In this article I explore the idea expressed by philosophers and social geographers
such as Henri Lefebvre, Edward Soja, and Henk van Houtum that “space” is a social
construct; that the space in which a society exists and of which it consists is shaped
by that society itself, and that specific locations are assigned to each of the members
of the community. I discuss how the dominant spaces in society are shaped by those
in positions of authority according to their own ideologies so as to ensure social order
and their continued empowerment within the social structure. Additionally, I suggest
that it is possible for those who do not conform to social norms, and who are
consequently cast into dominated spaces, to undermine the authority of those in
positions of power by embracing their marginalised state, and thereby to generate
new spaces they can inhabit. I explore these ideas in relation to Emily Brontë’s
Wuthering Heights and its depiction and examination of central nineteenth-century
ideas and anxieties about death and the different areas allocated to the dead.
In hierdie artikel ondersoek ek die idee, verwoord deur filosowe en sosiale geograwe
soos Henri Lefebvre, Edward Soja en Henk van Houtum, dat “ruimte” ’n sosiale
skepping is; dat die ruimte waarin ’n gemeenskap geleë is en waaruit dit bestaan
deur die samelewing self gevorm word en dat spesifieke ruimtes aan elk van die lede
van die gemeenskap toegeken word. Ek bespreek hoe die dominante spasies in die
samelewing deur dié in posisies van outoriteit in ooreenstemming met hul eie
ideologieë geskep word om sosiale orde en die voortbestaan van hul eie mag binne
die sosiale struktuur te verseker. Ek voer ook aan dat dit moontlik is vir dié wat nie by
sosiale norme hou nie en wat gevolglik in ruimtes van onderdrukking gewerp word
om die outoriteit van dié in magsposisies te ondermyn en sodoende nuwe ruimtes vir
hulself te skep. Ek ondersoek hierdie idees ten opsigte van Emily Brontë se
Wuthering Heights en dié teks se uitbeelding en ondersoeking van kern
negentiende-eeuse idees en vrese met betrekking tot die dood en die verskeie areas
wat aan die dooies toegeken word.
