Coetzee's Clever Allegory

J. M. Coetzee’s Waiting for the Barbarians first struck me with its generalities. The allegorical aspects of the novel are infinitely strengthened by Coetzee’s decision to leave the characters (besides Colonel Joll) unnamed, the setting undefined, and the Empire unspecified. Perhaps the only clue we as readers are truly given as to the time period is the subtle reminders of Colonel Joll’s sunglasses. Nevertheless, the events described in Waiting for the Barbarians can be pictured taking place any time between the 1600s and the modern day. This intentional broad definition of the Empire allows us to see ourselves in each of the characters and recognize that the evils described could be perpetrated even by our own nation in this (as we like to think of it) modern and civilized era.

I also like the Magistrate’s thoughtful, sober, and introspective narration. I find him to be a very realistic character who is drawn clearly through not only his thoughts, but also his actions, and occasionally, a lack thereof. He is clearly working through a serious dilemma as he tries simultaneously to be a loyal servant to the Empire – and therefore the Colonel – even as he attempts to mitigate the havoc that Joll wreaks on the entire border area. The Magistrate is a simple, older man who does what he can to be compassionate to the prisoners and, in so doing, quietly defies the Empire. He truly wrestles with what to do with regard to the torture that is being committed in his domain. His loss of sleep and various attempts to shut out the horror of events does not make me dislike him. After all, he does his best. Yet he feels remorse for what is going on even when he does not have the ability to alter those events. The Magistrate is troubled by the idea of what the Empire stands for because he is an agent of the Empire. As the tension grows between the Magistrate and his conscience, between the two opposing agents of the Empire, and between the Magistrate and the barbarians, I find myself excitedly anticipating what will come next. Coetzee has captured my attention and I look forward to seeing how the novel will conclude.
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