Waiting for the Barbarians

"Waiting for the Barbarians" is a novel by J.M. Coetzee that explores themes of power, fear, and morality. Set in an unnamed colonial town, it follows a government magistrate who manipulates a narrative about threatening "barbarians" to justify harsh measures. As tensions rise, he begins to question the morality of the empire's actions and his own complicity. The story examines how authorities use fear to control society and how individuals grapple with loss of empathy and ethical boundaries in the face of injustice. It’s a reflection on the corrupting influence of power and the fragile nature of human morality.