THE AMERICAN-SCANDIN AVIAN REVIEW 295 
Strindberg was wholly and deeply religious, although of course 
not orthodox. One might think that this was in direct opposition to his 
revolutionary tendencies, but such was not the case. It was the con¬ 
viction that the truth—whichever it happened to be—was on his side, 
that gave strength to his arm. Many others have had the same point 
of view. If we study the great revolutionary spirits of the last two 
centuries, including those in opposition to Christianity, we shall see that 
they have been urged on by a purely religious feeling. As in Strind¬ 
berg’s case, their religion consists principally in a real desire for truth 
and in setting up the individual conscience as a final judge. This is 
just as true of the Puritans, Cromwell and Milton, as of Rousseau, 
Robespierre, Almquist, and Tolstoi. 
Originally an orthodox positivist, Strindberg later became an 
ardent mystic, and in this he was partly following the tendencies of the 
period. To a person who is familiar with Strindberg’s disposition and 
philosophy of life there is nothing startling about this change. As 
a matter of fact he had started out a pietist, and it was but logical that 
he should develop into a mystic. Moreover, there seems to be some¬ 
thing typically Swedish about this evolution. Many of our great men 
have already passed along the same highway. Linne, one of our great 
scientists, in his old age is known to have brooded over nemesis divina, 
and to have tried to discover the laws of existence, while Swedenborg, 
the mathematician and physicist, thought that in his visionary spirit- 
world he had solved the riddle of the universe. 
There are many dark blots, however, upon Strindberg’s relations 
with his fellowmen. At times he could be harsh and intolerant; his at¬ 
titude of suspicion, which later developed into the firm belief that he 
was being hounded, led him to make accusations for which there was 
absolutely no foundation. But this in no way affects his idealism. 
Moreover, he was always championing some cause, to which he re¬ 
mained ever faithful. He forgot, however, that men and ideas could 
not be measured by the same standards. It was impossible for frail 
humanity to satisfy his exorbitant demands. Strindberg was a man 
who applied high standards to little things. 
