Initial Responses to WFB

When I first began reading Waiting for the Barbarians, I didn't like the story so much as I liked the relatively "normal" wrtiting style. After the pretentiousness of Conrad and the stream of consciousness of Faulkner, I was more than ready to encounter a simplistic, straight-forward, plot-driven novel like the one Coetzee writes.

The storyline itself, however, did not grab my interest - at first. Coetzee's Magistrate (the narrator) plays the atypical "white knight", caring for Colonel Joll's prisoners in a motherly fasion. He immediately believes in their innocence, and he grows increasingly hateful of Colonel Joll for his torture tactics, which result in the death of the old prisoner. When the Colonel finally does leave, the Magistrate is relieved to be "alone again in a world [he] know[s] and understand[s]." Unfortunately, after this incident, his world will never be the same again. The visit from Colonel Joll is the first stone tossed by the Empire; by the end of the novel, the outpost has been buried by an empirical avalanche.

I think part of the reason the story did not initially appeal to me was the apparent lack of depth concerning our narrator. At first, he is merely an opposite to the dark forces of the Empire. HIs personality and character are revealed more and more as the novel progresses, and there are sides of him that are positively disturbing. Take, for example, his utterly bizarre relationship with the barbarian girl. When he brought her into his home, I believed he was just being a Good Samaritan. Then, at night, he begins that strange ritual of rubbing her broken ankles and cleaning her legs. This interaction would be similar to that of a lover, but the Magistrate hardly ever considers actually having intercourse with his slave (yes - she is no better than a slave to him, I think). Eventually, he is even repulsed by her. The Magistrate's frequent mood swings and his over-sexuality add to the novel as a whole, because the narrator is no longer just a good man protecting against the Empire - in some senses, he is a barbarian himself. (355)

Konrad Korzeniowski's Letters En Route to the Congo

- Begins with a very Romanticized childhood story of knowing he wanted to go to Africa when he was younger; characteristic of Conrad's grandiose style

- Past experiences: one year spent at Malay Archipelago, two years as "master" of an Austrailan boat in Pacific and Indian Oceans (the Otago, Jan. 1888 - Mar. 1889)

- No apparent reason for either of these professions, nor of journeying to Africa

- Original name: Konrad N. Korzeniowski; alternate names: C. Korzeniowski, Conrad Korzeniowski, Conrad, J. C. Korzeniowski

- Writes to: Uncle Alexander (dies shortly before seeing him), Aunt Marguerite (widow of Alexander), Maryleczka (cousin), Karol (cousin); all very warm with family members

- Departure for Africa very inauspicious, according to Conrad: rain, "dismal day", etc.

- Pretty pessimistic view on life: "in this wicked world", "One doubts the future", definition of life: "A little illusion, many dreams, a rare flash of happiness followed by disillusionment, a little anger and much suffering, and then the end"

- Is disheartened and "uneasy" about the fact that "there are only 7 per cent. who can do their three years' service!" But Conrad leaves himself after only six months, along with the other 60% of the Company's employees

- Isn't looking forward to the twenty-day trek to Leopoldville on foot ("How horrible!") and is interested in the prospect of commanding a "sea-going ship" following his return

- Why did Conrad take this job?

Closure in Faulkner's "The Sound and The Fury"

I believe the only event in the final "Dilsey" section of the novel that signifies closure was Quentin's robbery of her brother. Her departure leaves the family completely devoid of any variety in their daily lives, and now the remaining household members will be forced to deal with each other in the same boring routine until another member (presumably Mother) dies. Apart from the drama that Quentin causes, there is nothing else out of the ordinary in this section. It's true that Dilsey, Frony, Luster, and Benjy go to church, but they attend services occasionally according to the novel. It's also true that Luster deviates from the standard road to the graveyard (for the first time ever, perhaps), which completely upsets Benjy. However, this is quickly remedied by Jason, who forces Nancy back onto the old path. Neither of these events are life-changing or particularly significant, but they do give us examples of the continuing decay of the once-proud Compson family. I may not agree with Dilsey's statement, "I seed de beginnin, en now I sees de endin," because I don't see the ending quite yet; there is no question, however, that the end is near for not only the Compson family but also for the atmosphere of the old Deep South. (212)