Inner Turmoil

Soren Kierkegaard is widely known as a man with a complex and dark emotional life. This is not to imply that his emotions were particularly evil; in fact, there is evidence to the contrary. However, his emotional troubles often sent him reeling into depression and caused him to approach life in a deeply dramatic fashion. One imagines that due to his inner turmoil, Kierkegaard's relationship with Regine was, despite appearances, something of a roller coaster. In fact, Kierkegaard ended the relationship for reasons that are not entirely clear, save that he deemed himself unworthy and that his emotional state made him disagreeable.

This turmoil is somewhat directly reflected in the text. Johannes does not seem to be in a state of emotional turmoil. Instead, he exhibits a high degree of emotional stability and focus. Perhaps in Johannes Kierkegaard reflects a quality that he lacked in himself, that...