Die wisselwerking tussen ruimte, manlikheid en die skaduwee in Lente in Beijing en Die Dao van Daan van der Walt

Abstract

In this study the novels Lente in Beijing (Spring in Beijing, 2003) by Francois Loots and Die Dao van Daan van der Walt (The Dao of Daan van der Walt, 2018) by Lodewyk G. du Plessis are analysed in the framework of Jungian psychoanalytic criticism. I focus on how the process of individuation (where the shadow is integrated into consciousness) is expressed through the characters, along with the role of space and masculinity in this process. I investigate the novels in terms of the interplay between space, the discourses of masculinity within spaces in the novels, and how these discourses have an impact on the shadows of the two respective main characters, Gerhard and Daan. In both novels the shadow is expressed through complexes, projections, and dreams (mainly Daan) or visions (mainly Gerhard). In Lente in Beijing Gerhard suppresses aspects of his masculinity which are seen as negative by the women in his workspace even though it corresponds to the ideals of masculinity in the space(s) he grew up with. Consequently, Gerhard has a “less manly” persona and suffers from a victim complex mainly projected onto the women at his work. This complex also leads to a lack of accountability. In Die Dao van Daan van der Walt, in the Kalahari where Daan spends the most of his years, masculinity is mainly, and positively, linked with the Bible. Consequently, Daan suppresses his homosexuality, suffers from an inferiority complex and develops a very religious and intellectual persona. He projects his ideals of masculinity onto his son and his inferiority complex onto his wife. It is, however, mainly through his persona that he tries to protect his shadow. In both novels new spaces (specifically in China) provide the characters with more freedom or new ideas which helps them integrate their shadow, such as Gerhard having to take accountability and Daan broadening his faith framework to include his homosexuality.

In hierdie studie word die romans Lente in Beijing (2003) deur Francois Loots en Die Dao van Daan van der Walt (2018) deur Lodewyk G. du Plessis in die raamwerk van Jungiaanse psigoanalitiese kritiek ontleed. Ek fokus op hoe die proses van individuasie (waar die skaduwee in die bewuste geïntegreer word) deur die karakters uitgedruk word, tesame met die rol van ruimte en manlikheid in hierdie proses. Ek ondersoek die romans in terme van die wisselwerking tussen ruimte, die diskoerse van manlikheid binne ruimtes in die romans, en hoe hierdie diskoerse ’n impak het op die skaduwees van die twee onderskeie hoofkarakters, Gerhard en Daan. In beide romans word die skaduwee uitgedruk deur komplekse, projeksies en drome (hoofsaaklik Daan) of visioene (hoofsaaklik Gerhard). In Lente in Beijing onderdruk Gerhard aspekte van sy manlikheid wat deur die vroue in sy werkruimte as negatief beskou word al stem dit ooreen met die ideale van manlikheid in die ruimte(s) waarin hy grootgeword het. Gevolglik het Gerhard ’n “minder manlike” persona en ly hy aan ’n slagofferkompleks wat hy hoofsaaklik op die vroue by sy werk projekteer. Hierdie kompleks lei ook tot ’n gebrek aan aanspreeklikheid. In Die Dao van Daan van der Walt, in die Kalahari waar Daan die meeste van sy jare deurbring, word manlikheid hoofsaaklik, en positief, met die Bybel verbind. Gevolglik onderdruk Daan sy homoseksualiteit, ly hy aan ’n minderwaardigheidskompleks en ontwikkel ’n baie godsdienstige en intellektuele persona. Hy projekteer sy ideale van manlikheid op sy seun en sy minderwaardigheidskompleks op sy vrou. Dit is egter hoofsaaklik deur sy persona wat hy sy skaduwee probeer beskerm. In beide romans bied nuwe ruimtes (spesifiek in China) die karakters meer vryheid of nuwe idees wat hulle help om hul skaduwee te integreer, soos Gerhard wat verantwoordelikheid moet neem en Daan wat sy geloofsraamwerk verbreed om sy homoseksualiteit in te sluit.