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The Existential Meaning of the Art of Theatre in Kierkegarrd Philosophy

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  • 7/28/2019 The Existential Meaning of the Art of Theatre in Kierkegarrd Philosophy

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    Man and World 24:461-470, 1991.9 1991 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands.

    Th e exis tent ial m eaning of the art of theatre inKierkegaard ' s ph i losophyA V I S A G IDepartment o f Philosophy, Bar-llan University, Ra ma t Gan, Israel

    I n t h is p a p e r , I w i l l c o n s i d e r K i e r k e g a a r d ' s a p p r o a c h t o th e a r t o f t h e at re :D o e s h e v i e w t h e a r t o f t h e a tr e a s e x i s te n t i a ll y r e l e v a n t t o c o n c r e t e e x i s -t en ce o r d o es h e s ee t h e a r t p e r s e , a s w e l l a s t h e a t t en d an ce a t t h ea t r i ca lp e r f o r m a n c e s , a s r e f l e c ti n g a b r e a k w i th l i fe ?

    O n e o f t h e c h a r a c te r i st ic w a y s o f d e s c r i b i n g t h e re l a t io n s h i p b e t w e e n a r t- i n c l u d in g t h e a rt o f t h e a tr e - a n d e x i s t e n c e i n K i e r k e g a a r d ' s t h o u g h t ,a p p e a r s i n th e w o r k o f S . C r it e s:

    . . . th e m o d e m r e a d e r i s l ik e l y t o b e d o u b t f u l a b o u t th e i d e a l is t ic p r e m i s e st h a t i n f o r m h i s d i s c u s s io n s o f a r t, a n d m a y b e t r o u b l e d b y t h e a p p a r e n ts ep a ra t i o n o f a r t f r o m l if e , o r a t l e a s t f ro m t h e e t h i ca l an d r e l i g i o u s cen t r eo f h u m a n e x i s te n c e . IT h i s d e s c r i p t i o n s eem s j u s t i f i ed s i n ce t h e t h ea t re i s a c l a s s ic ex p re s s i o n o ft h e ae s t h e t i c s t ag e , a s t h e l a t t e r i s d e s c r i b ed b y K i e rk eg aa rd . T h e ae s t h e t i cs ta g e , b y i ts v e r y n a tu r e , i s s e v e r e d f r o m t h e e t h ic a l p r o b l e m o f c o n c r e t ee x i s t e n c e - s e l f -c h o i c e . M o r e o v e r , K i e r k e g a a r d h i m s e l f a s c r i b e s to t h et h ea t r e a s t a t u s o f " a r t if i c i a l a c t u a l i t y " o r " s h ad o w ex i s t en ce . ''2 I n a c r i t iq u eo f h is t i m e s K i e r k e g a a r d w r i te s : " T h i s p u b l i c l ik e s t o t r a n s f o r m a ll a c t u a l it yi n t o a t h ea t r e , t o h av e n o t h i n g t o d o i ts e l f b u t i ma g i n e t h a t ev e ry t h i n ga n y o n e d o e s h a p p e n s i n o r d e r f o r it t o h a v e s o m e t h i n g t o c h a t t e r a b o u t . '3T h e t h e a tr e i s a m e d i u m o f t h e i m a g i n a t io n a n d , a s s u c h , it se p a r a t e s m a nf r o m e x i s te n c e . B o t h a c t o r a n d s p e c t a t o r a r e t o g e t h e r i n a n i l l u s o r y w o r l d o fs u f f e r i n g a n d t e n s i o n , r a t h e r t h a n e x p e r i e n c e t h e s u f f e r i n g a n d t e n s i o n o fc o n c r e t e e x i s te n c e . 4

    K i e r k e g a a r d c l a i m s t h a t, i n fa c t , t h e th e a t re s e r v e s to c o m p e n s a t e m a n f o rh i s i n ab i l i t y t o co n t en d w i t h ex i s t en ce . I n t h e t h ea t r e , v i c t o r i e s n ev e r w o n i nl if e c o m e w i t h in r e a c h .

    W h e n y o u a r e s it ti n g in t h e th e a t re . .. y o u h a v e t h e c o u r a g e t o r e q u ir e o ft h e p o e t t h a t h e s h a l l l e t h i s ae s t h e t i c s t r i u mp h o v e r a l l p a l t r in e s s . I t i s t h eo n l y c o m f o r t l e ft . . . i t i s y o u w h o t a k e c o m f o r t in th i s, y o u to w h o m r e a l

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    4 6 2l i f e h a s f u r n i s h e d n o o c c a s i o n t o m a k e t e s t o f y o u r s tr e n g th . Y o u a r e th ep o o r a n d u n f o r t u n a t e o n e , l i k e t h e h e r o a n d t h e h e r o i n e i n t h e p l a y , b u ty o u h a v e a l s o th e p a th o s , c o u r a g e . .. f r o m w h i c h e l o q u e n c e g u s h e s i np o w e r f u l s t r e a m ; y o u c o n q u e r ; y o u a p p l a u d t h e a c t o r , a n d t h e a c t o r i sy o u r s e l f , a n d t h e a p p l a u s e o f t h e p a r t e r r e i s f o r y o u f o r , i n d e e d , y o uy o u r s e l f a r e t h e h e r o a n d t h e a c t o r . I n d r e a m s , i n t h e a i r y v i si o n s o fa e s t h e t ic s , y o u m e n a r e h e r o e s . 5

    T h e r e f o r e , a s s u m i n g t h a t K i e r k e g a a r d a d v i s e s h i s c o n t e m p o r a r i e s t o s h u ns p e c u l a t io n , i m a g i n a t i o n a n d p o e t r y ,6 h e i s a l s o c l e a r l y s u g g e s t i n g t h a t t h e yk e e p a w a y f r o m t h e a t r e , w h i c h e m b o d i e s t o t a l s e p a r a t i o n f r o m l i f e a n do f f e r s a r ti f i c ia l a c tu a l i t y a s an a l t em a t iv e to ex i s t en c e .

    H o w e v e r , t hi s p r e se n t a t io n o f K i e r k e g a a r d ' s a p p r o a c h i s i n c o m p a t i b l ew i t h h i s o w n d e e p p e r s o n a l a t t a c h m e n t t o t h e t h e a t r e , w h i c h h e a t t e n d e df r e q u e n t l y a n d d i s c u s s e d e x t e n s i v e l y t h r o u g h o u t h i s w o r k a n d i n h i sj o u rn a l s . I f h is a i m w e r e i n d e e d t o d i s t a n ce h i m s e l f f r o m t h e t h e a t r e a n de m b r a c e c o n c r e t e e x is t e n c e, h is a c ti o n s w o u l d s e e m t o i n d i c a te e x a c t l y t h eo p p o s i t e i n t en t io n .

