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| Author | Søren Kierkegaard |
|---|---|
| Original title | Gjentagelsen. Et Forsøg i den experimenterende Psychologi af Constantin Constantius |
| Language | Danish |
| Genre | Philosophical novel |
| Publisher | C.A. Reitzel's, Printed by Biance Luno Press |
Publication date | October 16, 1843 |
| Publication place | Denmark |
Published in English | 1941 - First Translation by Walter Lowrie |
| Pages | ~100 |
| OCLC | 189619 |
| Preceded by | Three Upbuilding Discourses, 1843 |
| Followed by | Four Upbuilding Discourses, 1843 |
Repetition (Danish: Gjentagelsen) Is an 1843 book by Søren Kierkegaard, the book was published under the pseudonym Constantin Constantius to mirror its titular theme. Constantin investigates whether repetition is possible, and the book includes his experiments and his relation to a nameless patient only known as the Young Man.[1]
The Young Man fell in love with a girl, later proposing to her, the proposal was accepted, but he later changed his mind.[2] Constantin later becomes the young man's confidant. Coincidentally, the problem that the Young Man had is the same problem Kierkegaard had with Regine Olsen. He had proposed to her, she had accepted, but he had changed his mind. Kierkegaard was accused of "experimenting with the affections of his fiancée".[3]
Charles K. Bellinger says Either/Or, Fear and Trembling and Repetition are works of fiction, "novelistic" in character; they focus on the boundaries between the different spheres of existence, such as the aesthetic, the ethical and the religious; they often focus on the subject of marriage; which was traced back to Kierkegaard's relationship with Regine."[4] There is much in this work that is autobiographical in nature, how much is left up to the reader.[note 1] Kierkegaard explores the conscious choices this Young Man makes.[5]He had written about repetition previously in his unpublished book Johannes Climacus.
When ideality and reality touch each other then repetition appears. When, for example, I see something in the moment, ideality intervenes and will explain that it is a repetition. Here is the contradiction, for that which is, is also in another mode. That the eternal is, that I can see, but in that same instant I bring it into relation with something else which also is, something that is the same and which will also explain that the other is the same. Here is a redoubling; here this is the question of repetition. Ideality and reality therefore collide.[6]
Kierkegaard published Fear and Trembling, Three Upbuilding Discourses, 1843 and Repetition all on the same date, the date being October 16, 1843. Abraham was the main character in Fear and Trembling and the Three Upbuilding Discourses, all about love. Repetition presents a noticeable contrast between the other two books that is nearly comical. He takes up the idea of repetition again in his 1844 work The Concept of Anxiety[7] where he explores the concepts of sin and guilt more directly. The book could be the counterpart of Goethe's Clavigo, which Kierkegaard dealt with in Either/Or.[8]
- ^ This Young Man is most likely taken from Johann Goethe's novel Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship and Travels Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship and Travels Carlyle's translation 1824, 1871 Wilhelm wanted to go to plays all the time
- ^ Repetition p. 131, 133-136
- ^ see pages p.8-12 and 21-24 for information about Regine and Quotes from Repetition. Søren Kierkegaard, by David F. Swenson Scandinavian studies and notes, Volume 6 No. 7 August 1921 Editor George T Flom University of Illinois Published in Menasha, Wisconsin
- ^ A Very Short Life of Kierkegaard, by Charles K. Bellinger
- ^ Repetition p. 228-229
- ^ Johannes Climacus, by Soren Kierkegaard, Edited and Introduced by Jane Chamberlain, Translated by T.H. Croxall 2001 p. 84
- ^ The Concept of Anxiety, Nichol p. 15-21, 34-35, 90-95
- ^ See Either/Or Part I, Swenson translation 175ff and Goethe's Calvigo on YouTube Clavigo
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