The Celebration of Survival in J.M. Coetzee’s Life and Times of Michael K

Abstract

J.M. Coetzee'sLife and Times of Michael Kexposes the feats and hazards in the life of the central character Michael K and his continuation of the life of his own choice. In spite of fragmentation and suffering, MichaelK heroically accepts and continues his constant struggle throughout his life in order to maintain the glory of his survival. In the background of civil strife due to apartheid in South Africa, the novel Life and Times of Michael Kreflects the hostile socio-economic, political cultural and existential crisis in which Michael K is embroiled in the turmoil of restriction and confinement in Jail and camps. But yet he escapes every restrictions and confinements imposed by society upon him and he copes with thesituation by collecting vigor to challenge difficulties that constitutes the common predicament of human life. And he takes survival as glorious success and immense source of pleasure amidst pain and suffering.