"Kom in! För här kommer ingen ut..." : En mikrohistorisk undersökning av Pontus Wikners liv som homosexuell.

Sammanfattning: During the 19th century, the Swedish society implemented a new criminal law which made homosexual acts punishable with hard labour for up to two years. What’s even more notably is that the penal formulation equated these homosexual acts with bestiality. Contemporary with this implementation, an academic man named Pontus Wikner lived. Professor of philosophy, married to a girl named Ida and with two baby boys he carried a huge secret with him for his entire life - he was a homosexual. The purpose of the study was to figure out how Pontus Wikners self-image as a homosexual was in his lifetime in relation to the current laws and norms within the society, but also in relation to topics such as personal beliefs and his close relations. In order to fulfil the purpose, a qualitative, micro historic study has been implemented - with a thematic structure in order to answer the questions. What emerged as the study took shape was that Pontus Wikner did by no means life a simple or nonproblematic life. In the public sphere he was an highly regarded academic within the area of philosophy and religious philosophy. In the private sphere, Wikner lived a different life. In his confessions and diares, Wikner told the story that not many knew about his life in the private sphere. These writings were given out posthumously, and told the story of Wikners hidden life. Wikners self-image as a homosexual seems to be pretty clear. Never did Wikner feel as much love as he did in his close relations with other men. It was within these relations that he found himself dearly happy. His writings showed an internal struggle of large proportions. In relations to current theories wihtin masculinity and queer theory, the analysis has lit an old problem with new perspectives. The definition of homosexuality as we know it today did not yet exist, therefor the concept of queer and masculinity helped to show how Pontus Wikner was not only a homosexual. He was also in some definitions a queer persona as he showed a deep insight within his confessions and diaries with his own problems, but also a will to help, guide and protect his peers within the society to give them a more worthy life than he lived.