WALTER BENJAMIN

Illuminations
TRANSLATED BY HARRY ZOHN
Edited and with an introduction by HANNAH ARENDT
PREFACE BY LEON WIESELTIER
SCHOCKEN BOOKS . NEW YORK
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Contents
,RE7ACE BY 1EON W+ESE1T+ER 6
+NTROD2CT+ON
Walter Benjamin: 18^2-1^40, by Hannah Arendt $
UNPACKING MY LIBRARY
A Talk ao!t Book Colle"tin#$%
THE TASK OF THE TRANSLATOR
An &ntro'!"tion to the Translation
o( Ba!'elaire)s TabeauG "ari!ien! &
%
THE STORYTELLER
*e(le"tions on the Works o( Nikolai +eskov 8,
FRANZ KAFKA
-n the Tenth Anniversar. o( /is 0eath $$$
SO8E RE71ECT+ONS ON KA7KA $<$
WHAT +S E,+C THEATERJ $ <0
ON SO8E 8OT+7S +N BA2DE1A+RE $ 99
THE +8A5E O7 ,RO2ST ./$
THE WORK O7 ART +N THE A5E O7 8ECHAN+CA1 RE,ROD2CT+ON
. $ 0
THESES ON THE ,H+1OSO,HY O7 H+STORY .9B
ED+TORKS NOTE .&9
+NDEL O7 NA8ES .&%
Preface
by 1eon Wie!etier
+t i! hard to i4agine a ti4e when Water BenCa4in wa! not a god :or an ido; o-
critici!4* but + can re4e4ber when* in 4y own !tudent day!* not !o ong ago* he
wa! ony an eGciting ru4or. +t wa! the "ubication o- &ll!minations, and then a
-ew year! ater o- *e(le"tions, the!e o)ingy a!!e4bed and beauti-uy tran!ated
)ou4e!* that con-ir4ed the ru4or. The!e were the boo3! that brought the new!.
+ can re"ort that in the boo3!ho"! around Cou4bia in it! roied year!* be-ore
Broadway beca4e a boue)ard o- theory* they were !natched u" i44ediatey and
read with a hu!hed -a!cination. No !ooner wa! BenCa4in 3nown than he wa!
re)ered. + encountered BenCa4inK! na4e -or the -ir!t ti4e in the ornate dedication
to 1ajor Tren's in 2e3ish 1.sti"ism, the 4a!terwor3 :ta3 about bringing the
new!M; o- hi! de)oted and di!a""ointed -riend 5er!ho4 Schoe4* which wa!
"ubi!hed a year a-ter BenCa4inK! re-ugee !uicideN DTo the 4e4ory o- Water
BenCa4in :i '%.=$%</;* the -riend o- a i-eti4e* who!e geniu! united the in!ight
o- the 8eta"hy!ician* the inter"retati)e "ower o- the Critic* and the erudition o-
the SchoarFdied at ,ort Bou :S"ain; on hi! way into -reedo4.E Thi! i! !ti the
4o!t ee4entary characteriAation o- BenCa4inK! den!e and eu!i)e 4ind. +t
"re"ared 4e -or the 4o!t !igni-icant ?uaity o- BenCa4inK! acco4"i!h4ent* and
a!o o-
)tt
4 5re(a"e
hi! !"irit@ a4ong the great 4odern inteectua!* he wa! the one who ea!t added
u".
BenCa4inK! great di!"er!a* enacted -ir!t by hi! 4entaity and then by hi!
hi!tory 4ade hi4 e!"eciay attracti)e. He wa! a naturay un!y!te4atic 4an* a
hero o- -rag4entation in the ine o- No)ai! and Schege and NietA!che. And yet
he wa! not an ene4y o- od "hio!o"hy* not at a. To a degree that i! !ti not
ade?uatey a""reciated* BenCa4in wa! ha""iy !tee"ed in 5er4an "hio!o"hy*
and regarded hi! critica ta!3 a! the "hio!o"hica anay!i! o- iterature and
cuture. +n hi! re!te!! and !cattered way* he wa! carrying on the wor3 o- HegeK!
Aestheti"s, a -oundationa and unCu!ty di!carded wor3 that 4ay be "re"o!terou!
in it! co!4ic idea! but i! 4agni-icent in it! oca idea!. BenCa4in had a !i4iar
gi-t -or a""ying ab!traction! to "ea!ure!. And to hi! eG"anatory -er)or he
added a -er)or -or ob!er)ationN he !aw 4ore* in boo3! and in "ace!* than other
"eo"e did* and he !aw di--erendy. The !trangene!! that you encounter u"on
reading BenCa4in -or the -ir!t ti4e i! a4o!t a cogniti)e !trangene!!@ he 4a3e!
e)erything no onger -a4iiar. Hi! inco4"etence at ordinary i)ing aowed hi4
to !ee it 4ore !har"y. 1i3e 4any o- the in!urgent chidren o- the 5er4an (ewi!h
bourgeoi!ie* he beie)ed that banaity wa! the ene4y o- i-eN but hi! anti=
banaiAing energy* the -erocity with which he 4ined the 4o!t co44on"ace
obCect! and e)ent! -or eG"o!i)e 4eaning!* wa! a4o!t diaboica. :DThe
e)eryday a! i4"enetrabe* the i4"enetrabe a! e)erydayE; +n hi! 4e4oir! a! in
hi! e!!ay!* he !ee4ed to re?uire o- e)ery "erce"tion that it be a re)oution. +t wa!
hi! "re4i!e that nothing i! what it a""ear! to be* and thi! 4ade hi4 into a !choar
o- a""earance!. He had an una""ea!abe a""etite -or the 4argina and the
idio!yncratic* becau!e de)iance oo3ed to hi4 i3e an e"i!te4oogica ad)antage.
Nothing that wa! not negected coud be true. A thi! ed BenCa4in into the
underground o- e!oteric inter"retation.
+n hi! te4"era4ent and in hi! 4ethod* BenCa4in wa! an e!oteri=ci!t. He wa!
4odernityK! 3abbai!t. +n hi! turgidy enchanted word there were ony 4y!terie!*
oc3ed and unoc3ed. Hi! in-atuation with 8arGi!4* the 4o!t e4barra!!ing
e"i!ode o- hi! 4enta wandering!* the ony ti4e that he ac?uie!ced in the
regi4entation o- hi! own 4ind* 4ay be under!tood a! 4erey the 4o!t de!"erate
o- hi! eGerci!e! in arcane reading. The teGt* thi! ti4e* wa! hi!toryN but there wa!
)ia
5re(a"e
nothing that wa! not a teGt* -or BenCa4in. He wa! the 4o!t boo3i!h o- the
agitator=inteectua!. :He oo3ed ridicuou! in the +biAa !un.; He teGtuaiAed the
uni)er!e. Thi! wa! becau!e he wa! e!!entiay an eGegete* a go!!ator. E)erything
he wrote wa! co44entary. The ,ari! Arcade! "roCect i!* a4ong other thing!* a
4ie!tone in the hi!tory o- co44entary* an a!tounding reno)ation o- an od "oint
o- regard -or a new reaity. 1i3e the great 4edie)a co44entator!* BenCa4in
de4on!trated by eGa4"e that co44entary 4ay be an in!tru4ent o- originaity.
And in hi! ca!e* not ony o- originaity* but a!o o- rede4"tion@ in BenCa4inK!
)iew* inter"retation doe! not !o 4uch di!co)er 4eaning a! reea!e it* and oo!e it
u"on the word !o a! to iberate it. BenCa4in read 4e!!ianicay. +n!ight* -or hi4*
wa! a )ariety o- intoGication. +ndeed* hi! ?ue!t -or deiriu4 in critici!4 4ade hi!
"oitica writing! -inay u!ee!! -or "oitic!. DThe reaiAation o- drea4 ee4ent!
in wa3ing i! the teGtboo3 eGa4"e o- diaectica thin3ingE@ no go)ern4ent e)er
tre4bed be-ore !uch a diaectic. 7or a hi! "roca4ation! o- "oitica !oidarity*
BenCa4in -inay re"re!ented ony hi4!e-* and hi! own intro)erted and
ineGtingui!habe hunger -or a !ecret 3nowedge* an initiation* a re)eation. He
wa! a -aied 4y!tic i)ing a4id -aied !anctitie!* and !trugging again!t the
-aiure!.
The!e )ou4e! 4ay be read a4o!t a! a !"iritua diary. They gi)e a "ortrait o- a
"igri4. But thi! "igri4 4a3e! no "rogre!!* and hi! !tory at !o4e "oint cea!e! to
be !tirring* and beco4e! aienating* and then cru!hing. +t i! not ony the e)i
circu4!tance! o- BenCa4inK! death that ea)e one with a gathering "ity -or hi4.
Hi! di!"er!a co4e! to !ee4 cunning* )ain* -rantic* !o4eti4e! diettanti!h* !o4e=
ti4e! ani4ated by an a!"iration to cutura "owerFa daAAing di!traction -ro4
the "o!!ibiity that there 4ay ha)e been nothing a!ting at the core. BenCa4in can
be at once o)er-owing and )acantN a !tudent o- hiddenne!! ner)ou!y in hidingN a
"igri4 without a !hrine. Schoe4 begged BenCa4in to 4a3e a choice and a
co44it4ent :and to 4a3e the choice and the co44it4ent that he hi4!e- had
4ade;N and wherea! it i! true that Schoe4 wa! a4o!t 4on!trou! in hi! con=
!i!tency o- "ur"o!e o)er the year!* he wa! right to worry about the !"iritua
i4"ication! o- BenCa4inK! indeci!i)ene!!. And thi! indeci=!i)ene!!* which 4ay
ha)e co!t BenCa4in hi! i-e* wa! unattracti)ey Coined to a wea3ne!! -or dog4atic
certitude. The uncertainty that
iG
5re(a"e
Schoe4 de"ored wa! reay a "etri-ication by certainty* or a !erie! o- !uch
"etri-ication!. BenCa4inK! wor3 wa! !carred by a high ideoogica na!tine!!* a!
when he 4oc3ed Dthe !cerotic ibera=4ora=hu4ani!tie idea o- -reedo4E :a! i-
Euro"e in hi! day wa! !u--ering -ro4 a !ur-eit o- thi!;* and !"ecuated acidy
about the beie- in Dthe !acredne!! o- i-eE :or -ro4 a !ur-eit o- thi!;* and
re!"onded with "er-ect di--idence to the cen!or!hi" and the "er!ecution o-
writer! in the So)iet 2nion* which he cody de!cribed a! Dthe tran!-er o- the
4enta 4ean! o- "roduction into "ubic owner!hi".E The "ioneering eG"orer o-
4e4ory wor!hi""ed hi!tory too 4uch. He a!o wrote too 4uchN he ad)i!ed
writer! to Dne)er !to" writing becau!e you ha)e run out o- idea!*E and o-ten he
acted on hi! own ad)ice. + con-e!! that there are 4any "age! in BenCa4in that +
do not under!tand* in which the di!cour!e !ee4! to be dictating it!e-* and no
direction i! cear. 1i3e 4any e!oterici!t!* he abu!e! the "ri)iege o- ob!curity.
And yet BenCa4inK! writing! are unco44ony rich with "enetrating and
"re!cient notion!@ the i4"o)eri!h4ent o- eG"erience in 4odern i-eN the "ri4acy
o- 4e4ory a! a 4ode o- con!ciou!ne!!N the aura o- the wor3 o- art* and it!
eci"!e in the age o- 4echanica :not to !"ea3 o- eectronic; re"roductionN the
ho"e -or D"ro-ane iu4inationEN the eterna entange4ent o- barbari!4 with
ci)iiAationN the critica utiity o- the 4e!!ianic ideaFa the!e notion! are Cu!ty
ceebrated* a! are hi! u4inou! eGa4ination! o- 5oethe and Baudeaire and
Ka-3a and Krau!. BenCa4inK! wor3 i! e)idence o- the ight that a reigiou!
!en!ibiity 4ay !hine u"on !ecuar eGi!tence. There are certainy )ery -ew critic!
who can 4atch hi! "ower o- !ugge!ti)ene!!N hi! idea! and intuition! ha)e a way
o- ingering "roducti)ey* e)en when you ?uarre with the4. +n the a""ication o-
"hio!o"hica conce"t! to cutura and !ocia actuaitie!* hi! decidedy un4y!tica
-riend Adorno wa! hi! ony "eer. ,hio!o"hica thin3ing retained it! od roe* -or
BenCa4in@ it wa! hi! be!t de-en!e again!t de!"air. There !ti i! no better one.
