The Path of Perdition

This chapter describes a period in Kierkegaard's life he calls the “path to perdition.” This occurred in the middle of the year 1836, when Kierkegaard's chosen path in life (given his newly won independence) had led to a sharp decline and plunged him into a sense of despair. During this time he had begun taking an interest in Ahsverus, the Wandering Jew, who typifies despair. Recognizing that he was in despair, Kierkegaard would, at the suggestion of a mentor, turn to the study of irony, which he would later present for his master's degree in 1841. Alongside his despair, the chapter also explores Kierkegaard's aesthetic pursuits, including his explorations of sensuality and the “sexual fall.”