Disgrace was written in 1999 by author JM Coetzee. Born in South Africa in 1940, Coetzee grew up during apartheid, which greatly influenced his writing (Nobelprize.org). Disgrace is set in a post-apartheid Cape Town where protagonist David Lurie is forced to resign after Melanie, a student, files a sexual abuse complaint against him. In this essay I will explore how David Lurie's views on masculinity are influenced by his idolatry of Lord Byron, and how this allows him to justify his immoral actions. The protagonist, David Lurie, a university professor, is particularly interested in Lord Byron; a poet known for his licentious lifestyle and an inspiration for the literary concept of "Byronic heroes". A Byronic hero is arrogant, intelligent, emotional, morally and typically flawed, and often sexually irresistible to women (Fleming). Lurie possesses many of these qualities, visible on the first page, as the omnipotent narrator describes Lurie's thoughts. He explains dryly how «for a man of his age, fifty-two years old, divorced, he has, in his opinion, solved the problem of sex rather well. Thursday afternoon goes to Green Point. Promptly at two in the afternoon he rings the doorbell at the entrance to Windsor Mansions, says his name and enters. Waiting for him at the door of number 113 is Soraya. (Coetzee 1) Lurie apparently has no regrets about dealing with the prostitute Soraya. He is satisfied with the way he addressed the “problem of sex” (1), perhaps implying that it is equivalent to buying food when you are hungry; that men need this itch to be scratched? It confuses the reader, as he shows warm feelings towards Soraya when he says, "I miss you all the time." He caresses her ass... in the center of the card... deeply and beautifully even though he seems to know that what he is doing is immoral. But not even guilt or shame are a force strong enough to alter Lurie's behavior. A man who has failed at most things, all he wants is to be the hero of his own life before his "grace period is almost over" (147). Works Cited Byron, Lord GG "The Corsair" Poem Hunter.com 2010. Network. 16 Dec 2013.Coetzee, JM Disgrace. England: Secker & Warburg, 1999. Print. .“Fleming, J. Educational portal “ Education-Portal.com. 2013. Web. 16 Dec 2013. "JM Coetzee - Biographical". Nobelprize.org. Nobel Media AB 2013. Web. 16 December 2013.