Longing for innocence
Only the present is dreadful
In the last issue of The New York Review of Books J.M. Coetzee reviews Nooteboom’s novel “Lost Paradise”. (This issue of the New York Review of Books is not yet online.) The review is not without hints of criticism but the overall tone is positive.
The biggest praise is heaped on Nooteboom’s previous novel “All Souls Day” – according to Coetzee Nooteboom’s “most ambitious project” and “at least for half its length – his most impressive”.
“All Souls Day” nor “Lost Paradise” made a huge impression on me. I still think that “Rituals” is Nooteboom’s best novel by far.
Maybe I’m not very sensitive to angels, which play an important role in “Lost Paradise” and to a lesser degree in “All Souls Day”.
The question of angels is the question of innocence, or at least the longing for lost innocence. This longing is foreign to me. (Although I agree that you can long for an innocent being to love. But there is no sexual relation possible with the innocent being, for sex is never innocent.)
I do sympathize with what W.G. Sebald said in an interview: “But at least about the past you can have certain illusions.”
So we have illusions about the past, sometimes angel-like illusions, probably we have illusions about the future as well. (Why continue living without illusions about the future?) It’s only the present that is dreadful and disappointing.
Innocent longing
Arnon, you say that the longing for lost innocence is foreign to you. But to me, all longing is an act of innocence. Whether it is the longing of a lone monk for fabulous exploding sex or of a vicious murderer for brutal bloody killing - it all departs from the illusion or temporary innocence that it will render a kind of satisfaction that reality is never able to deliver. Or to put it differently: all human beings are by nature innocent, irrespective of their acts, because they all share an innocent longing to reach beyond the human race while they are bound to be part of human race.Or, as Nooteboom writes in one of my favourites:
"Wij zijn geboren om goden te worden, en om te sterven; dat is krankzinnig. Het tweede is alleen voor ons verschrikkelijk, omdat wij daardoor het eerste nooit kunnen bereiken. Maar het eerste is voor de anderen iets vreselijks. Een god is iets vreselijks, omdat hij volmaakt is. En nergens is de mens zo bang voor als voor het volmaakte, en het vreemde, dat is: een weerschijn der goddelijkheid, die oneindige scala aan mogelijkheden, waaronder de vreemdste. Maar toch blijven wij altijd wel ergens steken, het is hard dat toe te moeten geven."
(Oncle talking to Philip in 'Philip en de anderen')
innocence
The word innocence bears no sexual connotation for me.What Annette Jansen says I like to refer to, as what I call, the ‘innocence of evil’.
When I think of Innocence I see straightforwardness as we observe within children (and animals). Although I think there is a thin line between innocence and ruse, also within children and even within animals.
The connection between innocence and absence of sexuality is a malicious illusion.
Jt
Yes. That connection is a very Christian one. Why should sexuality imply guilt?Although a certain use of sexuality can of course imply guilt. But guilt should not be limited to sexuality. The use of power, money, etc can also imply guilt or at least a reflection.
My old professor Jaap Kruithof (university of Ghent, now retired) wrote a lot about the subjects of moral questions.
Joep
I suppose that angels don't have sex.Joep
I don’t think sex is an innocent activity, as let’s say taking a stroll can be an innocent activity, nevertheless this does not imply at all that one should by definition feel guilty about sexual activity.The absence of innocence does not always lead to guilt or worse gratuitous feelings of guilt.
Annette
I don’t see how all longing is innocent. I’m not sure what the word “innocence” means in this constellation. I have a weak spot for Nooteboom, but I could not stand “Philip and the others” – I found the book with al respect almost unbearable.illusions about the future
ArnonCan we live without hoping that one day we will be famous, happy, really in love, in peace, rich, holy, free...? Although these expectations are false we cherish
them to be able to live today. Or am I wrong?
@ Vera
I don't want to be rich or famous, it sounds to much like hassle to me.I have lost my work, my beauty and a small fortune, wich I really don't mind and still ,for the very first time, in my life, because of my current occupations - my artwork- I feel at ease with myself .
Vera
If you are Dutch, read De asielzoeker and you will have your answer.Mieke
I like your answer. If I ever organize a Cheese Fondue then you are on my list.Even Beck (De asielzoeker) has illusions.
Illusions sometimes do realise, at least for a while.
Yes. For a while.
We don't panic: we keep illusions in reserve.
Vera
Yes, the illusion that living is possible without illusions. If thats what you mean.Yes, more or less.
