Geen held maar een pechvogel. De meervoudige travestie in Arnon Grunbergs Onze oom

Samenvatting

The novel Onze oom (Our uncle 2008) by Arnon Grunberg is closely connected to Greek tragedy and tragic theory. Grunberg’s dramatic plot line concerning major Anthony resembles that of Sophocles’ Antigone. Therefore, Anthony should be analysed as a tragic hero whose downfall can be explained by the Aristotelian idea of hamartia. Furthermore Onze oom reveals a tragic conflict between the individual and a divine order. Moreover, the novel imitates the trial of Adolf Eichmann. This article proves that both these fictional and non-fictional intertexts share the idea of the tragic and common functions – the intertextuality in Onze oom conveys prefigurative and moral functions.