essay for lbst 2102

8/3/2019 Essay for LBST 2102

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Carter 1

Christian Carter

LBST 2102

Robert Arnold

December 15, 2011

The Impact of Globalization on the search for Identity in Boyhood

The many aspects of globalization exists among our everyday lives, however we often

forget the universal impact that it creates in each country, society and individual. Globalization

is in many ways the universal language that combines the economic systems, the political

systems, and the cultural systems across the world. The effects of globalization in these areas

are often clearly evident, but globalization can also manifest in a more subtle way that affects

individuals.

The award winning author J.M. Coetzee reveals his struggle to find his identity in his

gritty memoir entitled Boyhood:Scenes from Provincial Life. Coetzee has developed a

reputation for writing pieces of literature that are submerged in grief, uncertainty, and

delusions. Boyhoodis a detailed diary of his childhood in a small town during the 1950s. His

burden of being born to Afrikaner parents, who desire to be English, causes Coetzee to depict

himself as an unstable and curious young boy. He constantly struggles with his relationship

between him and his parents. Throughout the novel, Coetzee exposes to his audience the

concept of living a double life. The standard of a double life helps Coetzee to find his identity

was an award winning writer.


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Carter 2

Coetzee refers to globalization when he explains the transition that he and his family

make to a small city called Worcester. A since of isolation begins to settle in while adjusting to a

new location and a new group of people. His Afrikaner last name, his lack of religion and his

English upbringing labels him as an interesting misfit. His first struggle of identity in the novel is

the decision of choosing a religion. The school system in Worcester divides the boys up

according to their religion when attending assembly, but he becomes quickly aware of the

significance of practicing a religion here. He reveals his level of uncertainty with religion when

he states, He chose to be a Roman Catholic, that fateful morning, because of Rome, because of

Horatius and his two comrades(Coetzee 25). Later on in the novel he finds out that his

favoritism for the letter R and his decision to pick Roman Catholic wasnt the greatest idea

that he ever had. The Christian boys quickly uncovered his impersonation as a Roman Catholic

and made him a target.

Another element on this journey to discovering his identity was the concept of race. He

remembers wrestling with a young black boy named Eddie. Eddie was a family worker, but he is

intrigued by his appearance when he states, The smell of Eddies body stays with him from

these bouts, and the feel of his head, the high bullet-shaped skull and the close, coarse hair

(Coetzee75). During his encounters with Eddie he doesnt judge him on the fact that he is

black. He relates well to Eddie because Eddie is taken from his normal surroundings and is

forced to work for a family that he doesnt know. He is amused by the reasons why black

people are treated differently and how its considered out of the norm to hold conversations

with them. Later on in the novel, he is embarrassed by the way Coloured people are treated. He

notices that a Coloured woman by the name of Tryn is washing his clothes on her knees. They


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accomplishment as a father. Towards the end of the novel you begin to see a glimpse of

admiration for his father but I think its because his father has shown him the type of man that

he doesnt want to be.

Boyhoodis an admirable piece of literature because of the depth of detail and

psychological disfunction. The reference in third person also helped to create a dynamic of

which Coeztee was more of an observer of his own life instead of living it. Boyhoodties

together the aspect of globalization and the struggle of self discovery. The overall message

from Boyhoodis to appreciate the elements of life that you cannot change and use them as fuel

to create your own path of change and self forth.

essay for lbst 2102

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