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Document Details : Title: Dualism of Voices Subtitle: Dialogues between Jews and Non-Jews in Robert Schindel's Novel 'Gebürtig' Author(s): KUNNE, A. Journal: Studia Rosenthaliana Volume: 36 Date: 2002-2003 Pages: 225-236 DOI: 10.2143/SR.36.0.504924 Abstract : Although the early writings of Robert Schindel foreshadow his later work, the author focuses on the 1993 novel Gebürtig. As a postwar- or second-generation writer Schindel attracted much attention with this novel, which is usually interpreted as an exemplification of the problematic relation between Jews and non-Jews in intellectual and artictic circles in Austria and Germany. These two groups are divided by the past, which prevents any real friendship or love and understanding between them. Yet there is a mutual attraction which resukts in repeated attempts at communication. Significantly it is in the language of the speakers that this rift between Jews and non-Jews becomes apparent. Both have their own linguistic codes coloured by the past, a dualism that reveals the different voices of the victims and the perpetrators. The following stylistic analysis describes the different codes as well as of the way in which they lead to semantic ambiguities when confronted by one another. But first, the author gives a summary of what happens in the novel, showing the dual sturcture which permeates the plot as well as the linguistic codes. |
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