essay for lbst 2102
TRANSCRIPT
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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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Carter 4
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.