Light in Darkness

Light in Darkness

Through the novel The Assault by Harry Mulisch and translated by Claire Nicolas White, the idea of hope, evil and good is developed using the imagery of light versus dark. This motif is used to explain how the characters in the book feel during this time of great warfare. This is an especially dominant topic in the first episode of this novel.

Following the murder of Fake ploeg, the innocent and confused Anton os brought to a cell, and the motif of light and dark is discussed. In this pitch black cell with a mysterious, wise, and calming girl a“strip of light under the door” becomes apparent, and is the only light to be seen(35). This use of imagery help the reader understand just how much evil is around them, and how little how they have. The faint light shown in this example is a symbol of the good in the surroundings, since there's not much is reflects how bad times where. Mulisch use of complete darkness here expands the idea of horrid living conditions one would have experienced in this time period. This mysterious attempts to calm Anton, and take his mind of off what he just witnessed by, “Just [imagining] a lot of light”(38). The mysterious girl becomes successful in calming Anton by using imagery of a brighter time, or a happier time. This use of imagery causes Anton to rationalize his thought, and be ready for the tremendously difficult future that will pursue. In this same discussion, the girl asks about his family, that are still alive. He then tells a story of when he was lost in the dark