O
Introduction
Walter Benjamin: 89!9"#
I$ T%E %&NC%BAC'
7ar4* that 4uch=co)eted godde!!* ha! 4any -ace!P and -a4e co4e! in 4any
!ort! and !iAe!F-ro4 the one=wee3 notoriety o- the co)er !tory to the !"endor
o- an e)era!ting na4e. ,o!thu4ou! -a4e i! one o- 7a4aK! rarer and ea!t
de!ired artice!* athough it i! e!! arbitrary and o-ten 4ore !oid than the other
!ort!* !ince it i! ony !edo4 be!towed u"on 4ere 4erchandi!e. The one who
!tood 4o!t to "ro-it i! dead and hence it i! not -or !ae. Such "o!thu4ou! -a4e*
unco44ercia and un"ro-itabe* ha! now co4e in 5er4any to the na4e and wor3
o- Water BenCa4in* a 5er4an=(ewi!h writer who wa! 3nown* but not -a4ou!*
a! contributor to 4agaAine! and iterary !ection! o- new!"a"er! -or e!! than ten
year! "rior to HiterK! !eiAure o- "ower and hi! own e4igration. There were -ew
who !ti 3new hi! na4e when he cho!e death in tho!e eary -a day! o- $%</
which -or 4any o- hi! origin and generation 4ar3ed the dar3e!t 4o4ent o- the
warFthe -a o- 7rance* the threat to Engand* the !ti intact Hiter=Stain "act
who!e 4o!t -eared con!e?uence at that 4o4ent wa! the co!e co=o"eration o- the
two 4o!t "ower-u !ecret "oice -orce! in Euro"e. 7i-teen year! ater a two=
)ou4e edition o-
Illuminations
hi! writing! wa! "ubi!hed in 5er4any and brought hi4 a4o!t i44ediatey a
s!""es '6estime that went -ar beyond the recognition a4ong the -ew which he
had 3nown in hi! i-e. And !ince 4ere re"utation* howe)er high* a! it re!t! on the
Cudg4ent o- the be!t* i! ne)er enough -or writer! and arti!t! to 4a3e a i)ing that
ony -a4e* the te!ti4ony o- a 4utitude which need not be a!trono4ica in !iAe*
can guarantee* one i! douby te4"ted to !ay :with Cicero;* Si 3in vi"issent 7!i
morte vi"er!nt8ho3 di--erent e)erything woud ha)e been Di- they had been
)ictoriou! in i-e who ha)e won )ictory in death*E
,o!thu4ou! -a4e i! too odd a thing to be ba4ed u"on the bindne!! o- the
word or the corru"tion o- a iterary 4iieu. Nor can it be !aid that it i! the bitter
reward o- tho!e who were ahead o- their ti4eFa! though hi!tory were a race
trac3 on which !o4e contender! run !o !wi-ty that they !i4"y di!a""ear -ro4
the !"ectatorK! range o- )i!ion. On the contrary* "o!thu4ou! -a4e i! u!uay
"receded by the highe!t recognition a4ong oneK! "eer!. When Ka-3a died in
$%.<* hi! -ew "ubi!hed boo3! had not !od 4ore than a cou"e o- hundred
co"ie!* but hi! iterary -riend! and the -ew reader! who had a4o!t accidentay
!tu4bed on the !hort "ro!e ."iece! :none o- the no)e! wa! a! yet "ubi!hed;
3new beyond doubt that he wa! one o- the 4a!ter! o- 4odern "ro!e. Water
BenCa4in had won !uch recognition eary* and not ony a4ong tho!e who!e
na4e! at that ti4e were !ti un3nown* !uch a! 5erhard Schoe4* the -riend o-
hi! youth* and Theodor Wie!engrund Adorno* hi! -ir!t and ony di!ci"e* who
together are re!"on!ibe -or the "o!thu4ou! edition o- hi! wor3! and etter!.
$

+44ediate* in!tincti)e* one i! te4"ted to !ay* recognition ca4e -ro4 Hugo )on
Ho-4ann!tha* who "ubi!hed BenCa4inK! e!!ay on 5oetheK! 9le"tive A((inities in
$%.<* and -ro4 Bertot Brecht* who u"on recei)ing the new! o- BenCa4inK! death
i! re"orted to ha)e !aid that thi! wa! the -ir!t rea o!! Hiter had cau!ed to
5er4an iterature. We cannot 3now i- there i! !uch a thing a! atogether
una""reciated geniu!* or whether it i! the daydrea4 o- tho!e who are not
geniu!e!N but we can be rea!onaby !ure that "o!thu4ou! -a4e wi not be their
ot.
7a4e i! a !ocia "heno4enonN ad goria4 non e!t !ati! uniu!
.
&ntro'!"tion
o:inio :a! Seneca re4ar3ed wi!ey and "edanticay;* D-or -a4e the o"inion o-
one i! not enough*E athough it i! enough -or -riend!hi" and o)e. And no !ociety
can "ro"ery -unction without ca!!i-ication* without an arrange4ent o- thing!
and 4en in ca!!e! and "re!cribed ty"e!. Thi! nece!!ary ca!!i-ication i! the ba!i!
-or a !ocia di!cri4ination* and di!cri4ination* "re!ent o"inion to the contrary
notwith!tanding* i! no e!! a con!tituent ee4ent o- the !ocia rea4 than e?uaity
i! a con!tituent ee4ent o- the "oitica. The "oint i! that in !ociety e)erybody
4u!t an!wer the ?ue!tion o- 3hat he i!Fa! di!tinct -ro4 the ?ue!tion o- 3ho he i!
Fwhich hi! roe i! and hi! -unction* and the an!wer o- cour!e can ne)er be@ + a4
uni?ue* not becau!e o- the i4"icit arrogance but becau!e the an!wer woud be
4eaninge!!. +n the ca!e o- BenCa4in the troube :i- !uch it wa!; can be
diagno!ed in retro!"ect with great "reci!ionN when Ho-4ann!tha had read the
ong e!!ay on 5oethe by the co4"etey un3nown author* he caed it
;s"hle"hthin !nver#lei"hli"h< :Dab!outey inco4"arabeE;* and the troube wa!
that he wa! iteray right* it coud not be co4"ared with anything e!e in eGi!ting
iterature. The troube with e)erything BenCa4in wrote wa! that it away! turned
out to be s!i #eneris4
,o!thu4ou! -a4e !ee4!* thenQ to be the ot o- the unca!!i=-iabe one!* that i!*
tho!e who!e wor3 neither -it! the eGi!ting order nor introduce! a new genre that
end! it!e- to -uture ca!!i-ication. +nnu4erabe atte4"t! to write a* a Ka-3a* a
o- the4 di!4a -aiure!* ha)e ony !er)ed to e4"ha!iAe Ka-3aK! uni?uene!!* that
ab!oute originaity which can be traced to no "rede=ce!!er and !u--er! no
-oower!. Thi! i! what !ociety can ea!t co4e to ter4! with and u"on which it
wi away! be )ery reuctant to be!tow it! !ea o- a""ro)a. To "ut it bunty* it
woud be a! 4i!eading today to reco44end Water BenCa4in a! a iterary critic
and e!!ayi!t a! it woud ha)e been 4i!eading to reco44end Ka-3a in $%.< a! a
!hort=!tory writer and no)ei!t. To de!cribe ade?uatey hi! wor3 and hi4 a! an
author within our u!ua -ra4ewor3 o- re-erence* one woud ha)e to 4a3e a great
4any negati)e !tate4ent!* !uch a!@ hi! erudition wa! great* but he wa! no !choarN
hi! !ubCect 4atter co4"ri!ed teGt! and
B
&ll!minations
their inter"retation* but he wa! no "hioogi!tN he wa! greaty=attracted not by
reigion but by theoogy and the theoogica ty"e o- inter"retation -or which the
teGt it!e- i! !acred* but he wa! no theoogian and he wa! not "articuary
intere!ted in the BibeN he wa! a born writer* but hi! greate!t a4bition wa! to
"roduce a wor3 con!i!ting entirey o- ?uotation!N he wa! the -ir!t 5er4an to
tran!ate ,rou!t :together with 7ranA He!!e; and St.=(ohn ,er!e* and be-ore that
he had tran!ated BaudeaireK! Talea!= :arisiens, but he wa! no tran!atorN he
re)iewed boo3! and wrote a nu4ber o- e!!ay! on i)ing and dead writer!* but he
wa! no iterary criticN he wrote a boo3 about the 5er4an baro?ue and e-t behind
a huge un-ini!hed !tudy o- the 7rench nineteenth century* but he wa! no
hi!torian* iterary or otherwi!eN & !ha try to !how that he thought "oeticay* but
he wa! neither a "oet nor a "hio!o"her.
Sti* in the rare 4o4ent! when he cared to de-ine what he wa! doing*
BenCa4in thought o- hi4!e- a! a iterary critic* and i- he can be !aid at a to
ha)e a!"ired to a "o!ition in i-e it woud ha)e been that o- Dthe ony true critic
o- 5er4an iteratureE :a! Schoe4 "ut it in one o- the -ew* )ery beauti-u etter!
ta the -riend that ha)e been "ubi!hed;* eGce"t that the )ery notion o- thu!
beco4ing a u!e-u 4e4ber o- !ociety woud ha)e re"eed hi4. No doubt he
agreed with Baudeaire* ;>tre !n homme !tile 3Ca :ar! to!jo!rs 7!el7!e "hose
'e 1en hi'e!=< +n the introductory "aragra"h! to the e!!ay on 9le"tive A((ini-
ties, BenCa4in eG"ained what he under!tood to be the ta!3 o- the iterary critic.
He begin! by di!tingui!hing between a co44entary and a criti?ue. :Without
4entioning it* "erha"! without e)en being aware o- it* he u!ed the ter4 ?ritik,
which in nor4a u!age 4ean! critici!4* a! Kant u!ed it when he !"o3e o- a
Criti7!e o( 5!re *eason4@
Criti?ue Hhe wroteI i! concerned with the truth content o- a wor3 o- art* the
co44entary with it! !ubCect 4atter. The reation!hi" between the two i!
deter4ined by that ba!ic aw o- iterature according to which the wor3K! truth
content i! the 4ore ree)ant the 4ore incon!"icuou!y and inti4atey it i! bound
u" with it! !ubCect 4atter. +- there-ore "reci!ey tho!e wor3! turn out to endure
who!e truth i!
<
&ntro'!"tion
4o!t dee"y e4bedded in their !ubCect 4atter* the behoder who conte4"ate!
the4 ong a-ter their own ti4e -ind! the realia a the 4ore !tri3ing in the wor3
a! they ha)e -aded away in the word. Thi! 4ean! that !ubCect 4atter and truth
content* united in the wor3K! eary "eriod* co4e a"an during it! a-teri-eN the
!ubCect 4atter beco4e! 4ore !tri3ing whie the truth content retain! it! origina
concea4ent. To an e)er=increa!ing eGtent* there-ore* the inter"retation o- the
!tri3ing and the odd* that i!* o- the !ubCect 4atter* beco4e! a "rere?ui!ite -or any
ater critic. One 4ay i3en hi4 to a "aeogra"her in -ront o- a "arch4ent who!e
-aded teGt i! co)ered by the !tronger outine! o- a !cri"t re-erring to that teGt. (u!t
a! the "aeogra"her woud ha)e to !tart with reading the !cri"t* the critic 4u!t
!tart with co44enting on hi! teGt. And out o- thi! acti)ity there ari!e! i44e=
diatey an ine!ti4abe criterion o- critica Cudg4entN ony now can the critic a!3
the ba!ic ?ue!tion o- a critici!4=na4ey* whether the wor3K! !hining truth
content i! due to it! !ubCect 4atter or whether the !ur)i)a o- the !ubCect 4atter i!
due to the truth content. 7or a! they co4e a"art in the wor3* they decide on it!
i44ortaity. +n thi! !en!e the hi!tory o- wor3! o- art "re"are! their criti?ue* and
thi! i! why hi!torica di!tance increa!e! their "ower. +-* to u!e a !i4ie* one )iew!
the growing wor3 a! a -unera "yre* it! co44entator can be i3ened to the
che4i!t* it! critic to an ache4i!t. Whie the -or4er i! e-t with wood and a!he!
a! the !oe obCect! o- hi! anay!i!* the atter i! concerned ony with the enig4a o-
the -a4e it!e-@ the enig4a o- being ai)e. Thu! the critic in?uire! about the truth
who!e i)ing -a4e goe! on burning o)er the hea)y og! o- the "a!t and the ight
a!he! o- i-e gone by.
The critic a! an ache4i!t "racticing the ob!cure art o- tran!4uting the -utie
ee4ent! o- the rea into the !hining* enduring god o- truth* or rather watching
and inter"reting the hi!torica "roce!! that bring! about !uch 4agica
tran!-iguration=whate)er we 4ay thin3 o- thi! -igure* it hardy corre!"ond! to
anything we u!uay ha)e in 4ind when we ca!!i-y a writer a! a iterary critic.
There i!* howe)er* another e!! obCecti)e ee4ent than the 4ere -act o- being
unca!!i-iabe which i! in)o)ed in the i-e o- tho!e who Dha)e won )ictory in
death.E +t i! the ee4ent o- bad uc3* and thi! -actor* )ery "ro4inent in
BenCa4inK! i-e* cannot be ignored here becau!e he hi4!e-* who "robaby ne)er
thought or drea4ed about "o!thu4ou! -a4e* wa! !o eGtraordinariy aware
9
&ll!minations
o- it. +n hi! writing and a!o in con)er!ation he u!ed to !"ea3 about the Ditte
hunchbac3*PP the ;!"kli"ht 1annlein( a 5er4an -airy=tae -igure out o- 0es
?naen W!n'erhorn, the -a4ou! coection o- 5er4an -o3 "oetry.
Wi ich in 4einK Keer gehn* Wi ich in 4e4 Kiiche gehn*
Wi 4ein Weine4 Aa"-enC Wi 4ein Sii""ein 3ochenN
Steht ein buc3icht 8annein Stent ein buc3icht 8annein
da* da*
Tat 4irKn Krug weg!chna"= Hat 4ein To"-ein brochen.P
"en.
The hunchbac3 wa! an eary ac?uaintance o- BenCa4in* who had -ir!t 4et hi4
when* !ti a chid* he -ound the "oe4 in a chidrenK! boo3* and he ne)er -orgot.
But ony once :at the end o- A Berlin Chil'hoo' aro!n' iAoo@
t
when antici"ating
death he atte4"ted to get hod o- Dhi! Rentire i-eK ... a! it i! !aid to "a!! be-ore
the eye! o- the dying*PK did he ceary !tate who and what it wa! that had
terri-ied hi4 !o eary in i-e and wa! to acco4"any hi4 unti hi! death. Hi!
4other* i3e 4iion! o- other 4other! in 5er4any* u!ed to !ay* D8r. Bunge
!end! hi! regard!E BCn#es"hi"kt lasst #r!ssen@ whene)er one o- the counte!!
itte cata!tro"he! o- chidhood had ta3en "ace. And the chid 3new o- cour!e
what thi! !trange bunging wa! a about. The 4other re-erred to the Ditte
hunchbac3*E who cau!ed the obCect! to "ay their 4i!chie)ou! tric3! u"on
chidrenN it wa! he who had tri""ed you u" when you -e and 3noc3ed the thing
out o- your hand when it went to "iece!. And a-ter the chid ca4e the grown=u"
4an who 3new what the chid wa! !ti ignorant o-* na4ey* that it wa! not he
who had "ro)o3ed Dthe itte oneE by oo3ing at hi4Fa! though he had been the
boy who wi!hed to earn what -ear wa!Fbut that the hunchbac3 had oo3ed at
hi4 and that bunging wa! a 4i!-ortune. 7or Danyone who4 the itte 4an oo3!
at "ay! no attentionN not to hi4!e- and not to the
When + go down to the cear When + go into 4y 3itchen*
There to draw !o4e wine* There 4y !ou" to 4a3e*
A itte hunchbac3 whoK! in there A itte hunchbac3 whoK! in there
5rab! that Cug o- 4ine. 8y itte "ot did brea3Q
&
&ntro'!"tion
itte 4an. +n con!ternation he !tand! be-ore a "ie o- debri!E BD"hri(ten +* &9/=
9.;.
