Great Books/Reading Foe

"Foe" is a novel written by Nobel Prize-winning author J.M. Coetzee, published in 1986. It is a reimagining of Daniel Defoe's classic novel "Robinson Crusoe," exploring themes of language, power, and narrative representation.

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Foe First edition dust jacket (1986)

The story begins with a woman named Susan Barton, who is shipwrecked on a deserted island after her vessel is attacked by pirates. She is rescued by the sole inhabitant of the island, a man named Cruso, who lives there with a mute native servant named Friday. Cruso is a mysterious figure who seems resigned to his fate, content to live in isolation and solitude.

Susan becomes determined to leave the island and return to civilization. She convinces Cruso to construct a raft to escape, but their plans are interrupted when Cruso suddenly dies. Alone with Friday, Susan struggles to communicate with him due to his inability to speak.

Eventually, Susan and Friday are rescued by a passing ship and taken back to England. Susan, eager to share her story with the world, seeks out the help of a writer named Daniel Foe (referred to as "Foe" in the novel), known for his skill in crafting narratives. She hopes that Foe will help her write her account of her time on the island and the mysterious fate of Cruso.

However, Foe is more interested in shaping Susan's story to fit his own artistic vision. He begins to manipulate and embellish the details of her experiences, reshaping her narrative to suit his own purposes. As Susan struggles to assert her own voice and agency, she becomes increasingly marginalized and silenced by Foe's dominant authorial presence.

Through its exploration of the relationship between Susan, Foe, and Friday, "Foe" raises questions about the nature of storytelling, the power dynamics inherent in the act of representation, and the challenges of asserting individual identity and agency within the constraints of language and narrative.

Overall, "Foe" is a complex and thought-provoking novel that offers a compelling reimagining of a classic literary tale while also raising profound questions about the nature of truth, creativity, and the construction of reality through language.

Assignment

Obtain a copy of the book. It is not yet included in Wikisource, and is available from several libraries listed in Worldcat.

Read the book. Study the book.

Write an essay on one of the following topics:

In a Great Books University curriculum, discussion questions for "Foe" by J.M. Coetzee would be designed to encourage students to critically engage with the novel's themes, characters, and narrative techniques. Here are some typical discussion questions that could be assigned for "Foe":

1. Narrative Representation: How does Coetzee explore the theme of narrative representation in "Foe," particularly through the character of Daniel Foe? What commentary does the novel offer on the power dynamics inherent in the act of storytelling and the manipulation of truth for artistic or personal purposes?
2. Voice and Agency: Discuss the theme of voice and agency in "Foe," particularly in relation to Susan Barton's struggle to assert her own story and identity in the face of Foe's dominant authorial presence. How does the novel depict the challenges of asserting individual agency within the constraints of language and narrative?
3. Gender and Power: Analyze the portrayal of gender and power dynamics in "Foe," particularly in Susan Barton's interactions with Foe and Friday. How do gender roles influence the characters' relationships and the distribution of power within the narrative?
4. Colonialism and Otherness: Explore the theme of colonialism and the representation of "otherness" in "Foe," particularly in the character of Friday and his relationship with Susan and Foe. How does the novel address questions of identity, cultural difference, and colonial exploitation?
5. Interpretations of "Robinson Crusoe": Consider the significance of Coetzee's reimagining of Daniel Defoe's classic novel "Robinson Crusoe" in "Foe." How does Coetzee's novel challenge or subvert the themes and conventions of its source material, and what commentary does it offer on the legacy of colonialism and imperialism?
6. Silence and Communication: Discuss the theme of silence and communication in "Foe," particularly in Friday's muteness and Susan's struggles to communicate with him. How does the novel explore the limitations of language and the ways in which silence can both empower and marginalize individuals?
7. Metafictional Elements: Analyze the metafictional elements in "Foe," such as the presence of Daniel Foe as a character within the narrative. How do these self-reflexive elements contribute to the novel's exploration of truth, fiction, and the nature of storytelling?
8. Ambiguity and Interpretation: Consider the ambiguity of the novel's ending and its implications for interpretation. What are some possible readings of the novel's unresolved questions and enigmatic conclusion, and how do they shape our understanding of the narrative as a whole?
9. Authorial Intent and Reader Response: Reflect on the role of authorial intent and reader response in interpreting "Foe." How does Coetzee's manipulation of narrative perspective and character development influence our understanding of the novel, and to what extent is interpretation subjective or open to multiple readings?
10. Relevance to Contemporary Issues: Discuss the relevance of "Foe" to contemporary issues such as identity politics, cultural representation, and the ethics of storytelling. How do the novel's themes and concerns resonate with contemporary debates about power, voice, and representation in literature and society?

These discussion questions encourage students to engage critically with the complexities of "Foe" and to explore its rich thematic layers, narrative techniques, and philosophical implications within the context of a Great Books curriculum.