Smell of Apples

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“The Smell of Apples” written by Mark Behr is a novel where the blatant ideology of the antagonist is forced upon the main character's opinions and outlook he has on life. An ideology is a structure of beliefs, both social as well as political, that are upheld by a specific person or a group of people. In the book, the author explores the obvious male-dominated ideology of white, Afrikaans culture which was evident during the Apartheid era in South Africa before 1994.  The novel is set in two contrasting intervals, the first being in 1974 and the other occurring later during the South African Border War. Mark Behr’s novel regards a young, white boy growing up in False Bay (1974) and subsequently draws to an end when the same boy dies in the war in Angola as a product of his father's authority which was consistently present throughout the duration of his childhood development.

The author uses  Marnus and his bond with his father to illustrate the effects of how indoctrination of an ideology from a young age can alter a person’s outlook on life. Regarding the novel and the article titled “ The Smell of Apples, Moby-Dick, and Apartheid Ideology"  by Rita Barnard,  it is evident Marnus ultimately resists the power of his father's ideology.

The predominant idea of the young boy’s weakening identity is evident when Johan addresses Marnus and how he reacts to Marnus during the fishing scene. It is also visible in the scene when Marnus finally concedes his father’s authority over his life and accepts that his cultural view as completely over- powering and unnecessary. In the early chapters of “The Smell of Apples,”  Marnus’s identity is controlled by his father.  Marnus begins the story with the words of his father. “My name is really Marnus, but when Dad speaks to me he mostly says ‘my son' or ‘my little bull’” (Behr, 1) already make the reader conscious of the father’s ownership of the identity development of his son.

In her article, Rita Barnard explains the novel as “Concerned with mirrors” as well as “doubling, recognitions and misrecognitions” (212). This association is a direct link to the main concept of the son’s inability to formulate his own opinions and loss of being an individual due to his father’s indoctrinations. In Barnard's aforementioned statement, there are two main points to be made regarding Marnus's identity. In the words of Barnard, it is stated that the novel is “mirrors, as well with doubling” (212 - 213). This idea is executed by the General as well due to his constant comparison of the similarity between Marnus and his father. Marnus is said to be a “photocopy” ( Behr, 35)  as well when the general misidentifies Johan as Marnus in a scene of warfare. This is a further example of indirect brainwashing of the male-dominated society which the boy is a part of (Behr, 169).

Marnus is in an atmosphere of constant violence and war which is a visible attribute associated with Johan. The visiting general furthers the indoctrination and encourages the young boy to fulfil his father's position. Here, by mentioning  Marnus as a “mirror” of his father, it places Marnus’s external character in a situation of male-dominance which, in the long run, will result in Marnus adopting Johan’s identity.

The statement by Barnard relates to “recognition” (212). In the book, Marnus overtly declares that his father only calls to him using ‘pet-names’ that maintain Johan's overbearing masculine beliefs. “My little bull" is the most frequently used name (Behr, 1). This name symbolises the philosophy Johan attempts to represent. It induces emotions of patriarchy as well as power, thus  aligning with the male dominant culture the father maintains over his family. By the father referring to Marnus as “my little bull”, it encourages Marnus to fulfil the position of  powerful, white, Afrikaans male as a later stage in his life. It is directly post the novel’s high point, when the young boy confirms his resistance against his father, that the father reiterates Marnus's predestined identity by referring to Marnus by his pet-name. After Marnus is abused by the father for opposing his commands, he says to Marnus that “Bulls don't cry” (Behr, 197). This shows again how he is shaping Marnus.

Other than his continuous efforts which extend his identity on to Marnus, he also reminds Marnus of his dominant role in the society regarding the actions he needs to fulfil. This is clearly seen in the fishing scene. Here Marnus struggles to catch a shark that exceeds his strength (Behr, 94 – 97). In the novel, it is evident that the boy’s “thin shoulders" (Behr, 135), will not overcome the power of the shark. This shows the Marnus is not as well-built as his father is. This scene and the father’s expectation of excellence leads to the dreadful incidents of the fishing scene.

Marnus is clearly drained and fatigued from the struggle with the shark. He states that his body is “tight like knots" and his legs feel “tired and shaky" (Behr, 92- 93). Despite exceeding his body’s boundaries, Marnus refuses the help of his Frikkie, a close friend. This is a direct parallel which  imitates the idea of independence seen in males, which his father symbolises without having to be present.

Marnus's identity is then aggravated when his father and the general arrive at the harbour. (Behr, 95). When Marnus realises their presence, he instantly acquires “strength" in order to fulfil the expectations arising from his father as well as the cultural role his father portrays. Marnus’s father compares the young boy’s weakness to his own strength by evidently demeaning his mannerisms. He criticizes Marnus and proceeds to shout at him. Marnus is told to “stand up straight” (Behr, 96). Johan does this to humiliate Marnus for the aim of Marnus acting the way his father wants him to in front of the General.