    I t c o u l d ju s t i f i a b l y b e c l a i m e d t h a t t h is c o n t r a d i c t i o n c l e a r l y r e f l e c t sK i e r k e g a a r d ' s p e r s o n a l t r ag e d y : u n a b l e t o c o m e c l o s e t o l if e , h e w a s f o r c e dt o l iv e i n t h e i m a g i n a r y m e d i u m o f t h e th e a tr e . K i e r k e g a a r d h i m s e l fe x p r e s s e d t h i s v i e w i n h i s j o u r n a l :

    F o r m a n y y e a r s m y d e p r e s s i o n h a s p r e v e n t e d m e f r o m s a y i n g Du tom y s e l f i n t h e p r o f o u n d e s t s en s e . B e t w e e n m y Du a n d m y d e p r e s s i o n la ya w h o l e w o r l d o f i m a g i n a t i o n . . . J u s t a s a p e r s o n w h o d o e s n o t h a v e ah a p p y h o m e g o e s o u t as m u c h a s p o s s ib l e . .. s o m y d e p r e s s io n h a s k e p tm e o u t s id e m y s e l f w h i l e I h a v e b e e n d i s c o v e r in g a n d p o e t i c a l ly e x -p e r i e n c i n g a w h o l e w o r l d o f im a g i n a t i o n , v

    B u t I b e l i e v e t h a t t h i s e x p l a n a t i o n , w h i c h p e r p e t u a t e s t h e c o n t r a d i c t i o n a sg r o u n d e d o n p e r s o n a l t r a g e d y , d o e s n o t e x h a u s t t h e i s s u e . I n t h i s p a p e r , Iw i l l s u g g e s t a n e w a n a l y s i s o f K i e r k e g a a r d ' s p o s i t i o n t h a t v i e w s t h e t h e a t r ea s e n d o w e d w i t h b a s i c e x i s t e n t i a l m e a n i n g ; t h i s a n a l y s i s w i l l c l a r i f y t h i sm e a n i n g a s w e l l a s K i e r k e g a a r d ' s c r i t i q u e o f t h e a r t o f th e a t r e .

    A s a s t a r ti n g p o i n t, I w i s h t o o u t l i n e b r i e f l y t h e o n t o l o g i c a l c h a r a c t e r i z a -t io n o f h u m a n e x i s t e n c e p r o p o s e d b y K i e r k e g a a r d i n The Sickness UntoDeath. In t h i s s o u r c e , m a n ' s o n t o l o g i c a l s t r u c t u r e a n d h i s e x i s t e n t i a l t a s ka r e i n t ro d u c e d b y m e a n s o f t w o b a s i c c o n c e p t s - s y n t h e s i s a n d s e l f - r e l a ti o n

    - "a r e l a t io n th a t r e l a t e s i t s e l f t o i t s e l f ." Sy n th es i s i s t h e b as i c o n to lo g ica lg i v e n o f h u m a n e x i s t e n c e , w h i l e s e l f - r e l a ti o n is t h e r e l a t io n t o t h i s s y n t h e s i sa s i t is f o r g ed an d co n c r e t i z ed , an d i s t h u s an ex i s t en t i a l ta sk . 8

    W h a t a r e t h e e l e m e n t s o f t h e s y n t h e s i s ? K i e r k e g a a r d d e s c r i b e s i t a s a" s y n t h e s i s o f t h e i n f i n it e a n d t h e f i n i t e, o f t h e t e m p o r a l a n d t h e e t e r n a l , o ff r e e d o m a n d n e c e s s i t y . '9 K i e r k e g a a r d o f f e r s s e v e r a l d e s c r i p t io n s o f t h e

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    4 6 3s y n t h e s i s , a l l o f w h i c h r e v e a l i t a s e s s e n t i a l l y c o m p o s e d o f t w o o p p o s i t ep o l e s , o n e l i m i t i n g a n d t h e o t h e r e x p a n d i n g t h e s e l f . F i n i t u d e , t e m p o r a l i t ya n d n e c e s s i t y l i m i t t h e s e l f ; t h e y e m p h a s i z e t h e f a c t t h a t t h e s e l f i s d e t e r -m i n e d b y c o n c r e t e g i v e n f a c t s . 1~ T h e s e f a c t s i n c l u d e t h e c o m p l e x o f s o c ia l ,p h y s i c a l a n d o t h e r f a c to r s t h a t tu r n m a n i n to a c o n c r e t e e n ti t y . T h e o p p o s i t ep o le , i n c lu d in g in f in i tu d e , e t e rn i ty an d p o ss ib i l i t y , i s t h e p o le th a t ex p an d sh u m a n l i f e a n d e n a b l e s m a n t o t r a n s c e n d h i s f a c t u a l e x i s t e n c e . I n f i n i t y i sd e s c r i b e d b y K i e r k e g a a r d a s " t h e e x t e n d i n g c o n s t i t u t en t ; n l s i m i l a rl y ,t h r o u g h p o s s i b i li t y , m a n c a n t r a n s c e n d t h e b o u n d s o f h i s f a c t u a l e x i s t e n c ea n d e v e n s u g g e s t m o d e s o f li v in g w h i c h a r e t o ta l ly r e m o v e d f r o m i t.

    H o w d o e s th is t r a n s c e n d e n c e t a k e p la c e ? H o w d o e s m a n e x p a n d h i sc o n c r e t e e x i s t e n c e ? K i e r k e g a a r d ' s a n s w e r i s , t h r o u g h i m a g i n a t i o n :" I m a g i n a t i o n i s t h e m e d i u m f o r t h e p r o c e s s o f i n f in i t iz i n g . ' le T h r o u g hi m a g i n a t i o n m a n s u g g e s t s t o h i m s e l f d i f f e r e n t p o s s i b il i ti e s o f s e l f - r e a li z a -t io n w h i c h , s i n c e t h e y a r e p e rh a p s n o t h is o w n , m a y s e v e r h i m f r o m h i sc o n c r e t e e x i s t e n c e a n d t u r n h i m i n t o a n a b s t r a c t e n t i t y ; n a m e l y , t h e s ep o s s i b i l i t i e s m a y b e t o t a l l y u n r e l a t e d t o h i s f a c t u a l e x i s t e n c e . K i e r k e g a a r dd esc r ib es th i s ex t r em e s i tu a t io n a s f o l lo ws :

