Life and Times of Michael K by JM Coetzee ingeniously uses an allegorical strategy to discuss the perils African Americans faced from colonialism produced by European imperialists . It discusses these difficulties by describing the life of a fictional character named Michael and his continuing struggle to escape European brutality in society. It is important to note that Michael is not intended to be seen as a real character. It is simply a symbolic representation of something deeper, which differentiates it from the literal meaning of the text. Coetzee takes the reader on an adventure, only to discover that there is no logical escape from the exploitation in Michael's environment. As we begin the novel, we immediately learn that Michael was born with a cleft lip. Since his birth, this lip has labeled him an underdeveloped human being. He was wrongly characterized throughout his life as different and simple. These statements are false, but it's all he's ever known, so Michael learns to accept it. This disfigurement also affects his speech. Speech is a very important theme in the novel. He is a very intelligent individual, but his speech problems lead him to be institutionalized by society. Michael began to notice how he was treated because of his lip and understood where he was placed in the semiotic system. Sometimes he stays silent and pretends to be stupid in certain situations because he knew he could get away with it. This is the turning point in the novel where he begins to realize the corruption of his society and that his freedom was only an illusion. This leads Michael to flee to the mountains. While on the mountain, starvation is Michael's method of purifying himself from evil c...... middle of paper ...... arvation and speech. We learn that both themes held significant power for African Americans to rebel against Europeans during the Civil War. Flight was the only option to throw off the restrictions of colonial South Africa. Purification, cultivation, and domination were necessary in an attempt to recreate their culture. Although once hopeful, Michael becomes pessimistic and ultimately believes that evil will always outweigh good in life. At the end of the novel, he finds himself back where his journey began. This ending shows the dehumanization of African Americans during this time and the excursions that did not bear fruit. Works Cited Coetzee, JM Life & Times of Michael K. New York: Penguin, 1983. Print. Fanon, Frantz. Black skin, white masks. New York: Grove, 2008. Print. Achebe, Chinua. Things are falling apart. New York: Anchor, 1994. Print.