Posted by Xophe Andronicus on July 06, 19100 at 09:41:30:
Hello all.
I'm working on writing a play about Kierkegaard's life.
Actually, right now I'm working on this section about Regine...
I noticed Robert Scott's question from long ago went unanswered,
so I thought I'd resurrect it.
I have a couple of ideas. One I picked up in some book
(I think it was Palmer's Kierkegaard for beginners)
There is the possibility that, although SK wanted Regine to be
happy and wanted to free her to fall in love again,
he was still quite jealous when she became engaged to Fritz Schlegel.
My own personal interpretation could easily tie in with this.
I think that for a guy like SK, one is constantly engaged in trying to intepret or divine God's plan
for one's life. When he broke with Regine, he was convinced
that this was necessary to follow through on his mission.
Now, although SK was a man of faith and willing to sacrifice
much, this doesn't preclude moments of doubt from creeping in.
In the months and years after the break was finalized,
one still finds oneself wondering if it was really all
that necessary. Thinking perhaps how much less lonely
he would be. Is it really better to be melancholy
and productive than happy and normal?
Look, here is what I am trying to say, and I won't hide the fact that I am drawing inferences based on my own experience.
SK must have questioned whether his interpretation of God's plan for him
was based on God or based on something psychological. Perhaps some ambition of his,
and perhaps some real difficulty with personal intimacy. So we catch him wondering... in a sense...
that if he had really communicated with God, he would have not found a veto. Perhaps the "veto" was his own reaction, his fear of
not being productive, of having to disclose too much of himself,... so
"if I had faith"... he wouldn't have reacted to violently and singlemindedly? Who knows? I become less certain as I write.
Any other intepretations? The original message is below...
Posted by Robert Scott on April 22, 1998 at 03:31:50:
Kierkegaard wrote in his journals that it was necessary
for him and Regina not to get married in order for him
to complete his mission (restoring Christianity into
Christendom). He makes this point several times.
Why does he later write "If I had faith I would have
remained with Regina"?
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