    B u t i f p o s s i b il i ty o u t r u n s n e c e s s i t y s o t h a t t h e s e l f r u n s a w a y f r o m i t s e l fin p o ss ib i l i t y , i t h a s n o n ece ss i ty to w h ich i t i s t o r em r r t_ , t h i s p o ss ib i l i t ys e e m s g r e a te r a n d g r e a t e r t o t h e s e lf ; m o r e a n d m o r e b e c o m e s p o s s i b leb e c a u s e n o t h i n g b e c o m e s a c t u a l . E v e n t u a l l y e v e r y t h i n g s e e m s p o s s i b l e ,b u t t h i s i s ex ac t ly th e p o in t a t wh ich th e ab y ss sw a l lo w s u p th e se l f . 13K i e r k e g a a r d r e f e r s t o t h is s i tu a t io n a s " p o s s i b i l i t y 's d e s p a i r " o r " i n f i n i t u d e ' sd e s p a i r . "

    M a n ' s e x i s t e n c e c a n l i k e w i s e b e c o m p r e s s e d a n d e x h a u s t e d b y g i v e nf a c t u a l it y , w i t h o u t a n y t r a n s c e n d e n c e o r a w a r e n e s s o f p o s s i b il it i es b e y o n dc o n c r e t e e x i s t e n c e . T h i s t y p e o f e x i s t e n c e i s c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y a s e n s e o fn e ces s i ty an d l im i t a t io n . 14

    T h u s , i n a n d b y i t s e lf , e a c h o n e o f t h e e l e m e n t s i n th i s s y n t h e s i s m a y l e a dm a n t o t o t a l s e p a r a t i o n f r o m t h e o t h e r e l e m e n t , a n d t h i s s e p a r a t i o n e n t a i l sd e s p a i r , I n o t h e r w o r d s , d e s p a i r r e f l e c t s m a n ' s i n a b i l i t y t o c r e a t e h a r m o n ya n d b a l a n c e b e t w e e n t h e t w o e l e m e n t s o f t h e s y n t h e s is . 15 K i e r k e g a a r dh i m s e l f i n d e e d p o i n ts o u t t h a t c h a r a c t e r i z i n g m a n a s a s y n t h e s i s is n o ts u f f ic i e n t: " A s y n t h e s i s is a r e l a ti o n b e t w e e n t w o . C o n s i d e r e d i n t h is w a y , ahu m an be i ng i s s t il l no t a se l f . '16I n o r d e r to b e c o m e a s e l f, m a n m u s t r e l a te t o t h e c o n s t i t u t iv e e l e m e n t s o fth e sy n th es i s an d fo rg e i t ; i t i s t h i s r e l a t io n sh ip wh ich e s t ab l i sh es th e se l f .W e m u s t t h e r e f o r e ra i s e t h e q u e s t i o n : w h a t i s th i s r e l a t io n s h i p a n d h o w d o e si t e v o l v e ? A c c o r d i n g t o K i e r k e g a a r d , th i s r e l a ti o n s h i p u n f o l d s i n t w o s t a ge s .I n t h e f i r s t s t a g e , d e s c r i b e d b y K i e r k e g a a r d a s " ' a n i n f i n i t e m o v i n g a w a y

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    4 6 4f r o m i t s e l f i n t h e i n f i n i ti z i n g o f t h e s e l f , " m a n t r a n s c e n d s h i s f a c t u a l e x i s -t e n c e . 17 T h i s t r a n s c e n d e n c e e x p a n d s t h e s e l f a n d o p e n s u p a v a r i e t y o fp o s s i b i l i t i e s . T h e s e c o n d s t a g e i s e x a c t l y t h e o p p o s i t e a n d , w i t h i n i t , m a nr e t u r n s t o c o n c r e t e l i f e , " a n i n f i n i t e c o m i n g b a c k t o i t s e l f i n t h e f i n i t i z i n gp ro cess ; '1 8 in th i s p ro cess m an ch o o se s th o se p o ss ib i l it i e s r e l a t e d to an da p p r o p r i a t e t o h i s g i v e n f a c t u a l e x i s t e n c e . T h e r e a l i z a t i o n o f t h e s e t w os t a g e s c o n s t i t u t e s s e l f - r e l a t i o n , a n d i t i s o n l y t h r o u g h t h e m t h a t m a nb e c o m e s a c o n c r e t e e n t i t y . 19

    C o n c r e t e n e s s i s t h u s n o t i d e n t i c a l w i t h o r i g i n a l f a c t u a l n e c e s s i t y , a n dc e r t a i n l y n o t w i t h t h e v a r i o u s p o s s i b i l i t i e s , b u t r a t h e r w i t h t h e p r o c e s s o fr e t u m i n g f r o m p o s s i b il i ti e s t o f a c t u a l i ty . I n o t h e r w o r d s , c o n c r e t e n e s s i s n o ti d e n t i c a l w i t h o n e o f t h e e l e m e n t s i n t h e s y n t h e s is ; r a t h e r, i t is a t t a i n e d b ya d o p t i n g b o t h e l e m e n t s , i n t h e c o u r s e o f s h a p in g a r e l a t io n o f b a l a n c e a n dc o m p a t i b i l i ty b e t w e e n t h e m . A t t a i n i n g th i s c o n c r e t e n e s s is th u s m a n ' s e x i s -t e n t ia l t a sk , a n d w i t h i n i t h e d e c i d e s o n h i s v e r y e x i s t e n c e .

