# XII: Pilgrimage and Penance explained — The Inferno

> Chapter companion for The Inferno by August Strindberg.

## What happens

The narrator returns to Sweden and settles in Lund, a town he despises, where he experiences persecution, miraculous events, and a deepening spiritual crisis. He meets an old friend who confirms a widespread turn toward religion and the invisible, leading him to borrow Swedenborg's works and begin his path to redemption.

## Themes in this chapter

### Suffering and Punishment

The narrator endures relentless persecution, noise, electric shocks, and social humiliation as a form of penance.

### Religion and Spiritual Crisis

The chapter depicts a widespread yearning for religion, a reconciliation with the 'powers', and the narrator's turn to Swedenborg.

### The Invisible and the Occult

Miraculous events (falling knife, water drop, wax-cloth) and references to occult powers and Swedenborg's works.

### Guilt and Redemption

The narrator sees Lund as his Canossa, where he must retract false doctrines and expiate his sins.

## Character check-ins

### August Strindberg

The narrator, who returns to Sweden in a penitent's costume and seeks expiation.

### Swedenborg

His works are borrowed and provide deliverance.

### Popoffsky

Popoffsky's sister-in-law and her husband are mentioned as influential enemies in Lund.

### Saul

The narrator's friend is described as 'that Saul among the young prophets'.

### Providence

Thanked for sending the narrator to Lund to expiate his sin.

### The Devil

The narrator attributes the persecutory noises and electric currents to the Devil.

## Key lines

> the worst place I could have chosen for a quiet residence; it is hell, but a hell contrived with masterly logic and divine ingenuity.

Lund is the most unsuitable place for peace, yet it is a hell designed with perfect logic and divine craft.

_The narrator acknowledges the divine purpose in his suffering._

> From atheism to Swedenborg is only a step!

The transition from disbelief to embracing Swedenborg's teachings is a short one.

_Highlights the narrator's rapid spiritual transformation._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_inferno_se/chapters/xii-pilgrimage-and-penance
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_inferno_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_inferno_se/chapters