Theme Of Imperialism In Waiting For The Barbarians

South African history has been punctuated by a series of colonization attempts, but the most impactful of these colonial periods would be those of the Dutch and British Empires. J. M. Coetzee was born in South Africa when the nation was still ruled by the British, and, as such, his opinions about imperialism are likely to have formed from an early age and be in the primary perspective of British imperialism. When reading the above excerpt from Waiting for the Barbarians, it becomes apparent that Coetzee wishes to make a statement about the nature of imperialism using metaphor. Specifically, J. M. Coetzee uses the extended metaphor of the children playing in the snow to suggest that empires act as a corrupting force against an otherwise†¦show more content†¦This is further proven by the inclusion of children in the magistrate’s dream, while excluding any adults. As with snow, children are often portrayed as being innocent because of their lack of responsibilities and e xperience with the adult world. As the narrator watches â€Å"a group of tiny figures playing around a snowcastle† (Coetzee, 1980, p.37), he observes a symbolically pure event because the scene lacks any influence of adults. It is obvious from this image that the magistrate idealizes childhood, but it is not immediately clear what aspect of his adult life he despises. To determine what is driving the magistrate to these thoughts, one must interpret his actions as he travels through the dreamscape. The magistrate’s actions throughout his dream serve as an allegorical representation of his own noxious role in the empire. As the narrator trudges his way towards the children, he immediately begins to act as a disruptor of their play activities. His approach causes the children to â€Å"sidle away or melt in air† (Coetzee, 1980, p.37), forcing all the children except for one to discontinue the activity that emphasized their innocence. Particularly telling is the use of the word â€Å"melt† to describe how the children disappear before the magistrate, suggesting that he is both unable to grasp their true nature and that he is the causeShow MoreRelatedLord of the Flies, Coral Island and the Role of Adults - Essay1558 Words   |  7 PagesIt is known that to fully appreciate the novel â€Å"Lord of the Flies† (1954) by William Golding (1911-1993) it is necessary to have read Robert Michael Ballantyne’s (1825-1894) â€Å"Coral Island† (1858), or at least to understand its theme and treatment. 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