    T h i s d e s c r i p t i o n o f h u m a n e x i s t e n c e e n a b l e s u s to r e t u r n to o u r d i s c u s -s i o n o n t h e e x i s t e n t i a l s i g n i f i c a n c e o f t h e t h e a t r e . M y t h e s i s s u g g e s t s t h a t ,a c c o r d i n g t o K i e r k e g a a r d , t h e th e a t r e is o n e o f t h e m a i n a v a i l a b l e m e d i a f o rin t ro d u c in g ex i s t en t i a l p o ss ib i li t ie s an d , a s s u ch , i t r e a l i ze s o n e o f th e p o le sin th e sy n th es i s - p o ss ib i l i t y an d in f in i ty . Th e th ea t r e th u s en ta i l s t h e d an g e rc h a r a c t e r is t i c o f p o s s i b il i ty - s e p a r a t io n f r o m f a c t u a l e x i s t e n c e - a s w e l l a si ts g r e a t p r o s p e c t - t h e t r a n s c e n d e n c e o f g i v e n f a c tu a l i t y . T h e f o l l o w i n gs t a t e m e n t s o n t h e t h e a t r e a p p e a r i n Repetit ion:

    T h e r e i s p r o b a b ly n o y o u n g p e r s o n w i th a n y i m a g i n a t io n w h o h a s n o t a tt im e s b e e n e n t h r a l le d b y t h e m a g i c o f th e t h e a tr e a n d w i s h e d t o b e s w e p ta lo n g in to th a t a r t i f i c i a l a c tu a l i ty in o rd e r , l i k e a d o u b le , t o see an d h ea rh i m s e l f a n d t o s p l it h i m s e l f u p i n to e v e r y p o s s ib l e v a r i a t i o n o f h i m s e l f ,a n d n e v e r t h e l e s s i n s u c h a w a y t h a t e v e r y v a r i a ti o n i s s ti ll h i m s e l f . 2~K i e r k e g a a r d r e f e r s t o t h e s e p o s s i b i l i t i e s a s s h a d o w s , n a m e l y , t h e s e p o s -s i bi li ti e s a r e i m a g i n a r y a n d u n r e a l b u t m a n m u s t p a s s t h r o u g h t h e m i n o r d e rt o r e a c h h i m s e l f ,2 1 in l i g h t o f t h e o n to lo g ica l p o s i t io n d esc r ib ed ab o v ew h i c h d o e s n o t s e e t h e s e l f a s a f i n i s h e d fa c t th a t m a n m u s t f i n d o n c e a n df o r a ll . M a n d o e s n o t r e a c h h i m s e l f b y r e t u r n i n g to a g i v e n s e l f , b u t b yc o n t e n d i n g w i t h v a r i o u s p o s s i b i l i t i e s o f r e a l i z a t i o n ; h e d o e s n o t r e v e a l o rd i s c o v e r t h e s e l f, h e b e c o m e s o n e . 22

    A t h e a t r e s p e c t a t o r in f a c t c o n t e m p l a t e s v a r i o u s p o s s ib i li t ie s t h a t m u s t b ec o n t e n d e d w i t h i n o r d e r t o e v e n t u a l l y a tt a in c o n c r e t e n e s s . I n t h is r e g a r d , t h et h e a t r e r e s e m b l e s a l l o t h e r a e s t h e t i c e x p r e s s i o n s , w h i c h m a n i f e s t m a n ' sv e r y a b i l it y to t r a n s c e n d f i n i t u d e a n d n e c e s s i t y . K i e r k e g a a r d e m p h a s i z e s t h ei m p o r t a n c e o f t h i s m a t t e r w h e n h e c l a i m s t h a t t h e v a l u e o f a e s t h e t i c s i sg r o u n d e d e x a c t l y " o n t h e p o w e r t o w i s h , t h e c o u r a g e a n d f o o l h a r d in e s s towish."23

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    4 6 5H o w e v e r , t h e t h e a t re i s n o t o n l y c a p a b l e o f p r e s e n t i n g a v a r i e t y o f

    p o ss ib i l i t i e s , a s em erg es f ro m th i s p a ssag e in Repeti t ion; i t h a s a f u r th e rm e a n i n g . T h e t h e a t r e t a n g i b l y i l l u s t r a t e s t h e a c t o r ' s o p p o r t u n i t y t ot r a n s c e n d h i s g i v e n s i tu a t io n a n d i d e n t i f y w i t h a n o t h e r c h a r a c t e r o r a n o t h e rp o ss ib i l i t y , o n e n o t i d en t i ca l w i th h i s f ac tu a l ex i s t en c e . 24 Th e p o r t r ay a l o ft h e a c t r e s s J o h a n n e L u i s e H e i b e r g , w h o i s t h e i d e a l a c t o r i n K i e r k e g a a r d ' se y e s a n d t o w h o m h e d e d i c a t e d h is b o o k Crisis in the Li fe o f an Actress, isp a r t i c u l a r l y i n t e r e s t i n g i n t h i s r e g a r d . H e i b e r g ' s g r e a t n e s s i s e x p r e s s e d i nh e r a b i l i ty t o p r e s e n t t h e e s s e n t ia l i d e a i n a p e r f e c t w a y - t h o u g h t h i s i d e am a y d i f f e r f r o m h e r c o n c r e t e li f e a n d e v e n b e a n t i th e t i c a l t o i t25 - the reb yr e f l e c t i n g t h e a c t r e s s ' f r e e d o m a n d h e r a b i l it y to t r a n s c e n d h e r o w n s i t u a -tion . 26

    B u t t h i s a n a l y s i s d o e s n o t e x h a u s t t h e f u l l p a r t i c u l a r i t y o f t h e a r t o ft h e a t r e . I n o r d e r t o c l a r i f y t h i s q u e s t i o n f u r t h e r , w e m u s t r e c o n s i d e r t h em e a n i n g o f a r t i s t i c c r e a t i v i t y . K i e r k e g a a r d s e e s a r t a s e x p r e s s i n g a n dr e p r e s e n t i n g a n i d e a , a n d h e c l a s s i f i e s t h e v a r i o u s a r t s a c c o r d i n g t o t h i sd e f i n it i o n . 27 I n h i s v i e w , t h e a r t u s i n g l a n g u a g e a s i t s m e d i u m i s e n d o w e dwi th th e h ig h es t sp i r i t u a l v a lu e , an d th i s f o r v a r io u s r ea so n s : f i r s t , b ecau se" l a n g u a g e i s t h e m o s t c o n c r e t e o f a ll m e d i a ; '2 8 s e c o n d , b e c a u s e t i m e i s a ne s s e n t i a l e l e m e n t o f l a n g u a g e , u n l i k e s c u l p t u r e a n d p a i n t i n g , t h a t " h a v es p a c e a s t h e i r e l e m e n t '2 9 a n d t h ir d , b e c a u s e l a n g u a g e i s d i r e c t e d t o t h el i s t e n e r ' s e a r a n d t h e e a r " i s t h e m o s t s p i r i tu a l ly d e t e r m i n e d o f t h e s e n s e s . -3 0T h e r e f o r e , K i e r k e g a a r d c o n c l u d e s t h a t l a n g u a g e i s t h e m e d i u m m o s tap p ro p r i a t e to th e sp i r i t an d i t i s t h ro u g h l an g u ag e th a t i d eas a t t a in th e i rh ig h es t ex p re ss io n . 31

