The search for God in N.P. Van Wyk Louw’s “Groot ode”

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Abstract

The existence of N.P. Van Wyk Louw’s struggle with God is well known. From his earliest volume of poetry, Alleenspraak, many poems dealt with his struggle with God. This struggle is exposed in detail in the anthology Die halwe kring. The poem “Die profeet” in particular has implications for this search for God. In Tristia, his final volume of poetry, he takes the theme to new heights.

The poem “Groot ode” in particular has many implications for the quest for God. The central research question of this article is Louw’s focus on questions about God. It also explores the implications of this poem for theological beliefs. In terms of reception theory, it is possible to read a text from different perspectives.

When one reads “Groot ode”, different perspectives include aspects such as the musicality of the poem as an ode; personal matters as the source of the poem, especially as suggested by Van Vuuren (1989); the aspects of reading the poem from the perspective of other texts (intertextuality), as suggested by Van Vuuren (1989) and Hambidge (1997); a poem about poetry as such (“ars poetica”), as suggested by Lindenberg (1991); and a poem about the Divinity, a religious encounter searching for God, as suggested by Olivier (2008), Kannemeyer (1988), Pretorius (1979) and Van Rensburg (1975a en 1975b).

Many themes are put forward in the poem to reflect on the search for God. Although humans are regarded as despicable, the poem has an open ending. It speaks about the struggle of understanding human endeavours in the light of God’s reality and human existence. Entering death is regarded as more beneficial than to roam the city, which is regarded as inhuman. Many metaphors explain the struggles experienced in the city. There is no rest in the city and humans are part of the masses. However, it is the search for love and God that has profound religious implications. The reference in the poem to Christ who has died only “last night” is strong and severe but also wonderful. There is knowledge about Christ and his death, but not about a personal God and about being in a relationship with this God. No other god may be honoured, as God alone expects honour and worship. God’s word brings supernovae into existence. A refrain in the poem reiterates that the implications of love are unknown. It is impossible to find the true aspect of love. The sign of love is negated.

The question of pain also receives attention. If God does not know pain, such a God would not be acceptable in the poet’s view. Not much is, however, known of the relationship with God. There may be a longing for God, but also uncertainty about how we may know God. Humans are powerless before God. There are signs of God, but no clear revelation.

The concept of the cave is also important in this poem. It represents the history of humanity. The human enters the cave while searching for signs to name God. Searching for God in the cave is searching for the essence of humanity.

Lastly, humans are regarded as unable to come into their full potential. There are many facets in knowing God, and their intense struggle with God has theological implications.

The question is whether the poem is about God and whether Louw can be regarded as a Christian poet. Although “Groot ode” does ask the questions about God, it does not provide a theological explanation, but rather the idea of an artistically inspired search for God.

In this article the view of Jonker (1991) is regarded as more acceptable than that of Van Rensburg (1975a). Van Rensburg is of the opinion that Louw’s poetry provides sufficient evidence of a deep Christian conviction. However, Louw does not come to an agreement with God. His struggle continues in “Groot ode”. Jonker is of the opinion that although Louw does use religious language, it is not used in a deeply Christian sense. Even the word God is not always used in a Christian sense. According to his own words, Louw wishes to find the essence of the Divinity for himself. Louw wants to be before God and understand what truth is.

This interpretation concludes with an analysis of some Biblical passages that shed more light on the poem and illustrates a different approach from that of Louw. In his letter to the Romans Paul states that God reveals Himself. Humans, who are radically sinful, need God’s salvation. God reveals the knowledge of ourselves and of God as the generous God who is full of grace. This concept of free grace is explained by Barth (1975:29–30):

Thus the knowledge of God can be understood only as the bestowal and reception of this free grace of God. And finally, because in this act of His free grace God makes Himself object to us and makes us knowers of Himself, the knowledge of this object cannot be fulfilled in neutrality, but only in our relationship to this act, and therefore only in an act, the act which is the decision of obedience to Him.

The question must be asked whether literature is in itself a revelation. However, God is not unknowable. Although the main voice in “Groot ode” is searching for God and asking questions about humans in their relation with God, it is not a revelation in itself. Theology reiterates the revelation of God: the revelation of God is clear in His grace and love, and it is possible to know God because God revealed Himself. Louw, on the other hand, remains uncertain about the relationship between humans and God. He longs for death without the concept of eternal life.

Keywords: “Groot ode”; humans as loathsome; readings; searching for God; struggle with God

Lees die volledige artikel in Afrikaans: Die soeke na God in “Groot ode” van N.P. Van Wyk Louw.

 

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