Introduction
The Assault Summary And Themes By Harry Mulisch The Assault (De Aanslag), written by Dutch author Harry Mulisch and published in 1982, is a deeply layered novel that explores the lingering effects of World War II on individuals and society. Set in the Netherlands, the story delves into the aftermath of a brutal wartime incident and its profound impact on the protagonist, Anton Steenwijk. Spanning several decades, the novel intricately weaves together personal trauma, collective guilt, and the search for truth.
The novel begins with a seemingly straightforward narrative: a Nazi collaborator is assassinated outside Anton’s home, leading to catastrophic consequences for his family. However, as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the incident is a microcosm of the broader moral ambiguities and complexities of war. Mulisch masterfully examines themes such as memory, justice, and the interplay between personal and historical narratives.
Summary of The Assault
Prologue: The Incident
The story begins in Haarlem, Netherlands, in January 1945, during the final months of World War II. The Steenwijk family lives in a quiet neighborhood, largely untouched by the war. One night, a Nazi collaborator named Ploeg is assassinated outside their home. The assassins leave Ploeg’s body in front of the Steenwijk house.
The Nazis retaliate with brutal efficiency. Anton’s parents and brother, Peter, are executed, and their home is burned to the ground. Anton, only 12 years old, is taken into custody but is later released. He is sent to live with his aunt and uncle in Amsterdam, forever marked by the traumatic loss of his family.
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Part 1: The Immediate Aftermath
Anton’s early years are consumed by grief and confusion. He struggles to understand why his family was targeted and who was responsible for Ploeg’s assassination. His interactions with others are tinged with the shadow of his past, and he avoids discussing the tragedy, preferring to bury his pain.
Part 2: Post-War Rebuilding and Encounters
As Anton grows older, he attempts to build a normal life. He studies medicine, marries, and becomes an anesthesiologist. Despite his efforts to move on, the events of that fateful night continue to haunt him.
Over the years, Anton encounters individuals connected to the incident, each offering new pieces of the puzzle. He learns about the motivations of the resistance fighters who assassinated Ploeg and the role of his neighbors, the Kortewegs, who moved the body in front of his home. These revelations force Anton to confront the moral complexities of war and the blurred lines between heroism and culpability.
Part 3: Confronting the Past
In the 1950s and 1960s, Anton’s encounters become increasingly significant. He meets Karin, the daughter of the resistance fighters, and Fake Ploeg, the son of the assassinated Nazi collaborator. These interactions challenge Anton’s understanding of justice and guilt. Fake Ploeg, in particular, accuses Anton of benefiting from his father’s death while dismissing the suffering it caused others.
Part 4: Final Revelation
In the 1980s, during an anti-nuclear demonstration, Anton has a chance meeting with Truus Coster, a resistance fighter who was involved in the assassination of Ploeg. Truus provides Anton with the final pieces of the puzzle, revealing the motivations behind the attack and the circumstances that led to his family’s destruction.
Through these revelations, Anton comes to terms with the complexity of the incident. He realizes that no one party can bear the full burden of guilt or innocence. The novel ends with Anton achieving a semblance of closure, though the scars of his past remain.
Themes in The Assault
1. The Burden of Memory
Memory is a central theme in the novel, as Anton grapples with the weight of his past. Mulisch examines how personal and collective memories shape individuals and societies. Anton’s reluctance to confront his trauma reflects the broader tendency to suppress painful histories, while his eventual reckoning symbolizes the necessity of confronting the past to achieve understanding.
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2. Moral Ambiguity in War
The novel challenges simplistic notions of good and evil. The resistance fighters, while heroic in their opposition to the Nazis, inadvertently cause the destruction of Anton’s family. Similarly, Ploeg, the Nazi collaborator, is humanized through his grieving son, Fake. Mulisch forces readers to confront the moral complexities of war, where actions have unintended consequences and no one emerges unscathed.
3. Justice and Guilt
The concept of justice is explored through Anton’s search for truth and his interactions with those connected to the incident. The novel questions whether true justice can ever be achieved in the aftermath of war, as guilt is often shared and the lines between victim and perpetrator are blurred.
4. The Interplay of Personal and Historical Narratives
Mulisch illustrates how individual lives are shaped by historical events. The assassination of Ploeg serves as a microcosm of the larger conflict, highlighting how personal tragedies intersect with the broader currents of history. Anton’s journey reflects the struggle to reconcile personal pain with historical understanding.
5. Resilience and Healing
Despite the overwhelming trauma he experiences, Anton’s ability to build a life for himself speaks to the resilience of the human spirit. The novel emphasizes the importance of seeking truth and understanding as a path to healing, even if complete closure remains elusive.
(FAQ)
1. Why is the novel called The Assault?
The title refers to the Nazi retaliation against Anton’s family following the assassination of Ploeg. However, it also symbolizes the assault on Anton’s innocence and the long-lasting impact of that night on his life.
2. What is the significance of Anton’s profession as an anesthesiologist?
Anton’s choice of profession reflects his desire to numb pain, both physical and emotional. It serves as a metaphor for his attempts to suppress his traumatic memories and avoid confronting his past.
3. How does Mulisch portray the resistance fighters?
Mulisch presents the resistance fighters as complex individuals driven by moral convictions but not immune to making mistakes. Their actions, though aimed at justice, lead to unintended consequences, highlighting the moral ambiguity of their choices.
4. What role does Fake Ploeg play in the novel?
Fake Ploeg serves as a foil to Anton, offering a contrasting perspective on the incident. While Anton represents the innocent victim, Fake embodies the complexities of inherited guilt and the struggle to reconcile with a parent’s actions.
5. How does the novel address the theme of collective guilt?
The novel suggests that guilt is rarely confined to one individual or group. The actions of the resistance fighters, the Kortewegs, and the Nazis all contribute to the tragedy, reflecting the shared culpability inherent in war.
6. Why does Anton avoid discussing his past?
Anton’s reluctance to discuss his past reflects his inability to process his trauma. By suppressing his memories, he hopes to shield himself from pain, though this ultimately prevents him from achieving closure.
7. What is the significance of the final revelation?
The final revelation provides Anton with a deeper understanding of the events that shaped his life. While it does not absolve anyone of guilt, it allows him to see the complexity of the situation and find some measure of peace.
