Poetry collection 'Man gråter' uses 'man' for a raw voice

Swedish poet Ylva Gripfelt, known for her debut collection "Det gudomliga tillståndet," has released her second book, "Man gråter" (One Cries). In this new work, Gripfelt boldly replaces the first-person pronoun "jag" (I) with "man" (one/you/they), a linguistic decision that reviewer Therese Eriksson finds results in an unusually raw and multi-layered poetic voice.

While the title might suggest a focus on male tears, the collection primarily delves into intense desire and love for an unnamed woman. This is coupled with a profound sorrow stemming from the relationship's inherent impermanence, leading to a significant emotional outpouring, though not necessarily tears shed solely by men.

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Man gråter

The pronoun "man" itself is a point of linguistic contention in Swedish. Unlike "hen," its debates are less about gender identity and more about its function as a generalized pronoun. Language purists and prescriptivists often advise against its overuse, arguing that "man" can easily blur individuality and responsibility. Phrases like "Man borde kanske putsa fönstren" (One should perhaps clean the windows) can imply a wish for someone else to act, while "man känner/kan/vet ju" (one knows/can/knows) often serves as a disguised "I."

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jag