Fear and Trembling and the concept of resignation

Introduction

The concept of resignation is presented in Fear and Trembling as an essential part of Kierkegaard's analysis of faith. Fear and Trembling, which was published in 1843 and is probably the best known of Kierkegaard's works, tells the story of the Binding in a strikingly unusual way. It discusses the structure of Abraham's faith, and characterizes it as a paradoxical double movement. The two movements, of resignation and of faith, and the paradoxical relation between them, are the core of Fear and Trembling: this is the basis on which Kierkegaard construes his famous polemical discussion regarding the ‘teleological suspension of the ethical’ (‘Problema I’) and its implications (‘Problema II’ and ‘Problema III’). However, most of the readings and interpretations of Fear and Trembling tend to overlook the significance of this fundamental analysis of faith (which constitutes almost half of the book), and rush to address the problem of the three ‘Problemas’. It is not surprising then, that along with the movement of resignation, the knight of resignation is also pushed aside – and so is his painful love for a princess. But before doing justice to this love story (as well as to the concept of resignation which is crucial for a correct understanding of faith), there is a need to say a few words on the supposed author of Fear and Trembling, that is, the pseudonym Johannes de Silentio.