BETWEEN FAITH, SUFFERING, AND EXISTENTIAL CONSCIOUSNESS: THE POETIC UNIVERSE OF CHRISTINE LAVANT

Abstract

This article examines the literary legacy of Austrian poet Christine Lavant, focusing on the existential, spiritual, and psychological dimensions of her poetry. Lavant occupies a unique place in twentieth-century German-language literature due to her deeply autobiographical lyrical voice, shaped by poverty, chronic illness, social isolation, and religious tension. Her works reveal an intense struggle between faith and doubt, suffering and redemption, loneliness and transcendence. Through a close reading of her poetic collections, this study explores how Lavant constructs symbolic imagery, metaphorical language, and mystical motifs to represent the fragile human condition. The article also discusses the influence of Christian mysticism, existential philosophy, and modernist aesthetics on her writing. Lavant’s poetry is interpreted as an artistic expression of the inner self confronting both divine silence and existential uncertainty. The research highlights the importance of her work in understanding the intersection between literature, spirituality, and psychological experience in modern European poetry.