The topic for my essay is the importance of the title, which is a common theme throughout the short
story. Based on the name of the story, which is clearly linked to the character Grace, it is safe to
assume that Wicomb has chosen these two names deliberately as a wordplay.
The role of the title in Zo ë Wicomb's short story “ Disgrace ”
“Disgrace” is a short story by South African author Zoë Wicomb featured in her cycle “The one that got away”, first published in 2008. It is the story of three elder women in South Africa. The first woman, who is introduced in the short story is named Grace and gives the story its title. Grace is a housekeeper at the house of Shirley Haskins in Cape Town, an Englishwoman, who has presumably emigrated to South Africa, though it is never said explicitly. The third woman mentioned in the short story is Fiona McAllister, a Scottish woman, who has traveled through South Africa and is a close friend to Shirley Haskins. The narrative in the short story is a 3rd person narrative with an authorial voice and a shifting focalization between Grace and Fiona McAllister.
The topic for my essay is the importance of the title, which is a common theme throughout the short story. Based on the name of the story, which is clearly linked to the character Grace, it is safe to assume that Wicomb has chosen these two names deliberately as a wordplay. The story can be read quite literally as the disgrace of the character Grace who steals a scarf from Fiona McAllister. Nevertheless this is just the superficial reading and a more psychological layer to the story can be observed. I will come back to that point later in my essay.
As I mentioned above, Wicomb plays around with the word grace and its word family. Taking the title and the character's name aside, words like “ ungracious ” (p. 25), “ ungrateful ” (p. 27) as well as the added title “ Miss ” (p. 26) to Grace's name, making it “Miss Grace ” , can be found. It is very interesting to see that these words that are found within the text have a negative connotation. “ Ungracious ” as well as “ ungrateful ” contain the prefix “ un- ” turning them into the opposite, the negative side, of the root word. “ Miss Grace ” is slightly different than the two examples mentioned before, because it is not a composite. There is no such word as “ misgrace ” , but if we have a look at the word “ miss ”, which is a synonym for “ fail to achieve ” , it is obvious that it has the same negative connotation than the two other examples. As readers we can play around with the term “ Miss Grace ” as well. If we take the name and make a verb out of it we get “ to miss grace ”, which tells us that Grace has had the chance to be “graceful ”, but did not manage to achieve it. Concerning the plot of the story it is important to say that there are two ways of interpreting the title of the story, thus making the story ambiguous. As I mentioned above, Grace's 'fall from grace' is easy to see while reading superficially. Grace's thievery of Fiona McAllister's scarf is her disgrace. She steals the scarf without hesitating.
“ Her fingers catch on a pile of pink jersey - lovely stuff, soft as a baby - which in turn yanks to the surface the swirling blues and greens of a scrap of silk. Then the world grows miraculously still. As if mesmerized, she tugs at the fabric, watches it snake through the tangle of garments as she lifts it out of the bag. Grace rises, holds the scarf in both hands, runs it through her fingers, and in the glorious silence hears the swish of silk, the rush of water, of the tide foaming over shiny wet boulders. Her fingers work deftly; they fold the fabric into a small square and slip it into her pocket. ” (p. 34 - 35).
Frequently asked questions about Zoë Wicomb's "Disgrace"
What is the main topic of the essay?
The essay focuses on the significance of the title "Disgrace" in Zoë Wicomb's short story of the same name, exploring its connection to the character Grace and the broader themes of the story.
Who are the main characters in the story?
The main characters are Grace, a housekeeper; Shirley Haskins, an Englishwoman and Grace's employer; and Fiona McAllister, a Scottish friend of Shirley's who is visiting South Africa.
What is the narrative perspective of the story?
The story is told from a 3rd person perspective with an authorial voice and a shifting focalization between Grace and Fiona McAllister.
How does the essay interpret the word "grace" within the story?
The essay examines the various uses of the word "grace" and its related terms (e.g., "ungracious," "ungrateful," "Miss Grace") within the text, noting their negative connotations and exploring how they relate to Grace's actions and character.
What is Grace's "disgrace" according to the essay?
On a superficial level, Grace's disgrace refers to her act of stealing a scarf from Fiona McAllister. However, the essay suggests a deeper psychological layer to the story.
How does Grace justify her actions?
Grace attempts to justify her theft by rationalizing that she deserves the scarf because of the work she does for Fiona McAllister, such as hand-washing her clothes, changing her bed linens, and polishing her floor.
What is significant about Grace's inability to sleep after stealing the scarf?
Her inability to sleep highlights the conflict within her as she grapples with her conscience for the first time. She is "amazed" by her own ability to steal the scarf, suggesting a moral struggle.
How does the essay describe Grace's act of stealing the scarf?
The essay notes that Grace steals the scarf without hesitation, which could be interpreted as an act of malevolence. She immediately likes the scarf and steals it with no hesitation.
- Quote paper
- Rouven Dirb (Author), 2011, The role of the title in Zoë Wicomb's short story “Disgrace”, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/182846