Than3! to the recent "ubication o- hi! etter!* the !tory o- BenCa4inK! i-e 4ay
now be !3etched in broad outine* and it woud be te4"ting indeed to te it .a! a
!e?uence o- !uch "ie! o- debri! !ince there i! hardy any ?ue!tion that he
hi4!e- )iewed it in that way. But the "oint o- the 4atter i! that he 3new )ery
we o- the 4y!teriou! inter"ay* the "ace Dat which wea3ne!! and geniu!
coincide*E which he !o 4a!ter-uy diagno!ed in ,rou!t. 7or he wa! o- cour!e
a!o !"ea3ing about hi4!e- when* in co4"ete agree4ent* he ?uoted what
(ac?ue! Ri)iere had !aid about ,rou!t@ he Ddied o- the !a4e ineG"erience that
"er4itted hi4 to write hi! wor3!. He died o- ignorance . . . becau!e he did not
3now how to 4a3e a -ire or o"en a windowE :DThe +4age o- ,rou!tE;. 1i3e
,rou!t* he wa! whoy inca"abe o- changing Dhi! i-eK! condition! e)en when
they were about to cru!h hi4.E :With a "reci!ion !ugge!ting a !ee"wa3er hi!
cu4!ine!! in)ariaby guided hi4 to the )ery center o- a 4i!-ortune* or where)er
!o4ething o- the !ort 4ight ur3. Thu!* in the winter o- $%B%=</ the danger o-
bo4bing 4ade hi4 decide to ea)e ,ari! -or a !a-er "ace. We* no bo4b wa!
e)er dro""ed on ,ari!* but 8eauG* where BenCa4in went* wa! a troo" center and
"robaby one o- the )ery -ew "ace! in 7rance that wa! !eriou!y endangered in
tho!e 4onth! o- the "hony warQ; But i3e ,rou!t* he had e)ery rea!on to be!!
the cur!e and to re"eat the !trange "rayer at the end o- the -o3 "oe4 with which
he co!e! hi! chidhood 4e4oir@
1iebe! Kindein* ach* ich bitt* Bet -ur! buc3icht 8annein 4it.P
+n retro!"ect* the ineGtricabe net wo)en o- 4erit* great gi-t!* cu4!ine!!* and
4i!-ortune into which hi! i-e wa! caught can be detected e)en in the -ir!t "ure
"iece o- uc3 that o"ened BenCa4inK! career a! a writer. Through the good o--ice!
o- a -riend* he had been abe to "ace D5oetheK! 9le"tive A((inities< in Ho-=
S dear chid* + beg o- you* ,ray -or the itte hunchbac3 too.
0
+u4ination!
4ann!tha,! Ne!e 0e!ts"he Beitra#e :$%.<=.9;. Thi! !tudy* . 4a!ter"iece o-
5er4an "ro!e and !ti o- uni?ue !tature in the genera -ied o- 5er4an iterary
critici!4 and the !"eciaiAed -ied o- 5oethe !choar!hi"* had aready been
reCected !e)era ti4e!* and Ho-4ann!tha,! enthu!ia!tic a""ro)a ca4e at a 4o=
4ent when BenCa4in a4o!t de!"aired o- D-inding a ta3er -or itE BBrie(e +* B//;.
But there wa! a deci!i)e 4i!-ortune* a""arenty ne)er -uy under!tood* which
under the gi)en circu4!tance! wa! nece!!ariy connected with thi! chance. The
ony 4ateria !ecurity which thi! -ir!t "ubic brea3through coud ha)e ed to wa!
the /ait!ation, the -ir!t !te" o- the uni)er!ity career -or which BenCa4in wa!
then "re"aring hi4!e-. Thi!* to be !ure* woud not yet ha)e enabed hi4 to 4a3e
a i)ingFthe !o=caed Tri3t'oEent recei)ed no !aary=but it woud "robaby
ha)e induced hi! -ather to !u""ort hi4 unti he recei)ed a -u "ro-e!!or!hi"*
!ince thi! wa! a co44on "ractice in tho!e day!. +t i! now hard to under!tand how
he and hi! -riend! coud e)er ha)e doubted that a /ailitation under a not
unu!ua uni)er!ity "ro-e!!or wa! bound to end with a cata!tro"he. +- the
gente4en in)o)ed decared ater that they did not under!tand a !inge word o-
the !tudy* The -ri#in o( Ferman Tra#e'., which BenCa4in had !ub4itted* they
can certainy be beie)ed. How were they to under!tand a writer who!e greate!t
"ride it wa! that Dthe writing con!i!t! argey o- ?uotation!Fthe craAie!t 4o!aic
techni?ue i4aginabeEFand who "aced the greate!t e4"ha!i! on the !iG 4ottoe!
that "receded the !tudy@ DNo one . . . coud gather any rarer or 4ore "reciou!
one!EJ BBrie(e +* B&&;. +t wa! a! i- a rea 4a!ter had -a!hioned !o4e uni?ue
obCect* ony to o--er it -or !ae at the neare!t bargain center. Truy* neither anti=
Se4iti!4 nor i wi toward an out!iderFBenCa4in had ta3en hi! degree in
SwitAerand during the war and wa! no oneK! di!ci"eFnor the cu!to4ary
acade4ic !u!"icion o- anything that i! not guaranteed to be 4ediocre need ha)e
been in)o)ed.
Howe)erFand thi! i! where bunging and bad uc3 co4e inF in the 5er4any
o- that ti4e there wa! another way* and it wa! "reci!ey hi! 5oethe e!!ay that
!"oied BenCa4inK! ony chance -or a uni)er!ity career. A! o-ten with
BenCa4inK! writing!* thi!
'
&ntro'!"tion
!tudy wa! in!"ired by "oe4ic!* and the attac3 concerned 7ried=rich 5undo- !
boo3 on 5oethe. BenCa4inK! criti?ue wa! de-initi)e* and yet BenCa4in coud
ha)e eG"ected 4ore under!tanding -ro4 5undo- and other 4e4ber! o- the circe
around Ste-an 5eorge* a grou" with who!e inteectua word he had been ?uite
-a4iiar in hi! youth* than -ro4 the De!tabi!h4entEN and he "robaby need not
ha)e been a 4e4ber o- the circe to earn hi! acade4ic accreditation under one o-
the!e 4en who at that ti4e were Cu!t beginning to get a -airy co4-ortabe
-oothod in the acade4ic word. But the one thing he !houd not ha)e done wa!
to 4ount an attac3 on the 4o!t "ro4inent and 4o!t ca"abe acade4ic 4e4ber o-
the circe !o )ehe4ent that e)eryone wa! bound to 3now* a! he eG"ained
retro!"ecti)ey ater* that he had DCu!t a! itte to do with acade4e ... a! with the
4onu4ent! which 4en i3e 5undo- or Ern!t Bertra4 ha)e erected.E BBrie(e ++*
9.B;. Ye!* that i! how it wa!. And it wa! BenCa4inK! bunging or hi! 4i!-ortune to
ha)e announced thi! to the word be-ore he wa! ad4itted to the uni)er!ity.
Yet one certainy cannot !ay that he con!ciou!y di!regarded due caution. On
the contrary* he wa! aware that D8r. Bunge !end! hi! regard!E and too3 4ore
"recaution! than anyone e!e + ha)e 3nown. But hi! !y!te4 o- "ro)i!ion! again!t
"o!!ibe danger!* incuding the DChine!e courte!yE 4entioned by Schoe4*
.
in)ariaby* in a !trange and 4y!teriou! way* di!regarded the rea danger. 7or Cu!t
a! he -ed -ro4 the !a-e ,ari! to the dangerou! 8eauG at the beginning o- the war
Fto the -ront* a! it wereFhi! e!!ay on 5oethe in!"ired in hi4 the whoy
unnece!!ary worry that Ho-4ann!tha 4ight ta3e a4i!! a )ery cautiou! critica
re4ar3 about Rudo- Borchardt* one o- the chie- contributor! to hi! "eriodica.
Yet he eG"ected ony good thing! -ro4 ha)ing -ound -or thi! Dattac3 u"on the
ideoogy o- 5eorgeK! !choo. . * thi! one "ace where they wi -ind it hard to
ignore the in)ecti)eE BBrie(e +* B<$;. They did not -ind it hard at a. 7or no one
wa! 4ore i!oated than BenCa4in* !o uttery aone. E)en the authority c-
Ho-4ann!thaFDthe new "atron*E a! BenCa4in caed hi4 in the -ir!t bur!t o-
ha""ine!! BBrie(e +* B.0;Fcoud not ater thi! !ituation. Hi! )oice hardy
4attered co4"ared with the
%
lllttrmnations
)ery rea "ower o- the 5eorge !choo* an in-uentia grou" in which* a! with a
!uch entitie!* ony ideoogica aegiance counted* !ince ony ideoogy* not ran3
and ?uaity* can hod a grou" together. De!"ite their "o!e o- being abo)e
"oitic!Q 5eorgeK! di!ci"e! were -uy a! con)er!ant with the ba!ic "rinci"e! o-
iterary 4aneu)er! a! the "ro-e!!or! were with the -unda4enta! o- acade4ic
"oitic! or the hac3! and Cournai!t! with the ABC o- Done good turn de!er)e!
another.E
BenCa4in* howe)er* did not 3now the !core. He ne)er 3new how to hande
!uch thing!* wa! ne)er abe to 4o)e a4ong !uch "eo"e* not e)en when Dthe
ad)er!itie! o- outer i-e which !o4eti4e! co4e -ro4 a !ide!* i3e wo)e!E
BBrie(e +* .%';* had aready a--orded hi4 !o4e in!ight into the way! o- the
word. Whene)er he tried to adCu!t and be co=o"erati)e !o a! to get !o4e -ir4
ground under hi! -eet !o4ehow* thing! were !ure to go wrong.
A 4aCor !tudy on 5oethe -ro4 the )iew"oint o- 8arGi!4F in the 4idde
twentie! he ca4e )ery co!e to Coining the Co44uni!t ,artyFne)er a""eared in
"rint* either in the 5reat Ru!!ian Encyco"edia* -or which it wa! intended* or in
"re!ent=day 5er4any. Kau! 8ann* who had co44i!!ioned a re)iew o- BrechtK!
Three:enn. Novel -or hi! "eriodica 0ie Domml!n#, returned the 4anu!cri"t
becau!e BenCa4in had a!3ed .9/ 7rench -ranc!Fthen about $/ doar!F-or it
and he wanted to "ay ony $9/. Hi! co44entary on BrechtK! "oetry did not
a""ear in hi! i-eti4e. And the 4o!t !eriou! di--icutie! -inay de)eo"ed with the
+n!titute -or Socia Re!earch* which* originay :and now again; "art o- the
2ni)er!ity o- 7ran3-urt* had e4igrated to A4erica and on which BenCa4in
de"ended -inanciay. +t! guiding !"irit!* Theodor W. Ado4o and 8aG
Hor3hei4er* were Ddiaectica 4ateriai!t!E and in their o"inion BenCa4inK!
thin3ing wa! Dundiaectie*E 4o)ed in D4ateriai!tic categorie!* which by no
4ean! coincide with 8arGi!t one!*E wa! Dac3ing in 4ediationE in!o-ar a!* in an
e!!ay on Baudeaire* he had reated Dcertain con!"icuou! ee4ent! within the
!u"er!tructure . . . directy* "erha"! e)en cau!ay* to corre!"onding ee4ent! in
the !ub!tructure.E The re!ut wa! that BenCa4inK! origina e!!ay* DThe ,ari!
$/
+ntroduction
o- the Second E4"ire in the Wor3! o- Baudeaire*E wa! not "rinted* either then
in the 4agaAine o- the +n!titute or in the "o!thu4ou! two=)ou4e edition o- hi!
writing!. :,art! o- it ha)e now been "ubi!hedFDDer 7aneurE in 0ie Ne!e
*!n's"ha!, Dece4ber $%&0* and DDie 8oderneE in 0as Ar#!ment, 8arch $%&'.;
BenCa4in "robaby wa! the 4o!t "ecuiar 8arGi!t e)er "roduced by thi!
4o)e4ent* which 5od 3now! ha! had it! -u !hare o- odditie!. The theoretica
a!"ect that wa! bound to -a!cinate hi4 wa! the doctrine o- the !u"er!tructure*
which wa! ony brie-y !3etched by 8arG but then a!!u4ed a di!"ro"ortionate
roe in the 4o)e4ent a! it wa! Coined by a di!"ro"ortionatey arge nu4ber o-
inteectua!* hence by "eo"e who were intere!ted ony in the !u"er!tructure.
