xasperating Bartleby: Formula – Allegory – Reticence
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17851/2317-2096.24.3.11-23Keywords:
Bartleby, Melville, formula, allegory, politics, literature, philosophyAbstract
The present essay discusses the so-called “Bartleby effect” in its literary, philosophical and political dimensions, while bringing into account the readings of Melville’s novel offered by Blanchot, Deleuze, Agamben, Hardt, Negri, Zize&k, among other authors. I distinguish two procedures – one following the thread of the “formula”, the other of the “allegory” – and show how they may either converge or diverge in the abovementioned readings. The final “reticence” expresses a critical concern as regards the relationship between literature and politics. On account of realizing both the difficulties in articulating the “formulaic” and the “allegorical” procedures, and the prevalence of a certain messianism, when that articulation seems to succeed, I suggest that recognizing the “politics of literature” cannot – and should not – be equated with transforming any literary character and/or formula into an emblem of politics.
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Copyright (c) 2014 João Pedro Cachopo (Autor)
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