    O f a ll a r ts t h a t h a v e l a n g u a g e a s t h e i r m e d i u m , t h e a tr e i s s p e c i a l i n t h a tt h e i d e a i s n o t o n l y h e a r d , b u t a l so c o n c r e t e l y e m b o d i e d i n t h e a c t o r. I nRepet i t ion, K i e r k e g a a r d s t a t e s t h a t t h e t h e a t r e e n d o w s p o s s i b i l i t i e s w i t h as p e c i a l m a g i c s i nc e :

    . . . t h e i n d i v i d u a l ' s p o s s i b i l i t y d o e s n o t w a n t o n l y t o b e h e a r d ; i t i s n o tl i ke t h e m e r e p a s s i n g o f t h e w i n d . I t i s a l s o gestal tende [ co n f ig u r in g ] an dth e re fo r e wan t s to b e v i s ib l e a t t h e s am e t im e . 32I t i s c ru c ia l ly im p o r t an t t h a t , i n th e th ea t r e , t h e fo rm i s m a te r i a l i zed in ac o n c r e t e c h a r a c t e r s i n c e , a s K i e r k e g a a r d c l a i m s , " H e [ t h e a c t o r ] i m p e r -so n a te s a d i s t in c t i n d iv id u a l . I n th e sk i l l fu l sen se o f t h i s i l l u so ry a r t, e ac hw o r d b e c o m e s t r u e w h e n e m b o d i e d i n h i m , t r u e t h r o u g h h i m . '33 T h e " t r u th "o f w h i c h K i e r k e g a a r d s p e a k s i n t h is p a s s a g e a l l u d e s t o t h e f a c t t h a t, r a t h e rt h a n a p p e a r i n g a b s t r a c tl y , w o r d s a r e l in k e d a n d c o n v e y e d w i t h i n t h ew h o l e n e s s o f t h e a c t o r ' s c h a r a c t e r . I n th i s re g a r d , t h e a c t o r ' s a c h i e v e m e n t i sh i g h e r t h a n t h a t o f t h e w r i t e r s i n c e , b y i n c a r n a t i n g t h e l in g u i s ti c c r e a t i o n ,th e a c to r p r e se n t s th e w o rk in a n ew l ig h t. 34 In su m , in th e th ea t r i ca l

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    4 6 6m e d i u m t h e id e a b e c o m e s c o m p l e t e a n d a s s u m e s d e p t h i n th e p er s o n a li ty o ft h e a c t o r , w h o e x p r e s s e s i t t h r o u g h t h e t o t a l i ty o f h i s p o w e r s . 35

    T h e p o w e r o f t h e t h e a tr e t o e x p r e s s t h e i d e a i n it s m o s t c o n c r e t e f o r mp o i n t s t o i t s s p e c i a l e x i s t e n t i a l s t a t u s . O n t h e o n e h a n d , a s I i n d i c a t e d , t h et h e a tr e f u l l y c o n c r e t iz e s t h e e l e m e n t o f p o s s ib i l it y f o u n d i n th e o n t o l o g i c a ls t r u c t u r e b u t , o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , i t s v e r y c o n c r e t e n e s s c r e a t e s a p r o b l e m .A l t h o u g h t h i s c o n c r e t e n e s s i s o n l y a p p a r e n t , s o m e m a y b e s e d u c e d i n t os e e i n g i t a s th e r e a l w o r l d . T h e t h e a tr e t h u s c o m p e t e s w i t h c o n c r e t e r e a l it yp r e c i s e l y b e c a u s e i t o f f e r s t o c o n c r e t i z e p o s s i b i l it y .

    I n l i g h t o f t h i s a n a l y s i s , i t i s c l e a r t h a t K i e r k e g a a r d ' s c r i t i q u e d o e s n o tp e r t a in t o t h e t h e a tr i ca l m e d i u m per se. The t h e a tr e i s h i g h l y v a l u e d a s l o n ga s i t d o e s n o t e x c e e d i ts l im i t s a n d d o e s n o t p r e t e n d t o s u p e r s e d e e x i s te n c ea n d r e p l a c e t h e tr u e e th i c a l t a s k f a c e d b y m a n - c h o i c e a n d s e l f -m o u l d i n g .K i e r k e g a a r d ' s c r i t i q u e h e n c e r e l a t e s o n l y t o a s i t u a t i o n w h e r e t h e t h e a t r e ,r a th e r t h a n p a r t o f a p r o c e s s o f c o n c r e t i za t i o n , b e c o m e s i d e n ti c a l w i t h t h ep r o c e s s i t s e l f . I n t h i s s i t u a t i o n , r e a l e x i s t e n c e l o s e s i t s m e a n i n g a n d i sr e p l a c e d b y i m a g i n a t i o n . K i e r k e g a a r d b e l i e v e d , a s w e s a w , t h a t t h i s s i t u a -t i o n r e p r e s e n t e d t h e c u l t u r a l r e a li t y o f h i s t i m e s , a s w e l l a s th e a n g u i s h o fh i s p e r s o n a l c o n d i t i o n . 36 H o w e v e r , w h i l e f o r h i s c o n t e m p o r a r i e s t h is w a st h e i d e a l si tu a t io n , K i e r k e g a a r d e x p r e s s e d t h r o u g h o u t h i s w o r k h o p e s o fo v e r c o m i n g i t a n d r e t u r n i n g t o e x i s t e n c e i ts e lf . T h i s h o p e i n d ic a t es h i s w i s ht o c o n c r e t i z e t h e o n t o l o g i c a l s t r u c t u r e a s a w h o l e ; t h o u g h a t t i m e sK i e r k e g a a r d s e n s e s h e i s a t t a in i n g t h i s a i m , h e n e v e r t ru l y s u c c e e d s . 37

    I n s u m , th e t h e a tr e i s b o t h t h e o p p o r t u n i t y a n d t h e tr a p o f h u m a n e x i s-t e n c e a n d m a n m u s t u n d e r g o t h i s e x p e r i e n c e d e s p i t e a ll t h e h a r d s h i p s , s i n ceh e t h e r e b y a t ta i n s p o s s i b il i ty a n d tr a n s c e n d s n e c e s s i t y .

