How did Aksel Sandemose explore irrationality and hypocrisy in his novels?

Aksel Sandemose explored the themes of irrationality and hypocrisy by critiquing the repressive nature of the petite bourgeoisie and the stifling conventions of small-town society. His work often castigated the "convention-ridden" environments of his upbringing, most notably through the fictional town of Jante and its "Jante’s Law," which enforced a rigid suppression of the individual.12

To probe the depths of the human mind and its inherent irrationality, Sandemose utilized experimental narrative techniques, including broken chronologies, fantasy, and complex allusions. His novels, such as En flyktning krysser sitt spor (A Fugitive Crosses His Tracks), serve as a primary vehicle for this exploration, illustrating how societal repression can lead to violence.21

In his later works, such as Varulven (The Werewolf), Sandemose continued to examine the dualism of good and evil, delving into the psychological forces—such as jealousy and murder—that underpin destructive ideologies like Nazism. By blending autobiographical elements with psychological insight, he sought to expose the hypocrisy of those who maintain self-satisfied, conformist lives while harboring deeper, often violent, impulses.12