POST-COLONIAL REFLECTIONS COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF 'DUSKLANDS' AND 'WAITING FOR THE BARBARIANS

Abstract

This paper conducts a comparative analysis of post-colonial themes in J.M. Coetzee's "Waiting for the Barbarians" and "Dusklands." Through a close examination of the narrative structures, character dynamics, and symbolic elements in both texts, the paper explores how Coetzee addresses the complexities of power, identity, and resistance in the colonial context. By contextualizing the works within the broader discourse of post-colonial theory, the analysis illuminates the ways in which these novels offer insights into the lasting impacts of colonialism on both colonizers and the colonized, while also highlighting the ambiguities and contradictions inherent in the colonial experience. Through this comparative approach, the paper aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of Coetzee's engagement with post-colonial thought and its implications for contemporary literary discourse.