The Ethics of Hospitality in Coetzee’s Life &; Times of Michael K

• Main Authors: Li Fang Fu, 傅莉芳
• Other Authors: Sun-Chieh Liang
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2012
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/864yv2

碩士 === 國立臺灣師範大學 === 英語學系 === 100 === J. M. Coetzee shows his deep concern with the socially marginalized characters. Depicting heterogeneous beings and their difficult situations, Coetzee actualizes the invisible violence in the society. Throughout his writing career, Coetzee practices hospitality ethics and embraces the other in a metaphoric way. In Michael K, hospitality is also one important theme. The protagonist is taken care of by many institutions and individuals, but his resistance is consistent with Derridean idea of “impossible hospitality.” That mechanism of hospitality that causes such impossibility is my main concern, and I would like to explore how hospitality is practiced in Michael K. This thesis is divided into three chapters. Firstly, I explore hospitality ethics in contexts, including the ancient literature, modern theory and Michael K. From the etymological resource to the biblical stories of Abram and Lot, hospitality ethics in the context always show its conflicting nature. Seeing through the operation of hospitality ethics, I can see a clear power flow and power struggle between Michael, the absolute other, and welcoming hosts. Therefore, the main focus in Chapter Two is the rapport between power and hospitality, in line with Foucauldian genealogy of power, I would trace the operation of hospitality in the modern medical systems. Following the medical system, in the Chapter Three, I would focus on the other important reception structure—the camp. In the final analysis, I would argue that the ethics of hospitality turns out to be a bio-political strategy for the government to manipulate and produce the ideal docile citizens for the sovereign power.