Via Dolores. En katolsk teologisk läsning av Sara Stridsbergs "Darling River"

Abstract

Literature and religion share a common history that stretches back to the very origins of written language—and beyond. However, following the Enlightenment and Romantic movements, this position has become less evident. Has religion truly disappeared from literature? And what happens now that we are entering a post-secular era? These overarching questions form the point of departure for this thesis, which analyzes Sara Stridsberg’s "Darling River" (2010). Stridsberg has not professed adherence to any religion, and she operates within Sweden, the most secularized country in the world. Precisely for this reason, it is noteworthy that "Darling River" is filled with catholic allusions, all of which have the potential to actualize new ways of approaching the work. The purpose of this study is twofold. Firstly, it aims to contribute to research on the oeuvre of Stridsberg by applying a theological perspective to one of her novels, "Darling River" – something that has not previously been done. Secondly, it seeks to explore the potential of theological reading in relation to a literary work that does not explicitly express religiosity, thereby contributing to the broader research field of literature and religion. To achieve this, a Catholic theological system reference, inspired by Krzysztof Bak’s method, is applied. It reveals themes such as the imagined God, destiny, spiritual gravity, grace, as well as the spirituality of materiality in the novel. The analysis of these themes, viewed through the lens constituted by the system reference, contributes to and deepens the understanding of the novel and how it can function theologically – both literarily and materially.