En möjlig värld: En tematisk studie av Lars Gustafssons 1990-talsromaner

• "En möjlig värld" explores how questions of moral standards and ontology are discussed explores how questions of moral standards and ontology are discussed and represented in three of Lars Gustafsson's novels in a search for a world that is conceivable - in terms of moral philosophy, as well as ontology. Initially, a theoretical foundation is constructed, based on the assumption that fictional texts are linguistic phenomena that mainly refer to the worlds they themselves create. By establishing these fictional worlds, and by relating them to the experience-based world, the reader construes the meaning(s) of the text. This theoretical model constitutes a prerequisite for identifying that the worlds in Gustafsson's novels go through fundamental ontological changes, changes that constitute the peaks and turning points of their thematic developments. A thematic line is found to run through the three novels: In "Historien med hunden" (1993), the theodicy problem turns out to be unsolvable in the Jewish-Christian, monotheistic ontology, and a search for a new ontology that could provide a logically acceptable foundation for universally relevant moral standards, begins. Eventually, a dualistic Gnostic ontology, is established. Unfortunately, in the Gnostic world of "Tjänarinnan" (1996), the individual turns out to be lonely, alienated, and fragmented. A solution to this problem is found as the Gnostic view of the world is replaced by a monistic ontology. "Windy berättar" (1999) explores the question of what death is in such a monistic ontology where each individual thing is part of the same whole. Spinoza's concept of death as a constant process of change, and as a constitutive part of life, is presented, and the novel ends with the realization that after coming to terms with what death really is, one has to stop thinking about the past and start living in the present. Finally, in the concluding chapter of "En möjlig värld", a context of pre-Millennial a context of pre-Millennial beliefs and expressions is delineated. It is shown how Gustafsson's novels relate to this context, as well as to the tradition of literary Apocalypse. Also the positive function of the Apocalypse as the means to a new beginning, or rebirth, is discussed and compared to the destruction, and construction, of ontological foundations for the worlds of the novels.

• Popular Abstract in Swedish "En möjlig värld" behandlar Lars Gustafssons (f. 1936) romaner "Historien med hunden" (1993), "Tjänarinnan" (1996) och "Windy berättar" (1999), vilka framstår som en central del i det omfattande författarskapet. Genom romanerna löper som en röd tråd sökandet efter en moralfilosofiskt och ontologiskt möjlig värld - ett sökande som här tydliggörs och analyseras. Med hjälp av teologiska, filosofiska och litterära nedslag synliggörs underliggande strukturer och en diskussion som handlar om de stora frågorna. Hur ska människan finna en grund för moraliska värderingar? Finns det någon logiskt möjlig lösning på teodicéproblemet? Hur ska världen se ut för att människan ska bli mindre ensam? Vad är egentligen döden, och hur ska vi förhålla oss till den? En möjlig värld presenterar också den amerikanska miljö där romanerna utspelar sig, och läsaren bjuds på många intressanta utflykter i samtidens Texas.

Ämnesord

HUMANIORA  -- Språk och litteratur (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- Languages and Literature (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

literary theory

General and comparative literature

Fictional truth

fictional worlds

moral standards

ontology

theodicy

the Deluge

Gnosticism

monism

death

the Underworld

Memory Palaces

Millennial beliefs

Apocalypse

Michael Riffaterre

Anselm of Canterbury

Paul de Man

literature criticism

Ramon Llull

Spinoza.

Nordiska språk (språk och litteratur)

Scandinavian languages and literature

Allmän och jämförande litteratur

litteraturkritik

litteraturteori

Publikations- och innehållstyp

dok (ämneskategori)

vet (ämneskategori)