El concepto de libertad en la obra “vida y época de Michael K” de J.M. Coetzee

Abstract

The next thesis is born of the need to go deeper and deeper into the field of contemporary literature, specifically the Nobel author of literature John Maxwell Coetzee. Author of South African origin who has made himself known through his various controversial issues such as apartheid, war, slavery, among others. In this work I specifically deal with the author's fourth book, "Life and Times of Michael K", thus revealing his work. In this way, the corpus of the following work is then divided into four chapters, organized as follows: The first one, titled "LIFE AND TIME OF MICHAEL K", is a chapter written type literary essay, where the work "Life and time of Michael K" is announced. His story is then discussed, his reading step by step, the themes that the author presents, a short summary of the novel. Questions are developed such as, What are the main themes of the author in this novel? What is the perspective of the author ?, What is the most significant that is found when reading ?, What historical events gave rise to the novel? , What do we know about Michael K as a historical character or fictional character ?, and finally in this chapter then mentions why this novel should be read today, its contribution to the contemporary world and the particular style of JM Coetzee. 11 The second chapter, entitled "THE PATH OF J.M. COETZEE ", then treats the author in the course of his life, bearing in mind that he is one of the Nobel authors of literature still alive. It is then a general trajectory for the author's great work, his life, his first novels, as they come to his life, specifically as it comes to his life "Life and time of Michael K", looks at J.M. Coetzee as a novelist, as a narrator, as an essayist, as a thinker and as a literature teacher. This chapter deals with questions such as: What are in general terms the most relevant and frequent themes in the works of Coetzee ?, the human condition in the finest essence, slavery, abuse of power, solidarity, injustice, Old age, man trapped in the system, war, among others. This chapter takes reference to the author's three autobiographical novels, "Childhood (1998)", "Youth (2002)" and "Summer (2010)". In the third part, the title "THE DOOR OF THE CARCEL IS OPENED" is discussed in this chapter, the theme of freedom in the different works of Coetzee, "Waiting for the Barbarians", "Iron Age", Lands of West”, " Journal of a bad year ", among others. It has as reference then the subject of freedom of "Life and time of Michael K". In addition, he confronts the ideas of Coetzee and those of other authors, freedom in John Dewey, Jean - Paul Sartre, Bertrand Russell, Martha Nussbaum, Edward Said. Finally, the fourth chapter, entitled "RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LITERATURE, EDUCATION AND THE SEARCH FOR FREEDOM", is a chapter written in a literary essay about the role of reading, Coetzee's novels and the search for a freer society, More thoughtful, less dominated by hegemonies. With the example of "Life and time of 12 Michael K", that is Michael K as a symbol of freedom. In this chapter, questions such as, Can the characters of J.M. Coetzee symbol of a quest for freedom? Are Michael K, David Lurie, the judge of "Waiting for barbarians" symbols of freedom? It can then be concluded that the literature of J.M. Coetzee has many issues to be analyzed, they are tempting, captivating and also controversial; Is the kind of literature that should not be overlooked.