Abstract
The sociological literature on romantic love has largely sought to explain its presence, by reference to historical causes, social structure, socio-economic functions or charismatic appeal. This chapter reverses this question by asking how, in the absence of romance discourse, young Murik men talk about courtship. Trends in marriage in the Pacific are discussed. An overview of the role of desire in the organization of Murik marriage is presented. The chapter employs the Bakhtinian concept of chronotope, which has to do with the construction of time and space in narrative. A Homeric chronotope of desire, in which desire is not overtly expressed, is then analyzed in several Murik courtship narratives. Courtship discourse, it is concluded, sheds light on an important dimension of masculine dialogue with Murik culture and modernity in Papua New Guinea (PNG).
Published Version
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