The Inferno · Character

Swedenborg

The mystic whose hells mirror the narrator's own landscape — crater, pigsty, ravine — convincing him that earth itself is the dungeon of the damned.

supporting

Also known as VIII Swedenborg

First appearance: i the hand of the invisible

As a supporting figure in The Inferno, Swedenborg is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Referenced as a spiritual authority whose visions of hell parallel the narrator's experiences.

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In The Inferno: Referenced as a spiritual authority whose visions of hell parallel the narrator's experiences. Later, in V: Purgatory: Enters the narrator's life on the anniversary of his death, becoming a judge and…

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See Swedenborg in i the hand of the invisible

Character Web

11 connections

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Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Intellectual and Spiritual Influences
Protagonist
Archetypes and Historical Mirrors

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This excerpt is the dramatic climax because it reveals the narrator’s psychological peak of self-identificatio…

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Swedenborg appears across 11 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

The Inferno
Referenced as a spiritual authority whose visions of hell parallel the narrator's experiences.
V: Purgatory
Enters the narrator's life on the anniversary of his death, becoming a judge and master through Séraphita.
VI: Hell
Swedenborg is identified as the narrator's 'teacher' in the context of the myth of Bhrign, linking the narrator's punishment to his pride.
VII: Beatrice
Referenced for his teaching that love for a child is sexless and heavenly, and as a figure sent to re-baptise France.
VIII: Swedenborg
His writings describe hell as earthly life, directly influencing the narrator's worldview.
XII: Pilgrimage and Penance
His works are borrowed and provide deliverance.
XIII: The Deliverer
The prophet whose writings on spiritual catharsis, corrective spirits, and the correspondence of symptoms provide the key to understanding Strindberg's experiences.
XIV: Tribulations
Explained the true character of the narrator's terrors and pointed the way to salvation through repentance.
Whither?
Cited as teaching that it is unlawful to quit the religion of one's ancestors, influencing the narrator's view of Protestantism.
Epilogue
Mentioned in connection with reforming spirits and guardian angels.
Endnotes
Mentioned in the note explaining a stage in the religious life according to Swedenborg.

Chapter companion notes

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See Swedenborg in i the hand of the invisible

See Swedenborg in The Inferno