Nina Koefoed:
A Discourse Analysis of the Foundation of the Marriage Legislation in Denmark between 1770 and 1800

Following a short presentation of Michel Foucaults discourse analysis, this article centres on a practical discourse analysis built on Foucault. The article demonstrates a discursive shift in the fundamental legitimation of legislation by analysing the Marriage Acts in Denmark between 1770 and 1800, and especially the parts of the acts concerning citizens who were regarded as too closely related for marriage. In 1770 the law was built on the words of the Bible; the Word of God was the non-discussed principal behind the law. In 1800 the law was founded on fundamentally different principles. There is an emerging understanding of the citizen and the rights of the citizens in relation to Legislation and State. The article discusses the basic changes in the various acts – from the Word of God to the Rights of the Citizen as foundation for marriage legislation.