Disgrace

by

J. M. Coetzee

Farodia Rassool Character Analysis

A professor in the Social Sciences department at David’s university. Along with Elaine Winter, Farodia is present when David is first called to Aram Hakim’s office to discuss Melanie’s sexual harassment allegations. This is because she is the chair of the university’s “committee on discrimination,” which is also why she attends David’s hearing with the disciplinary committee. During this second meeting, Farodia points out that David is ridiculing the entire process by pleading guilty to Melanie’s accusations without even bothering to learn what they are. Standing up against David’s arrogance, she states the obvious fact that he feels little to no remorse for what he has done. Despite these claims, though, David refuses to show any kind of genuine regret.

Farodia Rassool Quotes in Disgrace

The Disgrace quotes below are all either spoken by Farodia Rassool or refer to Farodia Rassool. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Desire and Power Theme Icon
).
Chapter 6 Quotes

We are again going round in circles, Mr Chair. Yes, he says, he is guilty; but when we try to get specificity, all of a sudden it is not abuse of a young woman he is confessing to, just an impulse he could not resist, with no mention of the pain he has caused, no mention of the long history of exploitation of which this is part. That is why I say it is futile to go on debating with Professor Lurie. We must take his plea at face value and recommend accordingly.

Related Characters: Farodia Rassool (speaker), David Lurie, Melanie Isaacs
Page Number: 51
Explanation and Analysis:

‘Very well. I took advantage of my position vis-à-vis Ms Isaacs. It was wrong, and I regret it. Is that good enough for you?’

‘The question is not whether it is good enough for me, Professor Lurie, the question is whether it is good enough for you. Does it reflect your sincere feelings?’

He shakes his head. ‘I have said the words for you, now you want more, you want me to demonstrate their sincerity. That is preposterous. That is beyond the scope of the law. I have had enough. Let us go back to playing it by the book. I plead guilty. That is as far as I am prepared to go.’

Related Characters: David Lurie (speaker), Farodia Rassool (speaker), Melanie Isaacs
Page Number: 51
Explanation and Analysis:
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Farodia Rassool Quotes in Disgrace

The Disgrace quotes below are all either spoken by Farodia Rassool or refer to Farodia Rassool. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Desire and Power Theme Icon
).
Chapter 6 Quotes

We are again going round in circles, Mr Chair. Yes, he says, he is guilty; but when we try to get specificity, all of a sudden it is not abuse of a young woman he is confessing to, just an impulse he could not resist, with no mention of the pain he has caused, no mention of the long history of exploitation of which this is part. That is why I say it is futile to go on debating with Professor Lurie. We must take his plea at face value and recommend accordingly.

Related Characters: Farodia Rassool (speaker), David Lurie, Melanie Isaacs
Page Number: 51
Explanation and Analysis:

‘Very well. I took advantage of my position vis-à-vis Ms Isaacs. It was wrong, and I regret it. Is that good enough for you?’

‘The question is not whether it is good enough for me, Professor Lurie, the question is whether it is good enough for you. Does it reflect your sincere feelings?’

He shakes his head. ‘I have said the words for you, now you want more, you want me to demonstrate their sincerity. That is preposterous. That is beyond the scope of the law. I have had enough. Let us go back to playing it by the book. I plead guilty. That is as far as I am prepared to go.’

Related Characters: David Lurie (speaker), Farodia Rassool (speaker), Melanie Isaacs
Page Number: 51
Explanation and Analysis: