Strength of Culture in J. M. Coetzee’s Life and Times of Michael K

Abstract

J. M. Coetzee’s widely circulated and highly acclaimed novel Life and Times of Michael K(1983) deals with the severe imposition of restrictions and confinements undergone by the central persona Michael K in the backdrop of civil strife due to the apartheid and its terrific persecution in South Africa. Whatever the situation may be, Michael K is firmly determined to continue the life of a normal gardener which is his traditional occupation and the culture. He never surrenders before any type of suppression and imposition, and struggles to revive his culture which is great strength that energizes him to be creatively rebellious. That is why he frequently escapes away from the captivation in the hostile situation even though he is never deserted by the war. Despite the restrictions and confinements by the colonial imposition, Michael K continues, reinvigorating his cultural awareness and passion for blooming the wilderness which enables him to resist for the freedom or independence. Finally, Michael K becomes able to retain his lost identity of a successful gardener by escaping from the confinement or the detention. The mystery behind his success to escape from the captivation is very comprehensive for the strength of the culture that does relate to him. This is because J. M. Coetzee examines the strength of culture on which Michael K is entirely rooted for the resistance of all the opposing forces and indoctrinates the sense of liability or responsibility towards his native culture and its unavoidable significance.