As the narrative shifts, the voice appears to become the perspective of "Foe" speaking now in first person of the deaths of the main characters, "They lie side by side in bed, not touching. The skin, dry as paper, stretched tight over their bones. Their lips have receded, uncovering their teeth, so that they seem to be smiling. Their eyes are closed" (153). It seems as though the deaths of Susan and the captain necessarily lead the narration to the voice of Foe, as he is the only surviving voice able to describe the happenings in the final chapter. Though Friday appears to barely be alive or awake, he has no tongue and could not take on the duties of speaking, he becomes a symbol, reflecting the sounds and life of the island, " His mouth opens. From inside comes a slow stream, without breath, without interruption. It flows up through his body and out upon me; it passes through the cabin, through the wreck; washing the cliffs and shores of the island, it runs northward and southward to the ends of the earth"(157). Though the narrative has completly transferred from Susan Barton's perspective to whom I believe is Foe, it is necessary for the completion of the journey of the main characters, whom are incapable of furthering their stories after death. Though Susan has passed away her story can be told, though not exactly the way she intended, there is some hope.
Though the story, appears to be a tragedy and a parody of characters from Daniel Defoe's "Robinson Crusoe"it captures a journey of a characters trapped by their own destinies. Though the narrative takes on varying tones, Coetzee very cleverly inserts the voice of Foe in the end to perhaps suggest objectivity to the story. I really understood the changing of narration as necessary, it allows the reader or audience to get a different perspective of Susan's attempt to not only find her daughter after being shipwrecked, but her journey in life with the captain, Friday and her attempt to thrust herself into life's relentless pursuit of happiness. In the end it a story, within a story, told from the voice of Susan Barton in her exrtaordinary quest for her story to be told.
3 comments:
Hey Bryan,
So, do you think it's Foe speaking in the end? Maybe his spirit is reinterpreting everything he learned? Or maybe we're seeing things through his imagination? That's another possibility, I guess.
What I really thought was neat about your post was your description of the novel as a "parody" and a "tragedy" of Robinson Crusoe. I didn't think of it that way at all, but, wow, you're so right. I think you really have a good point here. Coetzee *is* complicating the issue of colonialism, an issue that Robinson Crusoe implicitly encourages. He suggests that this institution created too many Fridays, people whose story abruptly was silenced or, even worse, plagerized, butchered, or jut remodeled to fit the interpretations of too many foes (or is it Foes? :))
I think it is interesting how you think it is Foe speaking in the last part of the novel. But how do you explain that he is pictured as being dead in the last part?
I also thought that your explanation of how the novel was a parody or tragedy of Robinson Crusoe was well thought out. I had not thought of the novel as a parody, but it makes sense that Coetzee would point out his views of colonization using language, his reality that creates his language.
So perhaps Foe is wrapping it up for everyone in the end I take it?
Susan gets cut off in terms of her voice in the story. There is a change in pace, tone, and setting. "There lips have receded, uncovering their teeth, so that they seem to be smiling.Their eyes are closed" (153). This quote you used emphasizes soooo much for the characters such as Friday who says so much, but cannot speak at all. Susan is cut out, and yes it seems like Foe is the only left standing, however, I still think there are different possbilites for the final narrative part. Who was it?
Post a Comment