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Christian Carter LBST 2102 Robert Arnold December 15, 2011 The Impact of Globalization on the search for Identity in Boyhood The many aspects of globalization exists among our everyday lives, however we often forget the universal impact that it creates in each country, society and individual. Globalization is in many ways the universal language that combines the economic systems, the political systems, and the cultural systems across the world. The effects of globalization in these areas are often clearly evident, but globalization can also manifest in a more subtle way that affects individuals. The award winning author J.M. Coetzee reveals his struggle to find his identity in his gritty memoir entitled Boyhood: Scenes from Provincial Life. Coetzee has developed a reputation for writing pieces of literature that are submerged in grief, uncertainty, and delusions. Boyhood is a detailed diary of his childhood in a small town during the 1950s. His burden of being born to Afrikaner parents, who desire to be English, causes Coetzee to depict himself as an unstable and curious young boy. He constantly struggles with his relationship between him and his parents. Throughout the novel, Coetzee exposes to his audience the concept of living a double life. The standard of a double life helps Coetzee to find his identity was an award winning writer.

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Coetzee refers to globalization when he explains the transition that he and his family make to a small city called Worcester. A since of isolation begins to settle in while adjusting to a new location and a new group of people. His Afrikaner last name, his lack of religion and his English upbringing labels him as an interesting misfit. His first struggle of identity in the novel is the decision of choosing a religion. The school system in Worcester divides the boys up according to their religion when attending assembly, but he becomes quickly aware of the significance of practicing a religion here. He reveals his level of uncertainty with religion when he states, He chose to be a Roman Catholic, that fateful morning, because of Rome, because of Horatius and his two comrades(Coetzee 25). Later on in the novel he finds out that his favoritism for the letter R and his decision to pick Roman Catholic wasnt the greatest idea that he ever had. The Christian boys quickly uncovered his impersonation as a Roman Catholic and made him a target. Another element on this journey to discovering his identity was the concept of race. He remembers wrestling with a young black boy named Eddie. Eddie was a family worker, but he is intrigued by his appearance when he states, The smell of Eddies body stays with him from these bouts, and the feel of his head, the high bullet-shaped skull and the close, coarse hair (Coetzee75). During his encounters with Eddie he doesnt judge him on the fact that he is black. He relates well to Eddie because Eddie is taken from his normal surroundings and is forced to work for a family that he doesnt know. He is amused by the reasons why black people are treated differently and how its considered out of the norm to hold conversations with them. Later on in the novel, he is embarrassed by the way Coloured people are treated. He notices that a Coloured woman by the name of Tryn is washing his clothes on her knees. They

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must pretend that each other doesnt exist to prevent any trouble. He expresses his embarrassment when he said, He does not like to see Tryn on her knees at the washtub washing his clothes. It is all deeply embarrassing (Coetzee 86). During this passage, the narrator begins to show signs of maturity in the way he is not pleased by Tryn washing his clothes. He understands the reason why these women are doing unpleasant chores, but he doesnt understand why the reason is skin color. His journey to finding his true identity was also influenced by the damaged relationships that he had with both his parents. The expression of love for his mother was evident at times but at others it seems very vague. He later confesses his feelings of jealousy when it comes to the relationship that his brother and mother share, but he later contradicts himself with his expression of dislike for her. While at home his moments of being a tyrant come to the surface during his interactions with his mother. He shows a moment of disrespect when he says, He wants her to behave toward him as she does toward his brother. But he wants this as a sign, a proof, no more. He knows that he will fly into a rage if she ever begins hovering over him (Coetzee 45). He desires to have his mothers complete and full attention but he is often overshadowed by his brother. He struggles to express love towards his mother out of fear of disappointment and simply that he doesnt know how. It is very clear that he has a hatred for his father. He views his father as a man of weakness. His resentment for his father is because he is absent from their lives and he doesnt fails to accept his responsibilities as a father. He acknowledges his fathers flaws when he says, He has never worked out the position of his father in the household. In fact, it is not obvious to him by what right his father is there at all (Coetzee 65). He does admire his father for his accomplishments, but not his lack of

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accomplishment as a father. Towards the end of the novel you begin to see a glimpse of admiration for his father but I think its because his father has shown him the type of man that he doesnt want to be. Boyhood is an admirable piece of literature because of the depth of detail and psychological disfunction. The reference in third person also helped to create a dynamic of which Coeztee was more of an observer of his own life instead of living it. Boyhood ties together the aspect of globalization and the struggle of self discovery. The overall message from Boyhood is to appreciate the elements of life that you cannot change and use them as fuel to create your own path of change and self forth.