    T h e e x i st e n ti a l i m p o r t a n c e o f th e t h e a tr e i s f u r th e r c o n f i r m e d b y t h em e a n i n g o f t h e p s e u d o n y m o u s w o r k . O n e o f t h e d i st in g u i s h in g l it er ar yf e a t u r e s o f th i s w o r k i s t h e t h e a tr i c a l e l e m e n t , b e s t d e f i n e d b y T h u s t a s am a r i o n e t t e s ' p l a y . 38 K i e r k e g a a r d c r e a te s p s e u d o n y m o u s c h a r a c te r s , w h ot h e m s e l v e s c r ea te o t h e r p s e u d o n y m o u s c h a r a c t e r s , o c c a s i o n a ll y t u r n i n gt o w a r d o n e a n o t h e r . F o r i n s t a n c e, V i c t o r E r e m i t a , t h e p s e u d o n y m o u s a u th o ro f Either~Or, d e s c r i b e s t h e a e s t h e te a n d t h e j u d g e o b s e r v i n g t h e a e s th e t e.J o h a n n e s D e S i l en t i o d e sc r i b e s t h r e e c h a r ac t e rs , t h e k n i g h t o f f ai th a n d t h ek n i g h t o f i n f i n i t e r e s i g n a t i o n , w h o r e f l e c t s t h e b i b l i c a l A b r a h a m . T h e s ec h a r a c t er s d o i n d e e d r e s e m b l e m a r i o n e t t e s : t h e y a re u n r e a l , o n e - s i d e d a n dr e f l e c t i d e a l t y p e s n o t m e t i n r e a l i t y . K i e r k e g a a r d i n d i c a t e s t h i s b y s a y i n g :" A p s e u d o n y m i s e x c e l le n t f o r a c c e n t u a ti n g a p o i n t , a s t a n c e , a p o s i t io n . I tc r e a te s a p o e t i c p e r s o n '3 9 a n d a d d s t h a t e v e r y p s e u d o n y m a c t u a l ly s u g g e s t sa p o s s i b l e Weltanschauung. 4~

    T h i s p e r c e p t i o n o f t h e l it e r a ry w o r k a s t h e a t r e s h e d s f u r t h e r l i g h t o n t h em e a n i n g o f t h e p s e u d o n y m o u s w o r k . A s is w e l l k n o w n , s c h o la rs a r e d i v i d e d

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    4 6 7o v e r th e q u e s t io n : f o r w h o m is th i s w o r k i n t e n d e d ? S o m e b e l i e v e th i s w o r kr e f l e c t s K i e r k e g a a r d ' s i n t e r e s t i n h i m s e l f ; t h r o u g h t h e l i t e r a r y w o r k ,K ie r k e g aa r d s t r iv e s t o a t t a in a c l ea r e r u n d e r s t an d in g o f h i s o w n se l f. 41O t h e r s b e l i e v e t h e p s e u d o n y m o u s w o r k r e f l e c t s , f i r s t a n d f o r e m o s t ,K i e r k e g a a r d ' s w i s h t o d e t a c h h i m s e l f f r o m t h e w o r k a n d f o c u s o n t h ec o n t e n t s a s a p r o d u c t o f f e r e d t o t h e r e a d e r ,42 w h i l e s t il l o th e r s b e l i e v e th a tt h e p s e u d o n y m o u s w o r k c o m b i n e s b o t h t h e s e a im s . 43

    K i e r k e g a a r d h i m s e l f a p p e a r s t o s i d e w i t h th e s e c o n d o p t i o n. T h u s , f o rin s t an ce , i n t h e First and Last Declaration h e e m p h a t i c a l l y s t a t e s t h a t t h ev i e w s e x p r e s s e d b y t h e p s e u d o n y m s a r e n o t h i s o w n a n d h is a t ti tu d e to t h e mi s t h a t o f a n o u t s id e r : " I h a v e n o o p i n i o n a b o u t t h e s e w o r k s e x c e p t as a t h i r dp e r s o n , n o k n o w l e d g e o f th e i r m e a n i n g e x c e p t a s a t h i r d p e r s o n . '44S im i l a r ly , h e s t a t e s i n The Point of View fo r my Work as an Author: " O n ew i l l p e r c e i v e t h e s i g n i f i c a n c e o f t h e p s e u d o n y m s a n d w h y I m u s t b ep s e u d o n y m o u s i n r e l a t i o n t o a l l a e s t h e t i c p r o d u c t i o n s , b e c a u s e I l e d m yo w n l i fe i n e n t i r e l y d i f f e r e n t c a te g o r i e s . '4 5 T h i s a p p r o a c h b l e n d s w i t h t h es p e c i a l s i g n i f i c a n c e o f i n d i r e c t c o m m u n i c a t i o n , w h i c h K i e r k e g a a r d h a dst ressed . 46

    H o w e v e r , w e c a n a l s o f i n d m a n y o t h e r c o n t r a r y s t a t e m e n t s , w h e r eK i e r k e g a a r d s t r e s s e s t h a t h e p e r s o n a l l y d e v e l o p e d t h r o u g h h i s w o r k . F o rin s t an ce , i n The Point o f View fo r my Work as an Author, h e c l a i m s :

    m y w h o l e a c ti v it y a s a w r i te r . . . w a s a t th e s a m e t i m e m y o w n e d u c a t i o n ,i n th e c o u r s e o f w h i c h I l e a rn t to r e f l e c t m o r e a n d m o r e d e e p l y u p o n m yid ea , m y t a sk . 47A c c o r d i n g l y , K i e r k e g a a r d i n d e e d r e t r a c t e d h i s o w n t h e s i s , w h e r e h e h a ds u g g e s t e d t h a t t h e p s e u d o n y m o u s w o r k s e n t a i l d e c e i t , n a m e l y , t h a t t h e yl e a d t o t r u t h b y m e a n s o f i n d i r e c t c o m m u n i c a t i o n .48 This i s no t a ra res t a t e m e n t a n d, i n h is j o u r n a l s a s w e l l , K i e r k e g a a r d c l a im s h e i s n o t a t e a c h e ri n p o s s e s s i o n o f t h e t r u t h a n d u s i n g i n d i r e c t c o m m u n i c a t i o n i n o r d e r t oc o n v e y i t to o t he r s. H e c l e a r ly s ta te s : " I m y s e l f h a v e d e v e l o p e d d u r i n g t h ewr i t i n g '4 9 an d , i n t h i s r eg a r d , wr i t i n g i s t h e av en u e f o r h is p e r s o n a l d ev e lo p -m e n t : " t h e w o r k i s a l s o m y d e v e l o p m e n t , a n d I h a v e g r a d u a l l y l e a r n t t ou n d e r s t a n d m y s e l f . '50