BenCa4in u!ed thi! doctrine ony a! a heuri!tic=4ethodoogica !ti4uu! and wa!
hardy intere!ted in it! hi!torica or "hio!o"hica bac3ground. What -a!cinated
hi4 about the 4atter wa! that the !"irit and it! 4ateria 4ani-e!tation were !o
inti4atey connected that it !ee4ed "er4i!!ibe to di!co)er e)erywhere
BaudeaireK! "orres:on'an"es, which cari-ied and iu4inated one another i-
they were "ro"ery correated* !o that -inay they woud no onger re?uire any
inter"retati)e or eG"anatory co44entary. He wa! concerned with the correation
between a !treet !cene* a !"ecuation on the !toc3 eGchange* a "oe4* a thought*
with the hidden ine which hod! the4 together and enabe! the hi!torian or
"hioogi!t to recogniAe that they 4u!t a be "aced in the !a4e "eriod. When
Adorno criticiAed BenCa4inK! Dwide=eyed "re!entation o- actuaitie!E BBrie(e ++*
0%B;* he hit the nai right on it! headN thi! i! "reci!ey what BenCa4in wa! doing
and wanted to do. Strongy in-uenced by !urreai!4* it wa! the Datte4"t to
ca"ture the "ortrait o- hi!tory in the 4o!t in!igni-icant re"re!entation! o- reaity*
it! !cra"!* a! it wereE BBrie(e ++* &'9;. BenCa4in had a "a!!ion -or !4a* e)en
4inute thing!N Schoe4 te! about hi! a4bition to get one hundred ine! onto the
ordinary "age o- a noteboo3 and about hi! ad4iration -or two grain! o- wheat in
the (ewi!h !ection o- the 8u!ee Cuny Don which a 3indred !ou had in!cribed
the co4"ete Dhema &srael<
B
7or hi4 the !iAe o- an obCect wa! in an in)er!e ratio
to it! !igni-icance. And thi! "a!!ion* -ar -ro4
$$
+u4ination!
being a whi4* deri)ed directy -ro4 the ony word )iew that e)er had a
deci!i)e in-uence on hi4* -ro4 5oetheK! con)iction o- the -actua eGi!tence o-
an Cr:hanomen, an archety"a "heno4enon* a concrete thing to be di!co)ered in
the word o- a""earance! in which D!igni-icanceE BBe'e!t!n#, the 4o!t 5oeth=
ean o- word!* 3ee"! recurring in BenCa4inK! writing!; and a""earance* word and
thing* idea and eG"erience* woud coincide. The !4aer the obCect* the 4ore
i3ey it !ee4ed that it coud contain in the 4o!t concentrated -or4 e)erything
e!eN hence hi! deight that two grain! o- wheat !houd contain the entire Dhema
&srael, the )ery e!!ence o- (udai!4* tinie!t e!!ence a""earing on tinie!t entity*
-ro4 which in both ca!e! e)erything e!e originate! that* howe)er* in !igni-icance
cannot be co4"ared with it! origin. +n other word!* what "ro-oundy -a!cinated
BenCa4in -ro4 the beginning wa! ne)er an idea* it wa! away! a "heno4enon.
DWhat !ee4! "aradoGica about e)erything that i! Cu!ty caed beauti-u i! the
-act that it a""ear!E BD"hri(ten +* B<%;* and thi! "aradoG=or* 4ore !i4"y* the
wonder o- a""earance=wa! away! at the center o- a hi! concern!*
How re4ote the!e !tudie! were -ro4 8arGi!4 and diaectica 4ateriai!4 i!
con-ir4ed by their centra -igure* the (lane!r6 +t i! to hi4* ai4e!!y !troing
through the crowd! in the big citie! in !tudied contra!t to their hurried*
"ur"o!e-u acti)ity* that thing! re)ea the4!e)e! in their !ecret 4eaning. DThe
true "icture o- the "a!t (lits byE :D,hio!o"hy o- Hi!toryE;* and ony the (lane!r
who idy !tro! by recei)e! the 4e!!age. With great acu4en Adorno ha! "ointed
to the !tatic ee4ent in BenCa4in@ DTo under!tand BenCa4in "ro"ery one 4u!t
-ee behind hi! e)ery !entence the con)er!ion o- eGtre4e agitation into !o4ething
!tatic* indeed* the !tatic notion o- 4o)e4ent it!e-E BD"hri(ten +* GiG;. Naturay*
nothing coud be 4ore DundiaeeticE than thi! attitude in which the Dange o-
hi!toryE :in the ninth o- the DThe!e! on the ,hio!o"hy o- Hi!toryE; doe! not
diaecticay 4o)e -orward into the -uture* but ha! hi! -ace Dturned toward the
"a!t.E DWhere a chain o- e)ent! a""ear! to !s, he !ee! one !inge cata!tro"he
which 3ee"! "iing wrec3age u"on wrec3age and hur! it in -ront o- hi! -eet. The
ange woud i3e to !tay* awa3en the dead* and Coin
$.
+ntroduction
together what ha! been !4a!hed to "iece!.E :Which woud "re!u4aby 4ean
the end o- hi!tory.; DBut a !tor4 i! bowing -ro4 ,aradi!eE and Dirre!i!tiby
"ro"e! hi4 into the -uture to which hi! bac3 i! turned* whie the "ie o- ruin!
be-ore hi4 grow! !3yward. What we ca "rogre!! i! this !tor4.E +n thi! ange*
which BenCa4in !aw in KeeK! DAngeu! No)ui* the (lane!r eG"erience! hi! -ina
tran!-iguration. 7or Cu!t a! the (lane!r, through the #est!s o- "ur"o!ee!! !troing*
turn! hi! bac3 to the crowd e)en a! he i! "ro"eed and !we"t by it* !o the Dange
o- hi!tory*E who oo3! at nothing but the eG"an!e o- ruin! o- the "a!t* i! bown
bac3=ward! into the -uture by t(e !tor4 o- "rogre!!. That !uch thin3=ing !houd
e)er ha)e bothered with a con!i!tent* diaecticay !en!ibe* rationay eG"ainabe
"roce!! !ee4! ab!urd.
+t !houd a!o be ob)iou! that !uch thin3ing neither ai4ed nor coud arri)e at
binding* generay )aid !tate4ent!* but that the!e were re"aced* a!
T
Adorno
criticay re4ar3!* Dby 4eta"horica one!E BBrie(e ++* 0'9;. +n hi! concern with
directy* actuay de4on!trabe concrete -act!* with !inge e)ent! and occurrence!
who!e D!igni-icanceE i! 4ani-e!t* BenCa4in wa! not 4uch intere!ted in theorie!
or Didea!E which did not i44ediatey a!!u4e the 4o!t "reci!e outward !ha"e
i4aginabe. To thi! )ery co4"eG but !ti highy reai!tic 4ode o- thought the
8arGian reation!hi" between !u"er!tructure and !ub!tructure beca4e* in a "re=
ci!e !en!e* a 4eta"horica one. +-* -or eGa4"eFand thi! woud certainy be in the
!"irit o- BenCa4inK! thoughtFthe ab!tract conce"t Gem!n(t :rea!on; i! traced
bac3 to it! origin in the )erb vernehmen :to "ercei)e* to hear;* it 4ay be thought
that a word -ro4 the !"here o- the !u"er!tructure ha! been gi)en bac3 it! !en!ua
!ub!tructure* or* con)er!ey* that a conce"t ha! been tran!-or4ed into a
4eta"hor="ro)ided that D4eta"horE i! under!tood in it! origina* nonaEegorica
!en!e o- meta:herein :to tran!-er;. 7or a 4eta"hor e!tabi!he! a connection
which i! !en!uay "ercei)ed in it) i44ediacy and re?uire! no inter"retation*
whie an aegory away! "roceed! -ro4 an ab!tract notion and then in)ent!
!o4ething "a"abe to re"re!ent it a4o!t at wi The aegory 4u!t be eG"ained
be-ore it can beco4e 4eaning-u* a !oution 4u!t be -ound to the ridde it
"re!ent!* !o
Ill*minati+n)
that the o-ten aboriou! inter"retation o- aegorica -igure! away! unha""iy
re4ind! one o- the !o)ing o- "uAAe! e)en when no 4ore ingenuity i! de4anded
than in the aegorica re"re!entation o- death by a !3eeton. Since Ho4er the
4eta"hor ha! borne that ee4ent o- the "oetic which con)ey! cognitionN it! u!e
e!tabi!he! the "orres:on'an"es between "hy!icay 4o!t re4ote thing!Fa! when
in the &lia' the tearing on!aught o- -ear and grie- on the heart! o- the Achaian!
corre!"ond! to the co4bined on!aught o- the wind! -ro4 north and we!t on the
dar3 water! H&lia' +L* $=';N or when the a""roaching o- the ar4y 4o)ing to
batte in ine a-ter ine corre!"ond! to the !eaK! ong biow! which* dri)en by the
wind* gather head -ar out on the !ea* ro to !hore ine a-ter ine* and then bur!t
on the and in thunder B&lia' +6* <..=.B;. 8eta"hor! are the 4ean! by which the
onene!! o- the word i! "oeticay brought about. What i! !o hard to under!tand
about BenCa4in i! that without being a "oet he tho!#ht :oeti"all. and there-ore
wa! bound to regard the 4eta"hor a! the greate!t gi-t o- anguage. 1ingui!tic
Dtran!-erenceE enabe! u! to gi)e 4ateria -or4 to the in)i!ibeFDA 4ighty
-ortre!! i! our 5odEFand thu! to render it ca"abe o- being eG"erienced. He had
no troube under!tanding the theory o- the !u"er!tructure a! the -ina doctrine o-
4eta"horica thin3ingF"reci!ey becau!e without 4uch ado and e!chewing a
D4ediation!E he directy reated the !u"er!tructure to the !o=caed D4ateriaE
!ub!tructure* which to hi4 4eant the totaity o- !en!uay eG"erienced data. He
e)identy wa! -a!cinated by the )ery thing that the other! branded a! D)ugar=
8arGi!tE or Dundiaec=ticaE thin3ing.
+t !ee4! "au!ibe that BenCa4in* who!e !"iritua eGi!tence had been -or4ed and
in-or4ed by 5oethe* a "oet and not a "hio!o"her* and who!e intere!t wa!
a4o!t eGcu!i)ey arou!ed by "oet! and no)ei!t!* athough he had !tudied
"hio!o"hy* !houd ha)e -ound it ea!ier to co44unicate with "oet! than with
theoretician!* whether o- the diaectica or the 4eta"hy!ica )ariety. And there i!
indeed no ?ue!tion but that hi! -riend!hi" with BrechtFuni?ue in that here the
greate!t i)ing 5er4an "oet 4et the 4o!t i4"ortant critic o- the ti4e* a -act both
were -uy
$<
&ntro'!"tion
aware o-Fwa! the !econd and inco4"araby 4ore i4"ortant !tro3e o- good
-ortune in BenCa4inK! i-e. +t "ro4"ty had the 4o!t ad)er!e con!e?uence!N it
antagoniAed the -ew -riend! he had* it endangered hi! reation to the +n!titute o-
Socia Re!earch* toward who!e D!ugge!tion!E he had e)ery rea!on Dto be docieE
BBrie(e ++* &'B;* and the ony rea!on it did not co!t hi4 hi! -riend!hi" with
Schoe4 wa! Sehoe4K! abiding oyaty and ad4irabe genero!ity in a 4atter!
concerning hi! -riend. Both Adorno and Schoe4 ba4ed BrechtK! Ddi!a!trou!
in-uenceEE :Schoe4; -or BenCa4inK! ceary undiaectic u!age o- 8arGian
categorie! and hi! deter4ined brea3 with a 4eta"hy!ic!N and the troube wa!
that BenCa4in* u!uay ?uite incined to co4"ro4i!e! abeit 4o!ty unnece!!ary
one!* 3new and 4aintained that hi! -riend!hi" with Brecht con!tituted an
ab!oute i4it not ony to dociity but e)en to di"o4acy* -or D4y agreeing with
BrechtK! "roduction i! one o- the 4o!t i4"ortant and 4o!t !trategic "oint! in 4y
entire "o!itionE BBrie(e ++* 9%<;. +n Brecht he -ound a "oet o- rare inteectua
"ower! and* a4o!t a! i4"ortant -or hi4 at the ti4e* !o4eone on the 1e-t who*
de!"ite a ta3 about diaectic!* wa! no 4ore o- a diaectica thin3er than he wa!*
but who!e inteigence wa! unco44ony co!e to reaity. With Brecht he coud
"ractice what Brecht hi4!e- caed Dcrude thin3ingE B'as :l!m:e 0enken@: DThe
4ain thing i! to earn how to thin3 crudey. Crude thin3ing* that i! the thin3ing
o- the great*E !aid Brecht* and BenCa4in added by way o- eucidation@ DThere are
4any "eo"e who!e idea o- a diaectician i! a o)er o- !ubtetie!. . . . Crude
thought!* on the contrary* !houd be "art and "arce o- diaectica thin3ing*
becau!e they are nothing but the re-erra o- theory to "ractice ... a thought 4u!t
be crude to co4e into it! own in action.E
U
We* what attracted BenCa4in to
crude thin3ing wa! "robaby not !o 4uch a re-erra to "ractice a! to reaity* and
to hi4 thi! reaity 4ani-e!ted it!e- 4o!t directy in the "ro)erb! and idio4! o-
e)eryday anguage. D,ro)erb! are a !choo o- crude thin3ing*E he write! in the
!a4e conteGtN and the art o- ta3ing "ro)erbia and idio4atic !"eech iteray
enabed BenCa4inFa! it did Ka-3a* in who4 -igure! o- !"eech are o-ten ceary
di!cernibe a! a !ource o- in!"iration and
R(
Ill*minati+n)
-urni!h the 3ey to 4any a DriddeE=Vto write a "ro!e o- !uch !inguary
enchanting and enchanted co!ene!! to reaity.
Where)er one oo3! in BenCa4inK! i-e* one wi -ind the itte hunchbac3. 1ong
be-ore the outbrea3 o- the Third Reich he wa! "aying hi! e)i tric3!* cau!ing
"ubi!her! who had "ro4i!ed BenCa4in an annua !ti"end -or reading
4anu!cri"t! or editing a "eriodica -or the4 to go ban3ru"t be-ore the -ir!t
nu4ber a""eared. 1ater the hunchbac3 did aow a coection o- 4agni-icent
5er4an etter!* 4ade with in-inite care and "ro)ided with the 4o!t 4ar)eou!
co44entarie!* to be "rintedFunder the tite 0e!ts"he 1ens"hen and with the
4otto ;Gon 9hre okne *!hmI Gon Jrosse ohne FhnEIGon W!r'e ohne Dol'<
:O- Honor without 7a4eWO- 5reatne!! without S"endorWO- Dignity without
,ay;N but then he !aw to it that it ended in the cear o- the ban3ru"t Swi!!
