Mulisch en het onderwijs in de klassieke talen

This article analyzes the way Harry Mulisch, the well-known Dutch novelist, alludes to the study of Greek and Latin texts in school, and more broadly, to classical texts. Since Mulisch himself never went to the Gymnasium, and therefore did not study these classical languages in school, it is intriguing that he nevertheless obviously, and indeed, emphatically, derives inspiration from the classics, and creates scenes in which Gymnasium education plays a positive role. In this respect he is very different from two of his contemporaries, the authors Gerard Reve and W.F. Hermans who both did frequent Gymnasium schools, but express a rather hostile attitude towards this form of education, and to the classics in general.