The transformations of the concept of fate in literature

In the course of time the literary idea of fate has been subject to a series of transformations which may also be of some interest from the point of view of comparative religion. The primary point of departure is man's dualistic experience of coming up against an exterior power stronger than hi...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Mogens Bröndsted
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Donner Institute 1967-01-01
Series:Scripta Instituti Donneriani Aboensis
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journal.fi/scripta/article/view/67016
Description
Summary:In the course of time the literary idea of fate has been subject to a series of transformations which may also be of some interest from the point of view of comparative religion. The primary point of departure is man's dualistic experience of coming up against an exterior power stronger than himself, which thwarts his actions and intentions. This is supposedly the basic element in all primitive religion: the observation of an external power which decisively controls human life. The first phase, then, is religious, whether this power is conceived to be a plurality of spirits or deities or—most primitive of all, according to a recent trend in comparative religion—as a single 'high god'.
ISSN:0582-3226
2343-4937