"ubi!her* in!tead o- being di!tributed* a! intended by BenCa4in* who !igned the
!eection with a "!eudony4* in NaAi 5er4any. And in thi! cear the edition wa!
di!co)ered in $%&.* at the )ery 4o4ent when a new edition had co4e o-- the
"re!! in 5er4any. :One woud a!o charge it to the itte hunchbac3 that o-ten
the -ew thing! that were to ta3e a good turn -ir!t "re!ented the4!e)e! in an
un"ea!ant gui!e. A ca!e in "oint i! the tran!ation o- Anaase by AeGi! Saint=
1eger 1eger HSt.=(ohn ,er!eI which BenCa4in* who thought the wor3 Do- itte
i4"ortanceE KBrie(e +* B'$I* undertoo3 becau!e* i3e the ,rou!t tran!ation* the
a!!ign4ent had been "rocured -or hi4 by Ho-4ann!tha. The tran!ation did not
a""ear in 5er4any unti a-ter the war* yet BenCa4in owed to it hi! contact with
1eger* who* being a di"o4at* wa! abe to inter)ene and "er!uade the 7rench
go)ern4ent to !"are BenCa4in a !econd intern4ent in 7rance during the warFa
"ri)iege that )ery -ew other re-ugee! enCoyed.; And then a-ter 4i!chie- ca4e
Dthe "ie! o- debri!*E the a!t o- which* "rior to the cata!tro"he at the S"ani!h
border* wa! the threat he had -et* !ince $%B'* that the +n!titute -or Socia
Re!earch in New Yor3* the ony D4ateria and 4ora !u""ortE o- hi! ,ari!
eGi!tence BBrie(e ++* 'B%;* woud de!ert hi4. DThe
$&
&ntro'!"tion
)ery circu4!tance! that greaty endanger 4y Euro"ean !ituation wi "robaby
4a3e e4igration to the 2.S.A. i4"o!!ibe -or 4e*E !o he wrote in A"ri o- $%B%
BBrie(e ++* '$/;* !ti under the i4"act o- the DbowE which AdornoK! etter
reCecting -he -ir!t )er!ion o- the Baudeaire !tudy had deat hi4 in No)e4ber o-
$%B' BBrie(e ++* 0%/;.
Schoe4 i! !urey right when he !ay! that neGt to ,rou!t* BenCa4in -et the
co!e!t "er!ona a--inity with Ka-3a a4ong conte4"orary author!* and
undoubtedy BenCa4in had the D-ied o- ruin! and the di!a!ter areaE o- hi! own
wor3 in 4ind when he wrote that Dan under!tanding o- HKa-3aK!I "roduction
in)o)e!* a4ong other thing!* the !i4"e recognition that he wa! a -aiureE
BBrie(e ++* &$<;. What BenCa4in !aid o- Ka-3a with !uch uni?ue a"tne!! a""ie! to
hi4!e- a! weN DThe circu4!tance! o- thi! -aiure are 4uti-ariou!. One i!
te4"ted to !ay@ once he wa! cer=2 L o- e)entua -aiure* e)erything wor3ed out
-or hi4 en ro!te a! in a drea4E BBrie(e ++* 0&<;. He did not need to read Ka-3a to
thin3 i3e Ka-3a. When DThe Sto3erE wa! a he had read o- Ka-3a* he had
aready ?uoted 5oetheK! !tate4ent about ho"e in hi! e!!ay on 9le"tive A((inities:
DHo"e "a!!ed o)er their head! i3e a !tar that -a! -ro4 the !3yEN and the
!entence with which he concude! thi! !tudy read! a! though Ka-3a had written
it@ DOny -or the !a3e o- the ho"ee!! one! ha)e we been gi)en ho"eE BD"hri(ten +*
$</;.
On Se"te4ber .&* $%</* Water BenCa4in* who wa! about to e4igrate to
A4erica* too3 hi! i-e at the 7ranco=S"ani!h border. There were )ariou! rea!on!
-or thi!. The 5e!ta"o had con-i!cated hi! ,ari! a"art4ent* which contained hi!
ibrary :he had been abe to get Dthe 4ore i4"ortant ha- out o- 5er4any; and
4any o- hi! 4anu!cri"t!* and he had rea!on to be concerned a!o about the other!
which* through the good o--ice! o- 5eorge Bataie* had been "aced in the
Bibiothe?ue Nationae "rior to hi! -ight -ro4 ,ari! to 1ourde!* in unoccu"ied
7rance.
0
How wa! he to i)e without a ibrary* how coud he earn a i)ing
without the eGten!i)e coection o- ?uotation! and eGcer"t! a4ong hi!
4anu!cri"t!J Be!ide!* nothing drew hi4 to A4erica* where* a! he u!ed to !ay*
"eo"e woud "robaby -ind no other
X
lll!minattons
u!e -or hi4 than to cart hi4 u" and down the country to eGhibit hi4 a! the Da!t
Euro"ean.E But the i44ediate occa!ion -or BenCa4inK! !uicide wa! an
unco44on !tro3e o- bad uc3. Through the ar4i!tice agree4ent between 6ichy
7rance and the Third Reich* re-ugee! -ro4 Hiter 5er4anyFles re(!#ies :ro-
venant ')Allema#ne, a! they were o--iciay re-erred to in 7rance=were in danger
o- being !hi""ed bac3 to 5er4any* "re!u4aby ony i- they were "oitica
o""onent!. To !a)e thi! category o- re-ugee!Fwhich* it !houd be noted* ne)er
incuded the un"oitica 4a!! o- (ew! who ater turned out to be the 4o!t
endangered o- aFthe 2nited State! had di!tributed a nu4ber o- e4ergency )i!a!
through it! con!uate! in unoccu"ied 7rance. Than3! to the e--ort! o- the +n!titute
in New Yor3* BenCa4in wa! a4ong the -ir!t to recei)e !uch a )i!a in 8ar!eie!.
A!o* he ?uic3y obtained a S"ani!h tran!it )i!a to enabe hi4 to get to 1i!bon
and board a !hi" there. Howe)er* he did not ha)e a 7rench eGit )i!a* which at that
ti4e wa! !ti re?uired and which the 7rench go)=e44ent* eager to "ea!e the
5e!ta"o* in)ariaby denied to 5er=4an re-ugee!. +n genera thi! "re!ented no
great di--icuty* !ince a reati)ey !hort and none too arduou! road to be co)ered
by -oot o)er the 4ountain! to ,ort Bou wa! we 3nown and wa! not guarded by
the 7rench border "oice. Sti* -or BenCa4in* a""arenty !u--ering -ro4 a cardiac
condition BBrie(e ++* '<$;* e)en the !horte!t wa3 wa! a great eGertion* and he
4u!t ha)e arri)ed in a !tate o- !eriou! eGhau!tion. The !4a grou" o- re-ugee!
that he had Coined reached the S"ani!h border town ony to earn that S"ain had
co!ed the border that !a4e day and that the border o--icia! did not honor )i!a!
4ade out in 8ar!eie!. The re-ugee! were !u""o!ed to return to 7rance by the
!a4e route the neGt day. During the night BenCa4in too3 hi! i-e* whereu"on the
border o--icia!* u"on who4 thi! !uicide had 4ade an i4"re!!ion* aowed hi!
co4"anion! to "roceed to ,ortuga. A -ew wee3! ater the e4bargo on )i!a! wa!
i-ted again. One day earier BenCa4in woud ha)e got through without any
troubeN one day ater the "eo"e in 8ar!eie! woud ha)e 3nown that -or the
ti4e being it wa! i4"o!!ibe to "a!! through S"ain. Ony on that "articuarY wa!
tne cata!tro"he "o!!ib-.
'
+ntroduction
Hi THE DA$K T+8ES
;An.one 3ho "annot "o:e 3ith li(e 3hile he is alive nee's one han' to 3ar'
o(( a little his 'es:air over his (ate . . . !t 3ith his other han' he "an jot 'o3n
3hat he sees amon# the r!ins, (or he sees 'i((erent an' more thin#s than the
othersM a(ter all, he is 'ea' in his o3n li(etime an' the real s!rvivor<
=7ranA Ka-3a* D+AR+ES* entry o- October $%* $%.$
;+ike one 3ho kee:s a(loat on a shi:3re"k . "limin# to the to: o( a mast
that is alrea'. "r!mlin#4 B!t (rom there he has a "han"e to #ive a si#nal
lea'in# to his res"!e4<
Water BenCa4in in a etter to 5erhard Schoe4 dated A"ri $0*
$%B$
O-ten an era 4o!t ceary brand! with it! !ea tho!e who ha)e been ea!t
in-uenced by it* who ha)e been 4o!t re4ote -ro4 it* and who there-ore ha)e
!u--ered 4o!t. So it wa! with ,rou!t* with Ka-3a* with Kar Krau!* and with
BenCa4in. Hi! ge!ture! and the way he hed hi! head when i!tening and ta3ingN
the way he 4o)edN hi! 4anner!* but e!"eciay hi! !tye o- !"ea3ing* down to hi!
choice o- word! and the !ha"e o- hi! !yntaGN -inay* hi! downright idio!yncratic
ta!te!Fa thi! !ee4ed !o od=-a!hioned* a! though he had dri-ted out o- the
nineteenth century into the twentieth the way one i! dri)en onto the coa!t o- a
!trange and. Did he e)er -ee at ho4e in twentieth=century 5er4anyJ One ha!
rea!on to doubt it. +n $%$B* when he -ir!t )i!ited 7rance a! a )ery young 4an* the
!treet! o- ,ari! were Da4o!t 4ore ho4ei3eE BBrie(e +* 9&; to hi4 a-ter a -ew
day! than the -a4iiar !treet! o- Berin. He 4ay ha)e -et e)en then* and he
certainy -et twenty year! ater* how 4uch the tri" -ro4 Berin to ,ari! wa!
tanta4ount to a tri" in ti4eFnot -ro4 one country to another* but -ro4 the
twentieth century bac3 to the nineteenth. There wa! the nation :ar e="ellen"e
who!e cuture had deter4ined the Euro"e o- the nineteenth century and -or
which Hau!!4ann had rebuit ,ari!* Dthe ca"ita o- the nineteenth century*E a!
BenCa4in wa! to ca it. Thi! ,ari! wa! not yet co!4o=
$%
&ll!minations
"oitan* to be !ure* but it wa! "ro-oundy Euro"ean* and thu! it ha!* with
un"araeed naturane!!* o--ered it!e- to a ho4ee!! "eo"e a! a !econd ho4e
e)er !ince the 4idde o- the a!t century. Neither the "ronounced Geno"hobia o- it!
inhabitant! nor the !o"hi!ticated hara!!4ent by the oca "oice ha! e)er been
abe to change thi!. 1ong be-ore hi! e4igration BenCa4in 3new how D)ery
eGce"tiona Hit wa!I to 4a3e the 3ind o- contact with a 7rench4an that woud
enabe one to "roong a con)er!ation with hi4 beyond the -ir!t ?uarter o- an
hourE BBrie(e +* <<9;. 1ater* when he wa! do4icied in ,ari! a! a re-ugee* hi!
innate nobiity "re)ented hi4 -ro4 de)eo"ing hi! !ight ac?uaintance! Fchie-
a4ong the4 wa! 5ideFinto connection! and -ro4 4a3ing new contact!. :Werner
Kra-tF!o we earned recentyFtoo3 hi4 to !ee Chare! du Bo!* who wa!* by
)irtue o- hi! Denthu!ia!4 -or 5er4an iterature*E a 3ind o- 3ey -igure -or 5er4an
e4igrant!. Werner Kra-t had the better connection!=what ironyM
'
; +n hi!
!tri3ingy Cudiciou! re)iew o- BenCa4inK! wor3! and etter! a! we a! o- the
!econdary iterature* ,ierre 8i!!ac ha! "ointed out how greaty BenCa4in 4u!t
ha)e !u--ered becau!e he did not get the Drece"tionE in 7rance that wa! due hi4.
%
Thi! i! correct* o- cour!e* but it !urey did not co4e a! a !ur"ri!e.
No 4atter how irritating and o--en!i)e a thi! 4ay ha)e been* the city it!e-
co4"en!ated -or e)erything. +t! boue)ard!* BenCa4in di!co)ered a! eary a!
$%$B* are -or4ed by hou!e! which Ddo not !ee4 4ade to be i)ed in* but are i3e
!tone !et! -or "eo"e to wa3 betweenE BBrie(e +* 9&;. Thi! city* around which
one !ti can tra)e in a circe "a!t the od gate!* ha! re4ained what the citie! o-
the 8idde Age!* !e)erey waed o-- and "rotected again!t the out!ide* once
were@ an interior* but without the narrowne!! o- 4edie)a !treet!* a generou!y
buit and "anned o"en=air interie!r with the arch o- the !3y i3e a 4aCe!tic ceiing
abo)e it. DT..e -ine!t thing here about a art and a acti)ity i! the -act that they
ea)e the -ew re4ainder! o- the origina and the natura their !"endorE BBrie(e +*
<.$;. +ndeed* they he" the4 to ac?uire new u!ter. +t i! the uni-or4 -acade!*
ining the !treet! i3e in!ide wa!* that 4a3e one -ee 4ore "hy!icay !hetered in
thi! city than in any other. The arcade! which connect
./
&ntro'!"tion
the great boue)ard! and o--er "rotection -ro4 ince4ent weather eGerted !uch
an enor4ou! -a!cination o)er BenCa4in that he re-erred to hi! "roCected 4aCor
wor3 on the nineteenth century and it! ca"ita !i4"y a! DThe Arcade!E
B5assa#enareit@M and the!e "a!!ageway! are indeed i3e a !y4bo o- ,ari!*
becau!e they ceary are in!ide and out!ide at the !a4e ti4e and thu! re"re!ent it!
true nature in ?uinte!!entia -or4. +n ,ari! a !tranger -ee! at ho4e becau!e he
can inhabit the city the way he i)e! in hi! own -our wa!. And Cu!t a! one inhabit!
an a"art4ent* and 4a3e! it co4-ortabe* by i)ing in it in!tead o- Cu!t u!ing it -or
!ee"ing* eating* and wor3ing* !o one inhabit! a city by !troing through it
without ai4 or "ur"o!e* with oneK! !tay !ecured by the counte!! ca-e! which ine
the !treet! and "a!t which the i-e o- the city* the -ow o- "ede!trian!* 4o)e! aong.
