This dissertation is a study of the role Lou Andreas-Salome played in the life of Rainer Maria Rilke. It attempts to elucidate the significance of the relationship between these two prolific writers within a literary and personal framework, emphasizing their struggle to conceptualize God in their writings and in their own lives. The possible effect of Salome's writings on Rilke's works and the development of Rilke's creative process have been examined through their correspondence with each other from 1897-1926. In the first chapter, Lou Andreas-Salome's importance for Rainer Maria Rilke is studied. An excursus is presented to discuss a possible explanation of the complex relationship between Lou and Rilke. The second chapter deals with Lou Andreas-Salome and her writings. The third chapter presents Lou's influence on Rilke's poetic development from 1897 to 1905.