    M o r e o v e r , K i e r k e g a a r d r e m a r k s t h a t t h r o u g h o u t h i s l i f e a n d i n a l l h i sw o r k h is c o n c e r n h a d b e e n w i th h i m s e l f:

    O n t h e w h o l e , t h e v e r y m a r k o f m y g e n i u s i s th a t G o v e r n a n c e b ro a d e n sa n d r a d ic a l iz e s w h a t e v e r c o n c e m s m e p e r s o n a ll y . I r e m e m b e r w h a t ap s e u d o n y m o u s w r i t e r s a i d a b o u t S o c r a t e s : " . . . h i s w h o l e l i f e w a sp e r s o n a l p r e o c c u p a t i o n w i t h h i m s e l f , a n d t h e n G o v e r n a n c e c o m e s a n dad d s wo r ld - h i s to r i ca l s ig n i f i ca n ce to i t . '5 1

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    4 6 8K i e r ke ga a r d ' s a t t i t ude t o h i s w or k i s t hus a m b i va l e n t , a nd he i s bo t h

    c l o s e t o a nd de t a c he d f r om i t . H i s w or k i s t he a r e na f o r h i s pe r s ona lde ve l opm e n t , bu t i s no t a r e f le c t ion o f h i s c onc r e t e l if e . I s th i s a c o n t r a d i c -t i on t yp i c a l o f K i e r ke ga a r d? I be l i e ve i t c a n be s o l ve d onc e t he t he a t r i c a le l ement and i t s s i gn i f i cance wi th in t he Onto log i ca l s t ruc ture and t he ex i s -t en t i a l t a sk a re approached se r i ous ly . C rea t i ve work i s a t hea t re o f fe r i ngva r ious ex i s t en t i a l poss ib i l i t i e s o r i deas t ha t sugges t t hemse lves t oKie rkegaa rd and h i s r eade rs a s se l f - rea l i za t i on . These poss ib i l i t i e s do no tre f l ec t Kie rkegaa rd and , i n t he i r r ega rd , he i s on ly an obse rve r ; by de f in i -t i on , pos s i b i l i t y t r a n s c e nds f a c t ua l e x i s t e nc e . B u t K i e r ke ga a r d de ve l opst h r o u g h p o s s i b i l i t y a n d t h r o u g h t h e c o n t e m p l a t i o n o f t h e s e W e l -t a n s c h a u u n g s , as w o u l d a n y o n e u n d e r g o i n g s u c h a p r o c es s .

    T he c on t r a d i c t i on i n K i e r ke ga a r d t hus r e f l e c t s , a c c o r d i ng t o t h i s i n t e r -p r e t a t i on , d i f f e r e n t m om e n t s i n t he p r oc e s s o f s e l f - r e a l i z a t i on .K i e r ke ga a r d ' s d i s t a nc e f r om h i s w or k po i n t s t o t he l a t t e r ' s na t u r e a sposs ib i l i t y , whi l e h i s c loseness t o i t r evea l s i t a s pa r t o f a p rocess o fc onc r e t i z a t i on w h i c h i s una t t a i na b l e e xc e p t by t r a n s c e nd i ng t he g i ve n f a c tand r e tu rn in g to i t .

    I n t h i s r e ga r d , K i e r ke ga a r d ' s w r i t i ng i s h i s voya ge i n t o h i m s e l f , t h ev o y a g e h e m u s t u n d e r t a k e i n o r d e r t o r e a c h h i m s e l f . T h i s j o u r n e y t a k e sp l a c e a l ong t he d i f f e r e n t pa t h s t r a c e d by i m a g i na t i on : l it e ra r y w or k , t he a t r eand a r t a s a w hole .

    In on e o f h i s ea r l y j ou rna l en t r ie s , Kie rkeg aa rd s t r es se s t ha t h i s w i sh i s t of i nd o r un de r s t a nd h i m s e l f . W h e n de s c r i b ing t h is t a s k he w r i te s : " t he c r uc i a lt h ing i s t o f i nd . . . t h e i dea fo r w hich I a m w i l l ing t o l i ve and d i e . '52

    S e l f - unde r s t a nd i ng is t hus t r a n s la t e d a s f i nd i ng a n i de a. T h om ps onbe l i e ve s t h i s i s a ve r y s t r a nge no t i on , " f o r he p r opos e s t o unde r s t a ndh i m s e l f re a ll y b y l o o k i n g a w a y f r o m h i m s e l f . '5 3 T h o m p s o n a c c u se sK i e r ke ga a r d o f t u r n i ng t o i m a g i na t i on r a t he r t ha n t u r n i ng i nw a r ds , a nd t he nc l a i m s t ha t t he ou t c om e o f t h i s p r oc e s s i s a n i m a g i na r y r a t he r t ha n acon c re t e se l f.H o w e v e r , i n m a k i n g t h is a c c u s a ti o n , T h o m p s o n fa il s to a c k n o w l e d g e th em e a n i ng o f i m a g i na t i on a nd s e l f -t r a n s c e nde nc e i n K i e r ke ga a r d i a n on t o l ogy .I n d e e d , m a n m u s t u n d e r s t a n d h im s e l f , b u t th is u n d e r s t a n d in g c a n o n l y b ea t ta i ne d by c on t e nd i n g w i t h a l l t he pos s i b il it ie s o r i de a s o f f e r e d t o t he s e lf .T h e r e f o r e, w h e n K i e r k e g a a rd s tr u g g le s w i th h i m s e l f ab o u t h i m s e l f , h e g o e sb e y o n d h i m s e l f t o t h e p s e u d o n y m s an d t h e th e a tr e.I n s um , the p s e u do ny m , l ike t he the a t re , is a m e d i um o f im a g i na t ion . L i f ei t se l f m us t be l ed i n to t a l l y d i f fe ren t ca t egor i e s . As an y ac t i v i t y o f imag ina -t ion , t he t he a t re p l a ys a n i m p or t a n t e x is t en t ia l ro l e , bu t on l y a s a m om e n t int h e p r o c e s s o f c o n c r e t i z a t i o n , w h i c h e x p l a i n s K i e r k e g a a r d ' s c o m p l e xa t t it ude t ow ard i t .

