Disgrace

by

J. M. Coetzee

Disgrace: Chapter 20 Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
David returns to Cape Town to find that his apartment has been broken into and his belongings stolen. The next day, he goes to the university to retrieve his mail and finds a new professor in his office. During this period, he tries to work on his opera about Byron, finally making some headway by focusing not on Byron himself, but on Byron’s lover, Teresa. He also starts composing music on the banjo instead of the piano, finding the humble instrument much more appropriate.
At this point in Disgrace, David’s life has crumbled to almost nothing. In stark contrast to his arrogant outlook when he first got in trouble for sexually harassing Melanie, he’s now forced to confront just how harmful it was for him to blindly follow his desires, as he truly has nobody and nowhere to turn to except Lucy and her farm.
Themes
Desire and Power Theme Icon
Shame, Remorse, and Vanity Theme Icon
Time and Change Theme Icon