En sammenlignende analyse av Fred og Renselse – når religionen driver en til vanvidd : En litterær sammenligningsanalyse av Arne Garborgs Fred og Tore Renbergs Renselse, hvor religionspsykologi har en sentral rolle som fortolkningsteori

Abstract

The main purpose of this assignment, has been to compare the novel Renselse, written by Tore Renberg, and Fred written by Arne Garborg. The goal has been to put the differences and similarities between the novels portrayal of religion, mental illnesses, and man’s search for a sense of belonging and acceptance, on display. I have been focusing particularly on analyzing the novels, and main characters, where my analysis has been pointed towards their religious beliefs alongside their relationship to, and perception of God. Throughout this assignment I have been using different theories to back up my analysis and summaries. Whereas the most important and relevant aspects have been on the psychology of religion. In addition to this, I have also made great use of psychoanalytic literature theory, hereby also the theory of trauma, as a way of analyzing the novels and main characters. Narratology has also been used as a way of analyzing the stories way of telling. Sigmund Freud has been a major figure in my assignment, naturally, because of his big impact on the breakthrough of psychoanalysis, and his thoughts about religion and the individual. As a result, I have concluded with the fact that there are many similarities that can be traced between the two novels. In addition to the main characters themselves, there is also a great similarity in the way the authors choose to portray religion and God. This they do in a gloomy and self-destructive way, which is what led me to the idea of the subtitle “-when religion drives one insane”. Of course, there are also differences that draw themselves between the novels. However, despite this fact, the novels portray a similar and consistent picture of religion as a destructive factor in man’s life.