To thi! day ,ari! i! the ony one a4ong the arge citie! which can be co4-ortaby
co)ered on -oot* and 4ore than any other city it i! de"endent -or it! i)eine!! on
"eo"e who "a!! by in the !treet!* !o that the 4odern auto4obie tra--ic
endanger! it! )ery eGi!tence not ony -or technica rea!on!. The wa!teand o- an
A4erican !uburb* or the re!identia di!trict! o- 4any town!* where a o- !treet
i-e ta3e! "ace on the roadway and where one can wa3 on the !idewa3!* by
now reduced to -oot"ath!* -or 4ie! on end without encountering a hu4an being*
i! the )ery o""o!ite o- ,ari!. What a other citie! !ee4 to "er4it ony reuctanty
to the dreg! o- !ocietyF!troing* iding* (ianerie85Nris !treet! actuay in)ite
e)eryone to do. Thu!* e)er !ince the Second E4"ire the city ha! been the
"aradi!e o- a tho!e who need to cha!e a-ter no i)eihood* "ur!ue no career*
reach no goaFthe "aradi!e* then* o- bohe4ian!* and not ony o- arti!t! and writer!
but o- a tho!e who ha)e gathered about the4 becau!e they coud not be
integrated either "oiticayFbeing ho4ee!! or !tatee!!For !ociay.
Without con!idering thi! bac3ground o- the city which beca4e a deci!i)e
eG"erience -or the young BenCa4in one can hardy under!tand why the (lane!r
beca4e the 3ey -igure in hi! writing!. The eGtent to which thi! !troing
deter4ined the "ace o- hi! thin3ing wa! "erha"! 4o!t ceary re)eaed in the
"ecuiaritie! o- hi! gait* which 8aG Rychner de!cribed a! Dat once
.$
+u4ination!
ad)ancing and tarrying* a !trange 4iGture o- both.E
$/
+t wa! the wa3 o- a
(lane!r, and it wa! !o !tri3ing becau!e* i3e the dandy and the !nob* the (lane!r
had hi! ho4e in the nineteenth century* an age o- !ecurity in which chidren o-
u""er=4idde=ca!! -a4iie! were a!!ured o- an inco4e without ha)ing to wor3*
!o that they had no rea!on to hurry. And Cu!t a! the city taught BenCa4in
(tanerie, the nineteenth centuryK! !ecret !tye o- wa3ing and thin3ing* it
naturay arou!ed in hi4 a -eeing -or 7rench iterature a! we* and thi! a4o!t
irre)ocaby e!tranged hi4 -ro4 nor4a 5er4an inteectua i-e. D+n 5er4any +
-ee ?uite i!oated in 4y e--ort! and intere!t! a4ong tho!e o- 4y generation*
whie in 7rance there are certain -orce!Fthe writer! 5iraudouG and* e!"eciay*
AragonP the !urreai!t 4o)e4entFin which + !ee at wor3 what occu"ie! 4e
tooEF!o he wrote to Ho-4ann!tha in $%.0 BBrie(e +* <<&;* when* ha)ing
returned -ro4 a tri" to 8o!cow and con)inced that iterary "roCect! !aiing under
the Co44uni!t -ag were un-ea!ibe* he wa! !etting out to con!oidate hi! D,ari!
"o!itionE BBrie(e +* <<<=<9;. :Eight year! earier he had 4entioned the Dincredibe
-eeing o- 3in!hi"E which ,eguy had in!"ired in hi4@ DNo written wor3 ha! e)er
touched 4e !o co!ey and gi)en 4e !uch a !en!e o- co44unionE KBrie(e +*
.$0I.; We* he did not !ucceed in con!oidating anything* and !ucce!! woud
hardy ha)e been "o!!ibe. Ony in "o!twar ,ari! ha)e -oreigner!Fand
"re!u4aby that i! what e)eryone not born in 7rance i! caed in ,ari! to thi! day=
been abe to occu"y D"o!ition!.E On the other hand* BenCa4in wa! -orced into a
"o!ition which actuay did not eGi!t anywhere* which* in -act* coud not be
identi-ied and diagno!ed a! !uch unti a-terward!. +t wa! the "o!ition on the Dto"
o- the 4a!tE -ro4 which the te4"e!tuou! ti4e! coud be !ur)eyed better than
-ro4 a !a-e harbor* e)en though the di!tre!! !igna! o- the D!hi"wrec3*E o- thi!
one 4an who had not earned to !wi4 either with or again!t the tide* were hardy
noticedFeither by tho!e who had ne)er eG"o!ed the4!e)e! to the!e !ea! or by
tho!e who were ca"abe o- 4o)ing e)en in thi! ee4ent.
6iewed -ro4 the out!ide* it wa! the "o!ition o- the -ree=ance writer who i)e!
by hi! "enN howe)er* a! ony 8aG Rychner
O2
Intr+,*cti+n
!ee4! to ha)e ob!er)ed* he did !o in a D"ecuiar way*E -or Dhi! "ubication! were
anything but -re?uentE and Dit wa! ne)er ?uite cear ... to what eGtent he wa! abe
to draw u"on other re!ource!.E
n
RychnerK! !u!"icion! were Cu!ti-ied in e)ery
re!"ect. Not ony were Dother re!ource!E at hi! di!"o!a "rior to hi! e4igration*
but behind the -acade o- -ree=ance writing he ed the con!ideraby -reer* abeit
con!tanty endangered* i-e o- an homme 'e lettres who!e ho4e wa! a ibrary that
had been gathered with eGtre4e care but wa! by no 4ean! intended a! a wor3ing
tooN it con!i!ted o- trea!ure! who!e )aue* a! BenCa4in o-ten re"eated* wa! "ro)ed
by the -act that he had not read the4=a ibrary* then* which wa! guaranteed not to
be u!e-u or at the !er)ice o- any "ro-e!!ion. Such an eGi!tence wa! !o4ething
un3nown in 5er4any* and a4o!t e?uay un3nown wa! the occu"ation which
BenCa4in* ony becau!e he had to 4a3e a i)ing* deri)ed -ro4 itN not the
occu"ation o- a iterary hi!torian and !choar with the re?ui!ite nu4ber o- -at
to4e! to hi! credit* but that o- a critic and e!!ayi!t who regarded e)en the e!!ay
-or4 a! too )ugary eGten!i)e and woud ha)e "re-erred the a"hori!4 i- he had
not been "aid by the ine. He wa! certainy not unaware o- the -act that hi!
"ro-e!!iona a4bition! were directed at !o4ething that !i4"y did not eGi!t in
5er4any* where* de!"ite 1icht=enberg* 1e!!ing* Schege* Heine* and NietA!che*
a"hori!4! ha)e ne)er been a""reciated and "eo"e ha)e u!uay thought o- crit=
ici!4 a! !o4ething di!re"utaby !ub)er!i)e which 4ight be enCoyedFi- at a=
ony in the cutura !ection o- a new!"a"er. +t wa! no accident that BenCa4in
cho!e the 7rench anguage -or eG"re!!ing thi! a4bition@
!
+e !t 7!e je niavais
:ro:ose . . . "6est ')etre "onsi'ere "omme le :remier "riti7!e 'e la litterat!re
alleman'e4 +a 'i((i"!lte t(est 7!e
P
'e:!is :l!s 'e "in7!ante ans, la "riti7!e
litteraire en Allema#ne n)est :l!s "onsi'erDe "omme !n #enre serie!=4 De (ake
!ne sit!ation 'ans la "riti7!e, "ela 4 .. ve!t 'ire: la re"reer "omme #enre< :DThe
goa + !et -or 4y!e- ... i! to be regarded a! the -ore4o!t critic o- 5er4an
iterature. The troube i! that -or 4ore than -i-ty year! iterary critici!4 in 5er=
4any ha! not been con!idered a !eriou! genre. To create a "ace
.B
&ll!minations
in critici!4 -or one!e- 4ean! to re=create it a! a genreE; BBrie(e ++* 9/9;.
There i! no doubt that BenCa4in owed thi! choice o- a "ro-e!!ion to eary
7rench in-uence!* to the "roGi4ity o- the great neighbor on the other !ide o- the
Rhine which in!"ired in hi4 !o inti4ate a !en!e o- a--inity. But it i! 4uch 4ore
!y4"to4atic that e)en thi! !eection o- a "ro-e!!ion wa! actuay 4oti)ated by
hard ti4e! and -inancia woe!. +- one want! to eG"re!! the D"ro-e!!ionE he had
"re"ared hi4!e- -or !"ontaneou!y* athough "erha"! not deiberatey* in !ocia
categorie!* one ha! to go bac3 to Wihe4inian 5er4any in which he grew u"
and where hi! -ir!t "an! -or the -uture too3 !ha"e. Then one coud !ay that
BenCa4in did not "re"are -or anything but the D"ro-e!!ionE o- a "ri)ate coector
and totay inde"endent !choar* what wa! then caed 5rivat#elehrter4 2nder the
circu4!tance! o- the ti4e hi! !tudie!* which he had begun be-ore the 7ir!t Word
War* coud ha)e ended ony with a uni)er!ity career* but unba"tiAed (ew! were
!ti barred -ro4 !uch a career* a! they were -ro4 any career in the ci)i !er)ice.
Such (ew! were "er4itted a /ailita-tion and at 4o!t coud attain the ran3 o- an
un"aid 9=traor'i-nan!sM it wa! a career which "re!u""o!ed rather than "ro)ided
an a!!ured inco4e. The doctorate which BenCa4in decided to ta3e ony Dout o-
con!idw=ation -or 4y -a4iyE BBrie(e +* .$&; and hi! !ub!e?uent atte4"t at
/ailkation were intended a! the ba!i! -or hi! -a4iyK! readine!! to "ace !uch an
inco4e at hi! di!"o!a.
Thi! !ituation changed abru"ty a-ter the war@ the in-ation had i4"o)eri!hed*
e)en di!"o!!e!!ed* arge nu4ber! o- the bourgeoi!ie* and in the Wei4ar Re"ubic a
uni)er!ity career wa! o"en e)en to unba"tiAed (ew!. The unha""y !tory o- the
/ailkation !how! ceary how itte BenCa4in too3 the!e atered circu4!tance!
into account and how greaty he continued to be do4inated by "rewar idea! in
a -inancia 4atter!. 7or -ro4 the out!et the /ailkation had ony been intended
to ca hi! -ather Dto orderE by !u""ying De)idence o- "ubic recognitionE
BBrie(e +* .%B; and to 4a3e hi4 grant hi! !on* who wa! in hi! thirtie! at that
ti4e* an inco4e that wa! ade?uate and* one !houd add* co4=
.<
&ntro'!"tion
4en!urate with hi! !ocia !tanding. At no ti4e* not e)en when he had aready
co4e co!e to the Co44uni!t!* did he doubt that de!"ite hi! chronic con-ict!
with hi! "arent! he wa! entited to !uch a !ub)ention and that their de4and that
he Dwor3 -or a i)ingE wa! Dun!"ea3abeE BBrie(e +* .%.;. When hi! -ather !aid
ater that he coud not or woud not increa!e the 4onthy !ti"end he wa! "aying
anyway* e)en i- hi! !on achie)ed the /ait!ation, thi! naturay re4o)ed the ba!i!
o- BenCa4inK! entire underta3ing. 2nti hi! "arent!K death in $%B/* BenCa4in wa!
abe to !o)e the "robe4 o- hi! i)eihood by 4o)ing bac3 into the "arenta ho4e*
i)ing there -ir!t with hi! -a4iy :he had a wi-e and a !on;* and a-ter hi!
!e"arationFwhich ca4e !oon enoughFby hi4!e-. :He wa! not di)orced unti
$%B/.; +t i! e)ident that thi! arrange4ent cau!ed hi4 a great dea o- !u--ering* but
it i! Cu!t a! e)ident that in a "robabiity he ne)er !eriou!y con!idered another
!oution. +t i! a!o !tri3ing that de!"ite hi! "er4anent -inancia troube he
4anaged throughout the!e year! con!tanty to enarge hi! ibrary. Hi! one atte4"t
to deny hi4!e- thi! eG"en!i)e "a!!ionFhe )i!ited the great auction hou!e! the
way other! -re?uent ga4bing ca!ino!Fand hi! re!oution e)en to !e !o4ething
Din an e4ergencyE ended with hi! -eeing obiged to Ddeaden the "ain o- thi!
readine!!E BBrie(e +* B</; by 4a3ing -re!h "urcha!e!N and hi! one de4on!trabe
atte4"t to -ree hi4!e- -ro4 -inancia de"endence on hi! -a4iy ended with the
"ro"o!a that hi! -ather i44ediatey gi)e hi4 D-und! enabing 4e to buy an
intere!t in a !econdhand boo3!toreKP BBrie(e +* .%.;. Thi! i! the ony gain-u
e4"oy4ent that BenCa4in e)er con!idered. Nothing ca4e o- it* o- cour!e.
+n )iew o- the reaitie! o- the 5er4any o- the twentie! and o- BenCa4inK!
awarene!! that he woud ne)er be abe to 4a3e a i)ing with hi! "enFDthere are
"ace! in which + can earn a 4ini4u4 and "ace! in which + can i)e on a
4ini4u4* but there i! no "ace where + can do bothE BBrie(e ++* 9&B;Fhi! whoe
attitude 4ay !tri3e one a! un"ardonaby irre!"on!ibe. Yet it wa! anything but a
ca!e o- irre!"on!ibiity. +t i! rea!onabe to a!!u4e that it i! Cu!t a! hard -or rich
"eo"e grown "oor to beie)e in their "o)erty a! it i! -or "oor "eo"e turned rich
to beie)e in
.Z
&ll!minations
their weathN the -or4er !ee4 carried away by a rec3e!!ne!! o- which they are
totay unaware* the atter !ee4 "o!!e!!ed by a !tingine!! which actuay i!
nothing but the od ingrained -ear o- what the neGt day 4ay bring.
8oreo)er* in hi! attitude to -inancia "robe4! BenCa4in wa! by no 4ean! an
i!oated ca!e. +- anything* hi! outoo3 wa! ty"ica o- an entire generation o-
5er4an=(ewi!h inteectua!* athough "robaby no one e!e -ared !o bady with
it. +t! ba!i! wa! the 4entaity o- the -ather!* !ucce!!-u bu!ine!!4en who did not
thin3 too highy o- their own achie)e4ent! and who!e drea4 it wa! that their
!on! were de!tined -or higher thing!. +t wa! the !ecuariAed )er!ion o- the ancient
(ewi!h beie- that tho!e who DearnE Fthe Torah or the Ta4ud* that i!* 5odK!
