Barabbas by Par Lagerkvist presents the story of Barabas, the man who was acquitted instead of Jesus of Nazareth.

Most of us are familiar with this narrative, yet I, personally, was not well-versed in Barabas' personality and life. The Bible offers no details on how he lived or where he went after being pardoned. This leaves me pondering the veracity of the book.

What strikes me most about this story is the depiction of human emotions. Despite our sinful nature, we are capable of profound regret and empathy for those we have wronged. For instance, when Barabas realizes that an innocent man will die in his place, he is deeply disturbed. We even see him present at the crucifixion. After being accused of robbery, he acknowledges his guilt.

To non-believers in Jesus Christ, Barabas was a hero. To those who believed Jesus was unjustly accused and crucified, he remained a villain. He was loved and hated with equal intensity. Surprisingly, Barabas himself believed in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I don't know how much of this is true, but I can assure you that I will be extremely disappointed if it isn't. France, being a predominantly Catholic nation, gives me hope.

Lagerkvist, Lagerkvist, how no one reads you anymore...

It is truly a pity because you are a remarkable Lutheran-damaged existentialist. As I recently described to my friend, it's like Camus and Hamsun collaborating on a work inspired by Kierkegaard.

"Barabbas," much like his excellent "The Sibyl," is based on a Bible story. Despite its concise nature, it still encompasses and manages to handle epic themes.

It is a wonderful exploration of guilt, faith, and the mysterious forces that govern the world. Lagerkvist's writing is so profound and thought-provoking, yet it seems to have been overlooked in modern times. We should really take the time to rediscover his works and appreciate the depth and beauty within them.

His unique perspective on existentialism and his ability to bring out the complex emotions and ideas in his characters make his books a must-read for anyone interested in philosophy, literature, or the human condition.

Let's not let Lagerkvist's genius go unnoticed any longer.

A 160-page novel holds an immense power within its pages. It presents a profoundly Christian story, yet it focuses on one of the least Christian characters from the gospel. The narrative is truly stunning, captivating the reader from the very first page. It delves deep into the character's flaws, struggles, and ultimately, their journey towards redemption. Through vivid descriptions and engaging dialogue, the author brings this character to life, making the reader empathize with their situation. The novel not only explores the themes of faith and forgiveness but also challenges the reader's own beliefs and perspectives. It is a thought-provoking and moving work that will leave a lasting impression on anyone who reads it.

Barabbas is an addition to the New Testament written by an atheist. It is far more likely to please those who have fallen away from the faith than someone who is a believer.

The person of Barabbas is a very familiar figure to anyone with a Christian upbringing. The story of Christ's passion is read every year on Palm Sunday and on Good Friday. Thus, you hear the story twice a year. How Pilate tells the crowd that they have the right to obtain the pardon of one condemned man every year and suggests that they request it for Jesus. Instead, the crowd asks that Barabbas, a common bandit, be pardoned. Jesus, of course, cannot be the one to receive the pardon, because he came into the world to be crucified. For this reason, Barabbas survives.

The first time a child hears the story, he or she is shocked. The second time, the child wants to know what happened to Barabbas afterwards. This is the great hook that Lagerkvist uses so brilliantly. Everyone wants to know what happened to Barabbas, including those who should not. An adult who believes in Christ understands that some mysteries will never be revealed to us during our lives on this earth. Reading Barabbas is then a very impious exercise.

Lagerkvist, however, plays the game very well. He understands that his reader wants to know what purpose God had in mind for Barabbas. Was he supposed to be simply an unwitting collaborator in the scheme to crucify Christ? Did Barabbas ever come to believe in Christ? Was he saved?

Lagerkvist's Barabbas wants to believe in Christ but his nature prevents him from accepting a God who preaches love and forgiveness. Barabbas wants rough justice. When a crowd stones a follower of Christ, Barabbas responds by murdering the person who threw the first stone. When Nero starts a fire in Rome with the purpose of blaming it on the Christian, Barabbas rushes out with a torch to set houses alight.

Barabbas is arrested and crucified. His final utterance, however, is cryptic. The reader cannot be sure whether Barabbas has indeed embraced Christ (albeit in a very perverse fashion) or if he has committed himself to a different, more violent God. The ending, this is both ambiguous and dishonest. After having lured the reader in with the promise of telling the story of Barabbas, Lagerkvist finally chooses not to tell the reader what happened to him at the end.

If the hell was the 'other' people (Sartre), then this book can serve as a means for remembering those who have been forgotten.

Why is this act of remembering so crucial? Throughout history, it has often been written from only one perspective, that of 'the winners' - whether it be Jesus, Kings/Queens, or Western democratic principles.

But what about "Les Damnés de la Terre" (Fanon)? It challenges the dominant narrative and gives a voice to the marginalized.

Let's pay tribute to all novels with anti-heroic protagonists. They resist the deliberate exclusions of 'others' not only in literature but also in life.

These works force us to confront the uncomfortable truths and question the status quo. They remind us that there are many voices and experiences that have been silenced or overlooked.

