The Offensive Retreat—An Upbuilding Discourse as a Function of the Paradox

Abstract

Kierkegaard declared that even his upbuilding discourses were communicated indirectly. This is somewhat surprising, since he published the upbuilding discourses veronymously, whereas his alledgedly aesthetic works were published pseudonymously. In my article, I analyse one of Kierkegaard’s early upbuilding discourses in order to examine whether, and if so in what way, it is an instance of indirect communication. I also discuss whether there are theological reasons for such indirectness. If Christianity for Kierkegaard was insolubly linked with the paradox does that explain why indirectness is an exigency when writing within a Christian context? The discourse analysed and discussed is the one called “Think about Your Creator in the Days of Your Youth.” Here, Kierkegaard launched his enigmatic notion of a phase in life he calls “the Retreat.” This notion appears to imply that it is too late if one attempts to attain true belief in old age and that youth therefore is a priviledged age when it comes to belief. But the paradox proves to challenge this implication in a paradoxical fashion. As a part of the investigation the emblem of the rose, which plays a part in the discourse, is also discussed.