Geloofwaardigheid as epiese beginsel in die prosa van Eugène N. Marais

Abstract

There is a pronounced effort towards credibility in Marais' s prose works - often even somewhat too marked. The reason for this is, among other things, the singularity of events depicted in these works. These events are often characterised as exceptional by the narrators themselves - a procedure by which a reaction of disbelief is somewhat counteracted. The characters in Marais's narrations are sometimes equally exceptional, the exceptional nature of the narrative matter presupposing such characters - in order to appear credible. Events in Marais's narrative prose are often typified by dramatical concepts, thus creating the impression that the narrator himself was present and acted as spectator. This stylistic feature thus also serves to create an atmosphere of credibility. For the same reason Marais more often than not uses a very honest and truthful person as narrator, whose levelheadedness is very conspicuous in the wonderful tales. Another technique used by Marais to increase the credibility of his stories, is that of using an intelligent and/or learned and/or scientific narrator. This also explains his tendency to give "scientific" explanations for the events. The erudition of these narrators is then demonstrated by making them use "learned" or "cultural" expressions or words. Apart from this they also act as eye and ear- witnesses in the events they are telling about. But in his fictional world we also find one or more of the characters (other than the narrator) acting as eye and ear- witnesses. They, too, are generally very intelligent and sober. Flights of imagination, dreams, the supernatural and integrated pieces of "fiction" are often used in contrast to the "reality" in a particular tale, in order to create the· impression that the fictitious elements of the story are in fact real.