Disgrace Lesson Plan

What do you think is causing David to relate more to animals, when he used to be so indifferent? Why do you think Coetzee includes this aspect of David's personality?

One of David’s defining characteristics is selfishness. This is why he was able to force himself on Melanie or stalk Soraya and not realize the harm he was doing. His previous indifference to animals would seem to come from the same place. Yet what happens on the farm changes him. It starts with Katy, as he sees some of himself and his own woes in her. Because he recognizes the similarities between them, he feels empathy. Then after the attack, he feels sympathetic toward the sheep, perhaps seeing in...