1awFwere the true eite o- the "eo"e and !houd not be bothered with !o )ugar
an occu"ation a! 4a3ing 4oney or wor3ing -or it. Thi! i! not to !ay that in thi!
generation there were no -ather=!on con-ict!N on the contrary* the iterature o-
the ti4e i! -u o- the4* and i- 7reud had i)ed and carried on hi! in?uirie! in a
country and anguage other than the 5er4an=(ewi!h 4iieu which !u""ied hi!
"atient!* we 4ight ne)er ha)e heard o- an Oedi"u! co4"eG.
$.
But a! a rue the!e
con-ict! were re!o)ed by the !on!K aying cai4 to being geniu!e!* or* in the
ca!e o- the nu4erou! Co44uni!t! -ro4 we=to=do ho4e!* to being de)oted to
the we-are o- 4an3indFin any ca!e* to a!"iring to thing! higher than 4a3ing
4oneyFand the -ather! were 4ore than wiing to grant that thi! wa! a )aid
eGcu!e -or not 4a3ing a i)ing. Where !uch cai4! were not 4ade or
recogniAed* cata!tro"he wa! Cu!t around the co4er. BenCa4in wa! a ca!e in
"oint@ hi! -ather ne)er recogniAed hi! cai4!* and their reation! were
eGtraordinariy bad. Another !uch ca!e wa! Ka-3a* whoF"o!!iby becau!e he
reay wa! !o4ething i3e a geniu!Fwa! ?uite -ree o- the geniu! 4ania o- hi! en=
)iron4ent* ne)er cai4ed to be a geniu!* and en!ured hi! -inancia inde"endence by
ta3ing an ordinary Cob at the ,rague wor34enK! co4"en!ation o--ice. :Hi!
reation! with hi! -ather were o- cour!e e?uay bad* but -or di--erent rea!on!.;
And !ti* no !ooner had Ka-3a ta3en thi! "o!ition than he !aw in it a Drunning
!tart -or
.&
&ntro'!"tion
!uicide!*E a! though he were obeying an order that !ay! DYou ha)e to earn your
gra)e.E
!
7or BenCa4in* at any rate* a 4onthy !ti"end re4ained the ony "o!!ibe -or4
o- inco4e* and in order to recei)e one a-ter hi! "arent!K death he wa! ready* or
thought he wa!* to do 4any thing!@ to !tudy Hebrew -or three hundred 4ar3! a
4onth i- the [ioni!t! thought it woud do the4 !o4e good* or to thin3 dia=
eet3ay* with a the 4ediating tri44ing!* -or one thou!and 7rench -ranc! i-
there wa! no other way o- doing bu!ine!! with the 8arGi!t!. The -act that de!"ite
being down and out he ater did neither i! worthy o- ad4iration* and !o i! the
in-inite "atience with which Schoe4* who had wor3ed )ery hard to get
BenCa4in a !ti"end -or the !tudy o- Hebrew -ro4 the uni)er!ity in (eru!ae4*
aowed hi4!e- to be "ut o-- -or year!. No one* o- cour!e* wa! "re"ared to
!ub!idiAe hi4 in the ony D"o!itionE -or which he wa! born* that o- an homme 'e
lettres, a "o!ition o- who!e uni?ue "ro!"ect! neither the [ioni!t! nor the 8arGi!t!
were* or coud ha)e been* awareQ
Today the homme 'e lettres !tri3e! u! a! a rather har4e!!* 4argina -igure* a!
though he were actuay to be e?uated with the -igure o- the 5rivat#elehrter that
ha! away! had a touch o- the co4ic. BenCa4in* who -et !o co!e to 7rench that
the anguage beca4e -or hi4 a D!ort o- aibiE BBrie(e ++* 9/9; -or hi! eGi!tence*
"robaby 3new about the homme 'e lettres)s origin! in "rere)outionary 7rance a!
we a! about hi! eGtraordinary career in the 7rench Re)oution. +n contra!t to the
ater writer! and iterati* the ;e"r3ains et litterate!rs< a! e)en 1arou!!e de-ine!
the hommes 'e lettres, the!e 4en* though they did i)e in the word o- the written
and "rinted word and were* abo)e a* !urrounded by boo3!* were neither obiged
nor wiing to write and read "ro-e!!ionay* in order to earn a i)ing. 2ni3e the
ca!! o- the inteectua!* who o--er their !er)ice! either to the !tate a! eG"ert!*
!"eciai!t!* and o--icia!* or to !ociety -or di)er!ion and in!truction* the hommes
'e lettres away! !tro)e to 3ee" aoo- -ro4 both the !tate and !ociety. Their
4ateria eGi!tence wa! ba!ed on inco4e without wor3* and their inteectua
attitude re!ted u"on their re!oute re-u!a to be integrated "oiticay or !ociay.
On
\.0
&ll!minations
the ba!i! o- thi! dua inde"endence they coud a--ord that attitude o- !u"erior
di!dain which ga)e ri!e to 1a Roche-oucaudK! conte4"tuou! in!ight! into
hu4an beha)ior* the wordy wi!do4 o- 8ontaigne* the a"hori!tic trenchancy o-
,a!caK! thought* the bodne!! and o"en=4indedne!! o- 8onte!?uieuK! "oitica
re-ection!. +t cannot be 4y ta!3 here to di!cu!! the circu4!tance! which
e)entuay turned the homines 'e lettres into re)outionarie! in the eighteenth
century nor the way in which their !ucce!!or! in the nineteenth and twentieth
centurie! !"it into the ca!! o- the DcuturedE on the one hand and o- the
"ro-e!!iona re)outionarie! on the other. + 4ention thi! hi!torica bac3ground
ony becau!e in BenCa4in the ee4ent o- cuture co4bined in !uch a uni?ue way
with the ee4ent o- the re)outionary and rebeiou!. +t wa! a! though !horty
be-ore it! di!a""earance the -igure o- the homme 'e lettres wa! de!tined to !how
it!e- once 4ore in the -une!! o- it! "o!!ibiitie!* athoughFor* "o!!iby* becau!e
Fit had o!t it! 4ateria ba!i! in !uch a cata!tro"hic way* !o that the "urey
inteectua "a!!ion which 4a3e! thi! -igure !o o)abe 4ight un-od in a it!
4o!t teing and i4"re!!i)e "o!!ibiitie!.
There certainy wa! no dearth o- rea!on! to rebe again!t hi! origin!* the 4iieu
o- 5er4an=(ewi!h !ociety in +4"eria 5er4any* in which BenCa4in grew u"*
nor wa! there any ac3 o- Cu!ti-ication -or ta3ing a !tand again!t the Wei4ar
Re"ubic* in which he re-u!ed to ta3e u" a "ro-e!!ion. +n A Berlin Chil'hoo'
aro!n' Q #oo BenCa4in de!cribe! the hou!e -ro4 which he ca4e a! a D4au!oeu4
ong intended -or 4eE BD"hri(ten +* &<B;. Characteri!ticay enough* hi! -ather
wa! an art deaer and anti?uarianN the -a4iy wa! a weathy and run=o-=the=4i
a!!i4iated oneN one o- hi! grand"arent! wa! OrthodoG* the other beonged to a
Re-or4 con2Kion. D+n 4y chidhood + wa! a "ri!o(r o- the od and the new We!t.
+n tho!e day! 4y can inhabited the!e two di!trict! with an attitude 4inged o-
!tubbornne!! and !e-=con-idenceQ turning the4 into a ghetto which it regarded
a! it! -ie-E BD"hri(ten +* &<B;. The !tubbornne!! wa! toward their (ew=i!hne!!N it
wa! ony !tubbornne!! that 4ade the4 cing to it. The !e-=con-idence wY!
in!"ired by their "o!ition in the Dnon=(ewi!h
.'
&ntro'!"tion
en)iron4ent in which they had* a-ter a* achie)ed ?uite a bit. (u!t how 4uch
wa! !hown on day! when gue!t! were eG"ected. On !uch occa!ion! the in!ide o-
the !ideboard* which !ee4ed to be the center o- the hou!e and thu! Dwith good
rea!on re!e4bed the te4"e 4ountain!*E wa! o"ened* and now it wa! "o!!ibe
Dto !how o-- trea!ure! !uch a! ido! i3e to be !urrounded with.KP Then Dthe
hou!eK! hoard o- !i)erE a""eared* and what wa! di!"ayed Dwa! there not
ten-od* but twenty-od or thirty-od. And when + oo3ed at the!e ong* ong row!
o- 4ocha !"oon! or 3ni-e re!t!* -ruit 3ni)e! or oy!ter -or3!* the enCoy4ent o- thi!
"ro-u!ion !trugged with the -ear that tho!e who were being eG"ected 4ight a
oo3 ai3e* Cu!t a! our cutery didE BD"hri(ten +Q &B.;. E)en the chid 3new that
!o4ething wa! radicay wrong* and not ony becau!e there were "oor "eo"e
:DThe "oorF-or the rich chidren o- 4y age they eGi!ted ony a! beggar!. And it
wa! a great ad)ance in 4y under!tanding when -or the -ir!t ti4e "o)erty dawned
on 4e in the igno4iny o- "oory "aid wor3E KD"hri(ten +* &B.I; but becau!e
D!tubbornne!!E within and D!e-=con-idenceE without were "roducing an
at4o!"here o- in!ecurity and !e-=con!ciou!ne!! which truy wa! anything but
!uitabe -or the rai!ing o- chidren. Thi! wa! true not ony o- BenCa4in or Berin
We!tP or 5er4any. With what "a!!ion did Ka-3a try to "er!uade hi! !i!ter to "ut
her ten=year=od !on in a boarding !choo* !o a! to !a)e hi4 -ro4 Dthe !"ecia
4entaity which i! "articuary )iruent a4ong weathy ,rague (ew! and which
cannot be 3e"t away -ro4 chidren . . . thi! "etty* dirty* !y 4entaity.E
$<
What wa! in)o)ed* then* wa! what had !ince the $'0/! or $''/! been caed
the (ewi!h ?ue!tion and eGi!ted in that -or4 ony in the 5er4an=!"ea3ing Centra
Euro"e o- tho!e decade!. Today thi! ?ue!tion ha! been wa!hed away* a! it were*
by the cata!tro"he o- Euro"ean (ewry and i! Cu!ty -orgotten* athough one !ti
encounter! it occa!ionay in the anguage o- the oder generation oP 5er4an
[ioni!t! who!e thin3ing habit! deri)e -ro4 the -ir!t decade! o- thi! century.
Be!ide!* it ne)er wa! anything
A -a!hionabe re!identia area o- Berin. 2%
Ill*minati+n)
but the concern o- the (ewi!h inteigent!ia and had no !igni-icance -or the
4aCority o- Centra Euro"ean (ewry. 7or the inteectua!* howe)er* it wa! o-
great i4"ortance* -or their own (ewi!hne!!* which "ayed hardy any roe in their
!"iritua hou!ehod* deter4ined their !ocia i-e to an eGtraordinary degree and
there-ore "re!ented itee- to the4 a! a 4ora ?ue!tion o- the -ir!t order. +n thi!
4ora -or4 the (ewi!h ?ue!tion 4ar3ed* in Ka-3aK! word!* Dthe terribe inner
condition o- the!e generation!.E
$9
No 4atter how in!igni-icant thi! "robe4 4ay
a""ear to u! in the -ace o- what actuay ha""ened ater* we cannot di!regard it
here* -or neither BenCa4in nor Ka-3a nor Kar Krau! can be under!tood without it.
7or !i4"icityK! !a3e + !ha !tate the "robe4 eGacty a! it wa! !tated and
ende!!y di!cu!!ed thenFna4ey* in an artice entited D5er4an=(ewi!h 8t.
,arna!!u!E :DDeut!ch=Cudi!eher ,arna!!E; which created a great !tir when 8oritA
5od!tein "ubi!hed it in $%$. in the di!tingui!hed Courna 0er ?!nst-3art4
According to 5od!tein* the "robe4 a! it a""eared to the (ewi!h inteigent!ia
had a dua a!"ect* the non=(ewi!h en)iron4ent and a!!i4iated (ewi!h !ociety*
and in hi! )iew the "robe4 wa! in!oube. With re!"ect to the non=(ewi!h
en)iron4ent* DWe (ew! ad4ini!ter the inteectua "ro"erty o- a "eo"e which
denie! u! the right and the abiity to do !o.E And -urther@ D+t i! ea!y to !how the
ab!urdity o- our ad)er!arie!K argu4ent! and "ro)e that their en4ity i!
un-ounded. What woud be gained by thi!J That their hatred i! #en!ine4 When a
cau4nie! ha)e been re-uted* a di!tortion! recti-ied* a -a!e Cudg4ent! about u!
reCected* anti"athy wi re4ain a! !o4ething irre-utabe. Anyone who doe! not
reaiAe thi! i! beyond he".E +t wa! the -aiure to reaiAe thi! that wa! -et to be
unbearabe about (ewi!h !ociety* who!e re"re!entati)e!* on the one hand* wi!hed
to re4ain (ew! and* on the other* did not want to ac3nowedge their (ewi!hne!!@
DWe !ha o"eny dru4 the "robe4 that they are !hir3ing into the4. We !ha
-orce the4 to own u" to their (ewi!hne!! or to ha)e the4!e)e! ba"tiAed.E But
e)en i- thi! wa! !ucce!!-u* e)en i- the 4endacity o- thi! 4iieu coud be eG"o!ed
and e!ca"edF what woud be gained by itJ A Dea" into 4odern Hebrew iter=
B/
&ntro'!"tion
atureE wa! i4"o!!ibe -or the current generation. Hence@ DOur reation!hi" to
5er4any i! one o- unre?uited o)e. 1et u! be 4any enough at a!t to tear the
beo)ed out o- our heart!. . . . + ha)e !tated what we m!st want to doN + ha)e a!o
!tated why we "annot want it. 8y intention* wa! to "oint u" the "robe4. +t i! not
4y -aut that + 3now o- no !oution.E :7or hi4!e-* Herr 5od!tein !o)ed the
"robe4 !iG year! ater when he beca4e cutura editor o- the Gossis"he Oeit!n#,
And what e!e coud he ha)e doneJ;
One coud di!"o!e o- 8oritA 5od!tein by !aying that he !i4"y re"roduced
what BenCa4in in another conteGt caed Da 4aCor "art o- the v!l#ar anti=Se4itic
a! we a! the [ioni!t ideoogyE BBrie(e +* $9.=9B;* i- one did not encounter in
Ka-3a* on a -ar 4ore !eriou! e)e* a !i4iar -or4uation o- the "robe4 and the
!a4e con-e!!ion o- it! in!oubiity. +n a etter to 8aG Brod about 5er4an=(ewi!h
writer! he !aid that the (ewi!h ?ue!tion or Dthe de!"air o)er it wa! their
in!"irationFan in!"iration a! re!"ectabe a! any other but -raught* u"on co!er
eGa4ination* with di!tre!!ing "ecuiaritie!. 7or one thing* what their de!"air
di!charged it!e- in coud not be 5er4an iterature which on the !ur-ace it
a""eared to be*E becau!e the "robe4 wa! not reay a 5er4an one. Thu! they
i)ed Da4ong three i4"o!!ibiitie! . . . @ the i4"o!!ibiity o- not writingE a! they
coud get rid o- their in!"iration ony by writingN Dthe i4"o!!ibiity o- writing in
5er4anEFKa-3a con!idered their u!e o- the 5er4an anguage a! the Do)ert or
co)ert* or "o!!iby !e-=tor4enting u!ur"ation o- an aien "ro"erty* which ha! not
been ac?uired but !toen* :reati)ey; ?uic3y "ic3ed u"* and which re4ain!
