nrc.nl
Bernlef's "De man in het midden": A Personal Reflection on Loss and Legacy
The author recounts discovering and rediscovering J. Bernlef's "De man in het midden", detailing their personal connection to the book's exploration of the grandfather's methodical life, communist beliefs shattered by the 1956 Hungarian Uprising, and his subsequent emotional decline.
- What specific details in Bernlef's "De man in het midden" reveal the impact of the 1956 Hungarian Uprising on the grandfather's life and subsequent emotional state?
- The author describes finding a copy of J. Bernlef's "De man in het midden" (The Man in the Middle) in a train station bookstore, a book deeply personal to them due to its exploration of the grandfather's life. The book, published in 1982, focuses on the grandfather's meticulous nature and communist beliefs, shaken by the 1956 Hungarian Uprising, impacting his later life.
- How does the grandfather's meticulous record-keeping, exemplified by lists and precise measurements, contrast with his emotional life and the book's exploration of memory?
- The narrative reveals the grandson's intimate connection to the book, reflecting on the grandfather's precise and methodical life, contrasted with his emotional vulnerability revealed after his wife's death in 1956 and the subsequent disillusionment with his communist ideals. This emotional shift foreshadows Bernlef's later work, "Hersenschimmen".
- What broader implications does the absence of the distance to the exterior door in the grandfather's final list suggest about the nature of memory, life, and legacy as depicted in the novel?
- Bernlef's "De man in het midden" offers a poignant exploration of memory and legacy, highlighting the tension between meticulous documentation of a life and the emotional depths hidden beneath a carefully ordered surface. The missing distance to the exterior door in the grandfather's final list symbolizes the incompleteness of understanding even after meticulous record-keeping.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The narrative is framed through the lens of the reviewer's personal experience and emotional response to the book. This subjective perspective shapes the reader's understanding by emphasizing personal feelings rather than objective analysis. The introduction highlights the reviewer's strong emotional attachment to the book and author.
Language Bias
The language used is largely descriptive and evocative, reflecting the reviewer's personal feelings. While not overtly biased, words like "unforgettable," "dierbaar" (dear), and "aangrepen" (moved) inject subjective opinions. More neutral alternatives could be used for a more objective review.
Bias by Omission
The review focuses heavily on the author's personal connection to the book and the details of the grandfather's life, potentially omitting critical analysis of the book's literary merit or broader themes. There is no mention of reviews from other sources or critical commentary on the book's impact or reception. This omission might limit a reader's ability to form a complete understanding of the book's significance.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights the importance of preserving and passing down knowledge and memories through generations, aligning with the SDG target of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all. The act of the grandson reading and cherishing his grandfather's books and reflections embodies this principle.