Age of Iron Notes

This essay offers an in-depth analysis of J.M. Coetzee’s ‘Age of Iron,’ a poignant narrative set against the waning days of apartheid South Africa. It explores the novel’s rich tapestry of characters, each symbolizing different facets of a society grappling with a deeply entrenched system of racial segregation. Through a detailed examination of Mrs. Curren’s symbolic representation of complicit white citizenry, Vercueil’s role as an agent of change, and Bheki’s embodiment of youthf...

This essay offers an in-depth analysis of J.M. Coetzee’s ‘Age of Iron,’ a poignant narrative set against the waning days of apartheid South Africa. It explores the novel’s rich tapestry of characters, each symbolizing different facets of a society grappling with a deeply entrenched system of racial segregation. Through a detailed examination of Mrs. Curren’s symbolic representation of complicit white citizenry, Vercueil’s role as an agent of change, and Bheki’s embodiment of youthf...