Simenon and Kierkegaard, Inspirers of The Promise

Published 2022-03-18
DOI: https://doi.org/10.47421/rthph154_1_29-40

Authors

  • Étienne Barilier

Abstract

The starting point of The Promise comes directly from Simenon’s Maigret tend un piège. But the story of the piège conceals a notion of sacrifice, already in Simenon, and even more so in Dürrenmatt. The Promise thus appears as a variation on the story of the sacrifice of Isaac as interpreted by Kierkegaard in Fear and Trembling. The heart of the Danish philosopher’s meditation, as also of the Swiss author, is absurdity. But whereas absurdity is salvific in Kierkegaard’s eyes, conferring ultimate meaning to Abraham’s act, in Dürrenmatt it is meaninglessness itself, leaving man to fear and tremble without any hope for peace.

How to Cite

[1]
Barilier, Étienne 2022. Simenon and Kierkegaard, Inspirers of <i>The Promise</i>. Revue de Théologie et de Philosophie. 154, 1 (Mar. 2022), 29–40. DOI:https://doi.org/10.47421/rthph154_1_29-40.

Issue

Section

Friedrich Dürrenmatt et la philosophie