The qualities of the main characters in Marlene van Niekerk‟s
Afrikaans novel “Agaat” (2004) are often emphasised by the
use of references to classical, folk and sacred music. As religious
songs constitute an integral part of the Afrikaans community,
it is fitting to include references to the texts of psalms,
hymns and hallelujah hymns in an Afrikaans novel set on a
farm. The novel makes extensive use of such references to
portray the characters and their context. These references form
one of the most important means of characterisation in the
novel. The texts are often used by the characters in a harsh and
ironic way – and without respect for the religious content – but
there are also some touching situations in which the original
religious context is retained.
Die eienskappe van die hoofkarakters in "Agaat" (2004), 'n roman van Marlene van Niekerk, word telkens deur middel van verwysings na klassieke, volks- en gewyde musiek na vore gebring. Aangesien gewyde liedere 'n onmiskenbare deel van die Afrikaanse samelewing vorm, is dit gepas om verwysings na die woordtekste van psalms, gesange en hallelujaliedere in 'n Afrikaanse plaasroman in te sluit. Marlene van Niekerk maak in "Agaat" ruim van sulke verwysings gebruik om die karakters en hulle konteks te skets. Dit vorm een van die belangrikste karakteriseringsmiddels in die roman. Die tekste word dikwels skerp, ironiserend en sonder respek vir die godsdienstige inhoud daarvan deur die karakters gebruik, maar daar is ook roerende situasies waarin die oorspronklike religieuse konteks behou word.