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    4 6 9No t e s

    1. The quo te i s f rom Cr i tes ' in t roduct ion to Kierkeg aard ' s book , Cr&is in the Lifeof an Actress (Lo ndon : Col l ins , 1967), p . 37 .2. Fear and Trembling: Repetition, ed . an d tr ans . Ho ward V . an d Ed n a H . Ho n g(Princeton: Princeton U niver s i ty Press , 1983), p . 154.3. Two Ages, ed . and t rans . Howard V. and Edna H. Hong (Pr ince ton : Pr ince tonU niver s i ty Press , 1978), p . 136. See also Ib id . , p. 72 .4. Soren Kierkegaard's Journals and Papers, ed . and trans. How ard V. and Ed naH. H ong , 6 vo l s . (Bloom ing ton : Ind iana Univers i ty Press , 1967-1977) , #1051and #4881 . Num bers re fe r to passages . He reaf te r SKJP.5. Either~Or,Vol . I I , t rans . W al te r Low rie (Pr ince ton : Pr ince ton U nivers i ty Press ,1974). p. 124.6. See The Point of View for my Work as an Author, t rans . Wal te r Lowrie (NewYork : Harper an d Row , 1962), pp . 74-75 .7. SKJP, #5980.8. The Sickness Unto Death, ed . an d t r an s . Ho ward V . an d Ed n a H . Ho n g(Princeton: Princeton Univers i ty Press , 1980), pp. 13 and f t . My presentat ionof Kierkegaard ' s pos i t ion i s b r ie f ; fo r an ex tens ive ana lys i s see Mark C.Tay lo r , Kierkegaard's Pseudonyumous Authorship: A Study of Time and theSelf (Princeton: Princeton Univers i ty Press , 1975), pp. 109 and ff . ; John W.El rod , Being and Existence in Kierkegaard's Pseudonymous Authorship(Princeton: Princeto n Un ivers i ty Press , 1975), pp. 29-3 2.9. The Sickness Unto Death, p. 13.10. Ib id . , pp . 30, 35-3 6. See also Either/Or, Vo l II , p . 220.11. The Sickness Unto Death, p. 30.12. Ibid. , pp. 30, 36.13. Ib id . , pp . 35-3 6.14. See Ib id . , pp . 33-3 5, 37 -42.

    1 5 . Fo r a t h o ro u g h an d ex t en s i v e d i s cu s s i o n o f t h e p ro b l em o f h a rm o n y an db a l an ce i n t h e s e l f in K i e rk eg aa rd ' s p h i l o so p h y s ee V i n cen t A . M cC ar t h y , ThePhenomenology of Moods in Kierkegaard (Th e Hag u e : M ar t i n u s N i j h o f f ,1978).16 . The Sickness Unto Death, p. 13.17. Ibi d., p. 30.18. /bid.19. Ibid.20. Repetition, p. 154.21. Se e Ibid. , p. 156.22 . Compare F . Son tag , "Kierkegaard and the Search fo r a Se l f , " Essays onKierkegaard, ed . Je r ry H. Gi l l (Minneapo l i s : Burgess Pub l i sh ing Company ,1969), pp. 155-156.SKJP, #973 .

    C o m p are Greg o r M a l an t s ch u k , Kierkegaard's Thought (Princeton: PrincetonUn ivers i ty Press , 1971), pp. 29-30 .S ee Crisis in the Life of an Actress, pp . 76-77 , 85-87 . The book d i scussesHeiberg ' s re tu rn in her l a te r years to the ro le o f Ju l ia in Romeo and Julia, apar t she had ac ted in her you th . The p lay w as per fo rm ed a t the Roy al Thea t rein Copenh agen on 23 January 1847 .See Ib id. , p. 78.

    23.24.25.

    26.

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    4 7 027. See Either~Or, Vol . I , t rans . D. F . Swenson and L . M. Swenson (Pr ince ton :Pr ince ton Un ivers i ty Press ), pp . 5 2-73 .28. Ibid . , p. 53.29. Ib id . , p . 67 . In th is context , Kierkegaard mentions that music is c losest tolangua ge because i t is the on ly a r t " tha t t akes p lace in t ime."30. Ibid. , p. 66.31. Ib i d . ,p . 71.32. Repetition, p. 155.33. Purity of the Heart (New York : Harper and Row , 1956), p . 180 .34 . Compare Crisis in the Life o f an Actress, p. 77,35 . Th is ana lys i s revea ls tha t Kierkegaard ascr ibes dec i s ive impor tance to thedramat ic hero who represen ts the idea . Indeed , Kierkegaard exp l ic i t ly s ta tedthis in Either~Or, Vol. I, p. 116.36. See SKJP, #5980 .37. See , e.g. , ibid. , #6135 .38 . See M ar t in Thus t , "D as Mar ione t ten thea te r Soren Kierkegaa rds , " Zeitwende1(1925): 18-38.39. Armed Neutrality and An Open Letter, t r an s . Ho ward V . an d E d n a H . Ho n g(Sim on and Schu ster , 1969), p . 88.40. Ib id .41. See, e .g . , T . H. Croxal l , Kierkegaard Studies (New Yo rk : R o y Pu b l i s h e r s ,1948), p . 23; Josiah Thompson, The Lonely Labyrinth: Kierkegaard'sPseudonymous Works (Carbondale: Southern II l inois Press , 1967), pp. 62-71;

    Greg o r M a lan t s ch u k , Kierkegaard's Thought, p. 4.4 2 . M ark C . T ay lo r , Kierkegaard's Pseudonyumous Authorship, pp . 18-26 , 54-60 ;George Pr ice , The Narrow Pass: A Study of Kierkegaard' s Concept of Man(New Y ork : McG raw -Hi l l Bo ok Co . Inc . , 1967) , p . 14 .43. See, e .g . , Jam es Coll ins , The M ind of Kierkegaard (C h icag o : Hen ry R eg n e ry ,1965), pp. 35-38.44. Concluding Unscientific Postscript, t rans . Dav id F . Swenson and Wal te rLo w rie (Princeton: Princeto n U nive rs i ty Press , 1968), p . 551.45 . The Poin t o f V iew for my Work as an Author, pp . 85-86 , no te .46 . See Concluding Unscientific Postscript, pp . 67-71 , 551 . See a l so Mark C.Tay lo r , pp . 51-55 .47. See also The Poin t o f V iew for my W ork as an Author , p. 137.48. Ibid. , p. 73.49 . SKJP, #6700 .50. Soren Kierkegaards Papirer, ed . P . A. Heiberg , V. Kuhr and E . Tors t ing , 20Vols . (Kobenhavn : Gy ldendalske , 1909-1948) , IXB 64 .51. S KJP , #6388. See also Concluding Unscientific Postscript, p. 132.52. S KJP , #5100 .53 . Jos iah Thom pson , Kierkegaard (New York: Knopf, 1973), p . 52 .