Marnus’s Silence in Relation to Afrikaner Politics, Ideologies, and Hegemonic Masculine Identity Anonymous College

Within Mark Behr’s The Smell of Apples, the notions and ideologies of Afrikaner identity is perpetuated through hegemonic masculinity. This asserts that “between [Frikkie, Johan and Marnus] the secret [of Frikkie’s rape] will always be safe”. Focusing on Marnus’s complicity in the violent raping of Frikkie, this essay will interrogate the symbolic significance of Marnus’s silence in relation to the discourse of Afrikaner politics, ideologies and hegemonic masculine identity. Firstly, this essay will interrogate the identity of male Afrikaner’s during South Africa’s apartheid regime. Furthermore, it will discuss the concept of hegemonic masculinity. Secondly, this essay will discuss how homosocial bonding and homophobia influences the development of the Afrikaner identity. Lastly, this essay will interrogate why Marnus is complicit in the violent rape of his friend Frikkie by remaining silent.

Lindsay Banco (n.d: 31) states that the masculine violence which is exerted onto Frikkie’s body “resulted from [Johan’s] desire for the prohibited”. One begins to question if the rape of Frikkie is an exploration of homosexuality, homoeroticism or masculinity? Heteronormativity is the assertion of heterosexuality as the norm for all...