Abstract
The four stories in Die sneeuslaper by Marlene van Niekerk all contain a ‘narrative argument’ about the meaning of life and art. The article is about the role of mysticism in the ‘argument’. It is impossible to give an exhaustive definition of ‘mysticism’, but some characteristics mentioned by seminal studies on mysticism are mentioned. At the heart of mysticism, there seems to be a union with the Absolute – an indescribable experience. Mysticism, like trauma, shatters the world in its familiar guise; both phenomena are overwhelming, and they cannot be expressed by conventional language. In Die sneeuslaper, we find a connection between trauma, mysticism and creativity. The main characters go through a traumatic process in which they take leave of their familiar worlds, in search of a mystical reality, more pure than the reality of every day. By entering this ‘higher’ reality, the creative person is liberated from conventional language and thought and starts to penetrate into the essence of things. It is a process with a liminal structure developing in three stages: It begins with the departure from the familiar world, which leads to transformation and finally to a return with the fruits of creativity.
Highlights
Die vier verhale in Die sneeuslaper van Marlene van Niekerk bevat elk ’n ‘narratiewe betoog’ oor die sin van kuns en lewe
Dit is ’n liminale reis wat in drie fases verloop: Dit begin met die vertrek uit die samelewing, wat lei tot transformasie en uiteindelik tot ’n terugkeer met die vrugte van die kreatiewe proses
The article is about the role of mysticism in the ‘argument’
Summary
Om te skryf oor die onbeskryflike: Verlies en mistieke verlange in Die sneeuslaper van Marlene van Niekerk. Mistiek word onder andere gekenmerk deur eenwording met die Absolute – ’n ervaring wat nie in woorde weergegee kan word nie. Soos trauma, word gekenmerk deur die verbrokkeling van ’n bekende wêreld. Expressing the indescribable: Mystic desire and loss in Die sneeuslaper by Marlene van Niekerk. The main characters go through a traumatic process in which they take leave of their familiar worlds, in search of a mystical reality, more pure than the reality of every day By entering this ‘higher’ reality, the creative person is liberated from conventional language and thought and starts to penetrate into the essence of things. Dit is ’n term wat minder ‘besmet’ is en wat ook ’n beter aanduiding gee van die tipe religieuse ervaring waarvan daar in hierdie boek sprake is.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
