Waiting for the Barbarians
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6
Themes
All Themes The Empire and Fear of the Other Torture, Inhumanity, and Civility Sexuality, Anxiety, and Old Age Truth, Power, and Recorded Reputation History and Time Independence, Duty, and Betrayal
Quotes
Characters
All Characters The Magistrate The Barbarian Girl Colonel Joll Warrant Officer Mandel The Girl at the Inn The Two Soldiers The Barbarian Man The barbarian girl's father
Symbols
All Symbols The Magistrate’s Dream Blindness and Joll’s Sunglasses
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Waiting for the Barbarians

by J. M. Coetzee
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Introduction Intro
Plot Summary Plot
Summary & Analysis
  • Chapter 1
  • Chapter 2
  • Chapter 3
  • Chapter 4
  • Chapter 5
  • Chapter 6
Themes
  • All Themes
  • The Empire and Fear of the Other Theme Icon
    The Empire and Fear of the Other
  • Torture, Inhumanity, and Civility Theme Icon
    Torture, Inhumanity, and Civility
  • Sexuality, Anxiety, and Old Age Theme Icon
    Sexuality, Anxiety, and Old Age
  • Truth, Power, and Recorded Reputation Theme Icon
    Truth, Power, and Recorded Reputation
  • History and Time Theme Icon
    History and Time
  • Independence, Duty, and Betrayal Theme Icon
    Independence, Duty, and Betrayal
Quotes
Characters
  • All Characters
  • The Magistrate
  • The Barbarian Girl
  • Colonel Joll
  • Warrant Officer Mandel
  • The Girl at the Inn
  • The Two Soldiers
  • The Barbarian Man
  • The barbarian girl's father
Symbols
  • All Symbols
  • The Magistrate’s Dream Symbol Icon
    The Magistrate’s Dream
  • Blindness and Joll’s Sunglasses Symbol Icon
    Blindness and Joll’s Sunglasses
Theme Wheel Theme Viz
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Download the Teacher Edition
Download this Chart (PDF)

Waiting for the Barbarians Study Guide

It's easy to cite LitCharts for use in academic papers and reports.


MLA

Iffland, William. "Waiting for the Barbarians." LitCharts. LitCharts LLC, 31 Mar 2017. Web. 14 Jan 2026.


Chicago

Iffland, William. "Waiting for the Barbarians." LitCharts LLC, March 31, 2017. Retrieved January 14, 2026. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/waiting-for-the-barbarians.

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