By reading and celebrating such novels, we can expand our understanding and empathy, and work towards a more inclusive and just society.

This is a truly beautiful novel.

It centers around a man named Barabbas. He was the one who was set free from prison, and in his place, Jesus was condemned to be crucified.

The story delves deep into the complex emotions and thoughts that Barabbas experiences. He is filled with confusion, guilt, and a sense of wonder at the events that unfold.

As he witnesses the crucifixion of Jesus, his life is forever changed. He begins to question his own actions and the meaning of his existence.

The novel explores themes of redemption, sacrifice, and the power of forgiveness. It takes the reader on a journey through Barabbas'内心世界, allowing us to understand his struggles and his search for meaning.

Overall, this is a captivating and thought-provoking novel that will leave a lasting impression on its readers.

I've noticed that the vast majority of my two-star reviews are on books that I had high hopes and expectations of loving. This particular one, "Barabbas" by Lagerkvist, is no exception.

I had previously read another book by Lagerkvist, "The Sibyl," which had truly amazed me with its understated yet profound beauty. The premise of "Barabbas" seemed brilliant. I thought it would be even better than "The Sibyl." However, to my disappointment, I found it to be stilted and flat.

The principle of "show, don't tell" apparently doesn't hold true here. The characters' thoughts are both overly explained and difficult to relate to. They lack any real depth. Barabbas himself is like a cipher. Maybe that's intended to emphasize his internal emptiness, but for me, it just made me feel that Lagerkvist couldn't really connect with his own protagonist.

As a result, I found myself completely unable to care about what happened to Barabbas or any of the other characters. The story failed to engage me on an emotional level, and I was left with a sense of dissatisfaction.

The original article might be: "This product received 3.75 stars out of 5. It has some good features but also some drawbacks."

Expanded version:

This product has been rated with 3.75 stars out of a possible 5. ★★★★☆

On one hand, it does possess several good features that make it quite appealing. These features contribute to its overall functionality and usability, providing value to the users.

However, on the other hand, it also has some drawbacks. These shortcomings might prevent it from achieving a perfect score and could potentially disappoint some customers.

Despite the drawbacks, the 3.75-star rating indicates that the product still has a lot to offer and is likely to be a viable option for many, depending on their specific needs and priorities.

Mycket fint och bra.

It is truly very fine and good.

Mysig modernistisk svenska.

The charming modern Swedish style.

Roligt att tänka sig att de pratade så i Jerusalem.

It is interesting to think that they spoke like that in Jerusalem.

Välspunnen dramaturgi och potent symbolspråk.

The well-crafted dramaturgy and powerful symbolic language.

Regnigt och ensamt.

Rainy and lonely.

This description seems to paint a vivid picture. The fine and good aspect might refer to something beautiful or of high quality. The modern Swedish style adds a touch of charm and uniqueness. The idea of people speaking in a certain way in Jerusalem is an interesting thought, perhaps adding an element of cultural contrast. The well-crafted dramaturgy and powerful symbolic language suggest a depth and complexity to the work. And the rainy and lonely atmosphere creates a sense of melancholy and isolation. Overall, it makes for an engaging and evocative piece of writing.

Barabbas is a man who witnessed many remarkable events. He saw the crucifixion eclipse, the darkness that accompanied it, which was supposed to be a miracle. He also knew about the resurrection of Jesus after He had been crucified and buried, and even Jesus' visit to a man who lived through the resurrection process.

However, despite all these experiences, Barabbas remained an unbeliever. He couldn't believe that God could be crucified. He had his own doubts and went on a journey searching for answers, as well as peace for his soul and a cure for his loneliness.

In contrast, Sahak is a faithful believer. He is willing to die for what he believes, even though he didn't witness the miracles that Barabbas did. This raises an interesting question: should faith be taken by the mind, like Barabbas who suffered the darkness of the soul, or by the heart, like Sahak did and found his own peace?

I think Barabbas' struggle to believe might have a reflection on Pär's life, his own trial to understand Jesus. Maybe Pär can learn from Barabbas' journey and find his own path to faith.

Dear friends, this novel is about the mysterious story of and of course Jesus Christ... According to the Christian storytellers, this Mr. Barabbas is a criminal from the city of Jerusalem in Israel, and the Jews, through a conspiracy, make it so that he is released from prison instead of Jesus Christ, who was a Jewish revolutionary, and Jesus is crucified!!! Of course, dear ones, these stories, which are numerous and each one tells something about this mysterious story of the crucifixion of Christ, whether he died or not on the cross, the blood of Christ, the sacrifice of Christ, and these matters, have no historical authenticity. And like other matters related to Jesus, such as the story of his birth from Mary and the place of his birth, all are creations of the minds of Christians in their eternal struggle with the Jews. And so... one of the reasons for creating such characters as Barabbas, by the lying and distorting Christian clergy, is to create hatred and enmity in the hearts of poor Christians from childhood. Hatred of someone they have not seen and do not know, which causes the love for Christ and his martyrdom in the hearts of naive Christians to increase even more... This is also done in other religions... Just as Shia Muslims have been accustomed from childhood to have hatred and enmity in their hearts towards Umar ibn al-Khattab or Shimr, and this hatred, according to them, increases the love and martyrdom of Hussein or Fatima in their hearts... Dear ones, never, because of these lying and false preachers, waste your existence from childhood with senseless hatred and enmity... If your goal was to read this book, read it only as an ordinary story... which of course, again, it is not worth spending your time on.

