Missionare und Kolonisierung auf Pohnpei in Die Missionarin von Sybille Knauss

Abstract

Scholars have long regarded the Christian missionary endeavor as a signifi cant component of the European colonial project, crucial in consolidating and sustaining colonial rule in distant occupied territories. When the German Empire, under the reign of Emperors Wilhelm I and Wilhelm II, began to participate in the global competition for colonies at the end of the 19th cen tury, Catholic and Protestant missionaries had already ventured into remote regions in previous decades to spread Christianity. Although they faced the challenge of remaining faithful to the mission of disseminating God’s word, they were also compelled to maintain stable relationships with the political leadership of their homeland. In her novel Die Missionarin (1997), German author Sibylle Knauss illuminates various aspects of missionary work on the colonised island of Pohnpei (formerly Ponape) in the western Pacific Ocean, emphasising the relationships that missionaries cultivated both with their German compatriots and the indigenous population. By tracing the destinies of the main characters, missionaries Karl and Lina Winter, the novel illumi nates their inner transformation which gradually allows them to understand the indigenous population of Pohnpei. In doing so, Knauss highlights the ambivalent position of German missionaries and, through a critical reflection on missionary work and colonisation, creates space for a dialogue on the role of missionaries in the colonial process.