians.
The relationship between the magistrate and the girl raises themes of guilt, power dynamics, and human connection.
The narrative questions who the real 'barbarians' are: the indigenous people or the empire's oppressors.
The story reflects on the nature of justice, law, and the moral dilemmas faced by individuals in power.
Themes of torture, aging, and sexuality are prominent throughout the book, leading to a profound exploration of human nature.
The book draws parallels with historical treatment of indigenous peoples during colonial times.
Coetzee's writing style is characterized by its sparseness and clarity, yet it conveys deep emotional and moral complexities.
Waiting for the Barbarians was published in 1980 and is considered a major work in postcolonial literature.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of torture, human rights abuse, psychological trauma, and discussions on colonialism.

From The Publisher:

A modern classic by Nobel Laureate J. M. Coetzee, now a major motion picture starring Robert Pattinson and Johnny Depp

For decades the Magistrate has run the affairs of a tiny frontier settlement, ignoring the impending war between the barbarians and the Empire whose servant he is. When interrogation experts arrive, however, he finds himself jolted into sympathy with their victims-until their barbarous treatment of prisoners of war finally pushes him into a quixotic act of rebellion, and thus into imprisonment as an enemy of the state.

Waiting for the Barbarians, J. M. Coetzee's third novel, which won the James Tate Black Memorial Prize, is an allegory of the war between oppressor and oppressed. The Magistrate is not simply a man living through a crisis of conscience in an obscure place in remote times; his situation is that of all men living in unbearable complicity with regimes that elevate their own survival above justice and decency.

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1 comment(s)

Incredible
2 months

Soul wracking and terrific.

 

About the Author:

Born in Cape Town, South Africa, on February 9, 1940, J. M. Coetzee studied first at Cape Town and later at the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned a PhD degree in literature. In 1972, he returned to South Africa…

 
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