Barabbas has seen Christ up close, but he does not consider him as a prophet or a being superior to other humans... However, the people do not leave him alone, and now that they have understood that he has seen Jesus, they constantly ask him to speak about Jesus for them... But poor Barabbas is already tired of these matters and is not willing to speak, and if he says anything, like the stories of the crucifixion of Christ, he utters incomprehensible nonsense... Of course, Barabbas cannot forget many things, and a kind of grief and depression, similar to the torture of conscience, has taken root in his being.
Barabbas tries to keep himself busy by working so that the memory of Christ and the people will leave him alone... Therefore, for a while, he works in a copper mine and becomes acquainted with a revolutionary named in the mine... Sahak, without really knowing who Jesus was and what he was like!! Just like other religious believers throughout history who do not know what they have believed in! He has believed in Christ and has hung a cross around his neck... In any case, poor Sahak, with that cross around his neck, is arrested and brought before the Roman court, and Sahak confesses that he is a Christian, and according to the judgment of the court, Sahak is crucified in front of the eyes of Barabbas... It seems that in this story, this poor Barabbas has to be a witness to the crucifixion of revolutionaries like Jesus Christ and Sahak and other Christian martyrs every time... which of course, from the point of view of Christians, means the torture of Barabbas!!! In short, dear friends, the only thing that can make the story interesting is this lack of difference and mental instability of Barabbas, which of course this instability is also evident in the writing style of the author... Coincidentally, the fact that the story was written by also counts as a kind of instability, and it is interesting... Because this author, as far as I know, has never believed in Christ and other religious and spiritual mysteries.

I hope this review has been useful in getting to know this story.

**GERUSALEMME - BETLEMME 0 - 2**

The novels related to the passion of Christ have always held a certain fascination for me. I had previously dedicated myself to Bulgakov's Pilate (which is the precious piece within The Master and Margarita), to Berto's Judas, and to Mailer's son's Gospel. Regarding Barabbas, I had legitimate expectations, but around the middle of the book, I found myself thinking about that joke that was going around in the eighties:

- Who do you want free, Jesus or Barabbas?
- Barabbas, Barabbas, Barabbas...
Well, then Barabbas is free and Jesus is crucified, but then don't come complaining if he loses against Bethlehem.

The libero no longer exists. Now in defense, they play three in a row, in some cases two; the new libero is the goalkeeper, someone who in modern football must be better with his feet than with his hands, someone who imposes numerical superiority and the opening of multiple lines of passage. Today, the libero par excellence is no longer Barabba Baresi but rather André Onana.

The book disappointed me, as I think one can begin to sense. Rarely has a preface (whether the factions are pre or post, I read them anyway at the end) managed to explain to me so well the reasons.

- Lagerkvist leads the narrative not by plots but by scenes (perhaps, stations), according to the traditional structures of the religious drama;
- Lagerkvist's Swedish painting - which is the same as the theatrical aspect for the settings, the costumes, the lights, the timbres, and the sounds of the colorations, because in this drama, naturally, there is no music - is a very beautiful mixture of that Italian one of a Masaccio or a Mantegna, with that, more bustling, of certain Germans like Altdorfer or Cranach, and, alone, Rembrandt.
(Alessandro Ceni)

Here's what bothered me: the division into frames, into theatrical scenes: it's not cinema, it's a comic book; it's not a stream of consciousness, they are sketches of consciousness; it's not a theme, it's a test. This book is more of a catalog than a novel.

P.F. Lagerkvist wrote Barabbas in 1950, a year before receiving the Nobel Prize and which revealed him to the great public.

One must be cautious with these Nordic Nobels. They seem to be awarded more for nepotism than for merit. I had already happened to think something similar when reading the Norwegian Knut Hamsun. If before in Stockholm they mainly awarded their compatriots, now to show that they are open to the world, they have begun to award the prize as if it were the winning ticket of a lottery, that is, more or less randomly. The misunderstanding (I'm speaking for myself) I think arises from the fact that the Nobel, I would like to see it awarded to someone who writes and writes better than others, not to a musician, to an actor, to a failed Japanese kamikaze. But it is precisely a misunderstanding, and here in a synthetic way, the reason is explained.

https://www.actualidadliteratura.com/...

Lagerkvist's Barabbas is a character of total invention, and here begins and ends the merit of his creator. If Alessandro Ceni is right, lovers of painting may appreciate the frames present in this catalog better than I have been able to do.