It contains a few more ideas about this
episode in his life. It is useful to put these things into some sort of
context, so although not all of the material is directly relevant it is connected
to Strindberg in some way. Even Nietzsche gets a mention!
The ‘former American friend’
In this case, it is not obvious who is the main
victim and who the victimiser.
Perhaps this man was a mirror or a messenger.
Perhaps Strindberg appeared and behaved to others as the mystery man did to
him. Perhaps Strindberg had just as bad
an effect on the man - and others - as the man had on him. It is often said that like attracts like and
a man is known by the company he keeps.
It could just be that both men were in a
psychotic state at the time so were strongly drawn to each other.
There is no free will at the lowest levels,
just strong currents that can overwhelm people. Maybe both men were trapped in
a bad psychological neighbourhood, a place where no normal healthy person could
or would venture.
Maybe his use of black magic against his little daughter put Strindberg into the power of something that only lets its hostages
and puppets associate with others in the same position.
Perhaps some scripted scenarios were at work.
