Psalm 22 in the light of René Girard’s mimetic theory
Psalm 22 v luči mimetične teorije Renéja Girarda

english

2025

volume 85, issue 4

Bible   mimetic theory   psalms

Univerza v Ljubljani, Teološka fakulteta
(Obvezni izvod spletne publikacije)

The article examines the narrative of Psalm 22 from the perspective of René Girard’s mimetic theory. First, the psalm is briefly contextualized in the Christian interpretive tradition, and its basic narrative structure is outlined. Next, based on Girard’s first two books – Mensonge romantique et vérité ro-manesque (1957) and Dostoievski, du double a l’unité (1963) – we present Girard’s triangular model (in addition to the subject and object, there is also a mediator who is located beyond the subject-object line and is actually the focus of mimetic desire). Then, we point out the basic contours of the sacrificial mechanism and corrections of Freud in Girard’s third and most referenced book La violence et le sacré(1972). Finally, we indicate Girard’s turn towards the Bible and a kind of biblical deconstruction of the mythological sacrificial narrative in the book Des Choses cachées depuis la fondation du monde (1978) – which was later developed in the books La route antique des hommes pervers, (1985), Je vois Satan tomber comme l’eclair (1999) and Celui par qui le scandale arrive(2001). Finally, the psalm itself is analyzed from the perspective of Girard’s sacrificial theory.

17.02.2026