!o4eone e!eK! "o!!e!!ion e)en i- not a !inge ingui!tic 4i!ta3e can be "ointed
outEN and -inay* Dthe i4"o!!ibiity o- writing di--erenty*E !ince no other
anguage wa! a)aiabe. DOne coud a4o!t add a -ourth i4"o!!ibiity*E !ay!
Ka-3a in concu!ion* Dthe i4"o!!ibiity o- writing* -or thi! de!"air wa! not
!o4ething that coud be 4itigated through writingEFa! i! nor4a -or "oet!* to
who4 a god ha! gi)en to !ay what 4en !u--er and endure. Rather* de!"air ha!
beco4e here Dan ene4y o- i-e an' o- writingN writing wa! here
BK
&ll!minations
ony a 4oratoriu4* a! it i! -or !o4eone who write! hi! a!t wi and te!ta4ent
Cu!t be-ore he hang! hi4!e-.E
$U
Nothing coud be ea!ier than to. de4on!trate that Ka-3a wa! wrong and that hi!
own wor3* which !"ea3! the "ure!t 5er4an "ro!e o- the century* i! the be!t
re-utation o- hi! )iew!. But !uch a de4on!tration* a"art -ro4 being in bad ta!te*
i! a the 4ore !u"er-uou! a! Ka-3a hi4!e- wa! !o )ery 4uch aware o- itFD+- +
indi!cri4inatey write down a !entence*E he once noted in hi! Diarie!* Dit aready
i! "er-ectE
$0
=Cu!t a! he wa! the ony one to 3now that ;1a!s"heln< :!"ea3ing a
Yiddi!hiAed 5er4an;* though de!"i!ed by a 5er4an=!"ea3ing "eo"e* (ew! or
non=(ew!* did ha)e a egiti4ate "ace in the 5er4an anguage* being nothing e!e
but one o- the nu4erou! 5er4an diaect!. And !ince he righty thought that
Dwithin the 5er4an anguage* ony the diaect! and* be!ide! the4* the 4o!t
"er!ona High 5er4an are reay ai)e*E it naturay wa! no e!! egiti4ate to
change -ro4 1a!s"heln, or -ro4 Yiddi!h* to High 5er4an than it wa! to change
-ro4 1ow 5er4an or the Ae4annic diaect. +- one read! Ka-3aK! re4ar3! about
the (ewi!h trou"e o- actor! which !o -a!cinated hi4* it beco4e! cear that what
attracted hi4 were e!! the !"eci-icay (ewi!h ee4ent! than the i)eine!! o-
anguage and ge!ture.
To be !ure* we ha)e !o4e di--icuty today in under!tanding the!e "robe4! or
ta3ing the4 !eriou!y* e!"eciay !ince it i! !o te4"ting to 4i!inter"ret and
di!4i!! the4 a! 4ere reaction to an anti=Se4itic 4iieu and thu! a! an eG"re!!ion
o- !e-=hatred. But nothing coud be 4ore 4i!eading when deaing with 4en o-
the hu4an !tature and inteectua ran3 o- Ka-3a* Krau!* and BenCa4in. What
ga)e their critici!4 it! bitter !har"ne!! wa! ne)er anti=Se4iti!4 a! !uch* but the
reaction to it o- the (ewi!h 4idde ca!!* with which the inteectua! by no 4ean!
identi-ied. There* too* it wa! not a 4atter o- the -re?uenty undigni-ied a"oogetic
attitude o- o--icia (ewry* with which the inteectua! had hardy any contact* but
o- the ying denia o- the )ery eGi!tence o- wide!"read anti=Se4iti!4* o- the
i!oation -ro4 reaity !taged with a the de)ice! o- !e-=dece"tion by the (ewi!h
bourgeoi!ie* an i!oation which -or Ka-3a* and not ony -or hi4* incuded
B.
&ntro'!"tion
the o-ten ho!tie and away! haughty !e"aration -ro4 the (ewi!h "eo"e* the !o=
caed -stj!'en :(ew! -ro4 Ea!tern Euro"e; who were* though one 3new better*
ba4ed by the4 -or anti=Se4iti!4. The deci!i)e -actor in a thi! wa! the o!! o-
reaity* aided and abetted by the weath o- the!e ca!!e!. DA4ong "oor "eo"e*E
wrote Ka-3a* Dthe word* the bu!te o- wor3* !o to !"ea3* irre!i!tiby enter! the
hut! . . . and doe! not aow the 4u!ty* "outed* chid=con!u4ing air o- a nicey
-urni!hed -a4iy roo4 to be generated.E
$'
They -ought again!t (ewi!h !ociety
becau!e it woud not "er4it the4 to i)e in the word a! it ha""ened to be*
without iu!ion!Fthu!* -or eGa4"e* to be "re"ared -or the 4urder o- Wather
Rathenau :in $%..;@ to Ka-3a it wa! Dinco4"rehen!ibe that they !houd ha)e et
hi4 i)e a! ong a! that.E
$U
What -inay deter4ined the acutene!! o- the "robe4
wa! the -act that it did not 4erey* or e)en "ri4ariy* 4ani-e!t it!e- a! a brea3
between the generation! -ro4 which one coud ha)e e!ca"ed by ea)ing ho4e
and -a4iy. To ony )ery -ew 5er4an=(ewi!h writer! did the "robe4 "re!ent
it!e- in thi! way* and the!e -ew were !urrounded by a tho!e other! who are
aready -orgotten but -ro4 who4 they are ceary di!tingui!habe ony today
when "o!terity ha! !etted the ?ue!tion o- who i! who. :DTheir "oitica -unction*E
wrote BenCa4in* Di! to e!tabi!h not "artie! but ci?ue!* their iterary -unction to
"roduce not !choo! but -a!hion!* and their econo4ic -unction to !et into the
word not "roducer! but agent!. Agent! or !4artie! who 3now how to !"end their
"o)erty a! i- it were riche! and who 4a3e whoo"ee out o- their yawning )acuity.
One coud not e!tabi!h one!e- 4ore co4-ortaby in an unco4-ortabe !ituation.E
./
; Ka-3a* who eGe4"i-ied thi! !ituation in the abo)e=4entioned etter by Din=
gui!tic i4"o!!ibiitie!*E adding that they coud Da!o be caed !o4ething ?uite
di--erent*E "oint! to a Dingui!tic 4idde ca!!E between* a! it were* "roetarian
diaect and high=ca!! "ro!e=* it i! Dnothing but a!he! which can be gi)en a
!e4bance o- i-e ony by o)ereager (ewi!h hand! ru44aging through the4.E
One need hardy add that the o)erwhe4ing 4aCority o- (ewi!h inteectua!
beonged to thi! D4idde ca!!EN according to Ka-3a* they con!tituted Dthe he o-
5er4an=(ewi!h etter!*E in which Kar
BB
+u4ination!
Krau! hed !way a! Dthe great o)er!eer and ta!34a!terE without noticing how
4uch Dhe hi4!e- beong! in thi! he a4ong tho!e to be cha!ti!ed.E
.$
That the!e
thing! 4ay be !een ?uite di--erenty -ro4 a non=(ewi!h "er!"ecti)e beco4e!
a""arent when one read! in one o- BenCa4inK! e!!ay! what Brecht !aid about
Kar Krau!@ DWhen the age died by it! own hand* he wa! that handE BD"hri(ten ++*
$0<;*
7or the (ew! o- that generation :Ka-3a and 8oritA 5od!tein were but ten year!
oder than BenCa4in; the a)aiabe -or4! o- rebeion were [ioni!4 and
Co44uni!4* and it i! noteworthy that their -ather! o-ten conde4ned the [ioni!t
rebeion 4ore bittery than the Co44uni!t. Both were e!ca"e route! -ro4 i=
u!ion into reaity* -ro4 4endacity and !e-=dece"tion to an hone!t eGi!tence. But
thi! i! ony how it a""ear! in retro!"ect. At the ti4e when BenCa4in tried* -ir!t* a
ha-=hearted [ioni!4 and then a ba!icay no e!! ha-=hearted Co44uni!4* the
two ideoogie! -aced each other with the greate!t ho!tiity@ the Co44uni!t! were
de-a4ing [ioni!t! a! (ewi!h 7a!ci!t!
.9(
and the [ioni!t! were caing the young
(ewi!h Co44uni!t! Dred a!!i4iationi!t!.E +n a re4ar3abe and "robaby uni?ue
4anner BenCa4in 3e"t both route! o"en -or hi4!e- -or year!= he "er!i!ted in
con!idering the road to ,ae!tine ong a-ter he had beco4e a 8arGi!t* without
aowing hi4!e- to be !wayed in the ea!t by the o"inion! o- hi! 8arGi!t=oriented
-riend!* "articuary the (ew! a4ong the4. Thi! !how! ceary how itte
the .E"o!iti)eE a!"ect o- either ideoogy intere!ted hi4* and that what 4attered to
hi4 in both in!tance! wa! the Dnegati)eE -actor o- critici!4 o- eGi!ting
condition!* a way out o- bourgeoi! iu!ion! and untruth-une!!* a "o!ition out!ide
the iterary a! we a! the acade4ic e!tabi!h4ent. He wa! ?uite young when he
ado"ted thi! radicay critica attitude* "robaby without !u!"ecting to what
i!oation and oneine!! it woud e)entuay ead hi4. Thu! we read* -or eGa4"e*
in a etter written in $%$'* that Wather Rathenau* cai4ing to re"re!ent 5er4any
in -oreign a--air!* and Rudo- Borchardt* 4a3ing a !i4iar cai4 with re!"ect to
5er4an !"iritua a--air!* had in co44on the ;ivill to ie*E Dthe obCecti)e
4endacityE BBrie(e +* $'% --;. Neither wanted to D!er)eE a cau!e through hi!
wor3!Fin
B<
&ntro'!"tion
BorchardtK! ca!e* the D!"iritua and ingui!tic re!ource!E o- the "eo"eN in
RathenauK!* the nationFbut both u!ed their wor3! and taent! a! D!o)ereign
4ean! in the !er)ice o- an ab!oute wi to "ower.E +n addition* there were the
itterateur! who "aced their gi-t! in the !er)ice o- a career and !ocia !tatu!@ DTo
be a itterateur i! to i)e under the !ign o- 4ere inteect* Cu!t a! "ro!titution i! to
i)e under the !ign o- 4ere !eGE BD"hri(ten ++* $0%;] (u!t a! a "ro!titute betray!
!eGua o)e* a itterateur betray! the 4ind* and it wa! thi! betraya o- the 4ind
which the be!t a4ong the (ew! coud not -orgi)e their coeague! in iterary i-e.
+n the !a4e )ein BenCa4in wrote -i)e year! aterFone year a-ter the a!!a!!ination
o- RathenauFto a co!e 5er4an -riendN ^. . . (ew! today ruin e)en the be!t
5er4an cau!e which they "ubicy cha4"ion* becau!e their "ubic !tate4ent i!
nece!!ariy )ena :in a dee"er !en!e; and cannot adduce "roo- o- it! authenticityE
BBrie(e +* B$/;. He went on to !ay that ony the "ri)ate* a4o!t D!ecret
reation!hi"! between 5er4an! and (ew!E were egiti4ate* whie De)erything
about 5er4an=(ewi!h reation! that wor3! in "ubic today cau!e! har4.E There
wa! 4uch truth in the!e word!. Written -ro4 the "er!"ecti)e o- the (ewi!h ?ue!=
tion at that ti4e* they !u""y e)idence o- the dar3ne!! o- a "eriod in which one
coud righty !ay* DThe ight o- the "ubic dar3en! e)erythingE :Heidegger;.
A! eary a! $%$B BenCa4in weighed the "o!ition o- [ioni!4 Da! a "o!!ibiity
and thu! "erha"! a nece!!ary co44it4entE BBrie(e +* <<; in the !en!e o- thi! dua
rebeion again!t the "arenta ho4e and 5er4an=(ewi!h iterary i-e. Two year!
ater he 4et 5erhard Schoe4* encountering in hi4 -or the -ir!t and ony ti4e
D(udai!4 in i)ing -or4EN !oon a-terward! ca4e the begin=ning o- that curiou!*
ende!! con!ideration* eGtending o)er a "eriod o- a4o!t twenty year!* o-
e4igration to ,ae!tine. D2nder certain* by no 4ean! i4"o!!ibe condition! + a4
ready i- not deter4ined Hto go to ,ae!tineI. Here in Au!tria the (ew! :the decent
one!* tho!e who are not 4a3ing 4oney; ta3 o- nothing e!e.E So he wrote in
$%$% BBrie(e +* ...;* but at the !a4e ti4e he regarded !uch a "an a! an Dact o-
)ioenceE BBrie(e +* ./';* un-ea!ibe une!! it turned out to be nece!!ary.
Whene)er !uch
BS
Ill*minati+n)
-inancia or "oitica nece!!ity aro!e* he recon!idered the "roCect and did not
go. +t i! hard to !ay whether he wa! !ti !eriou! about it a-ter the !e"aration -ro4
8! wi-e* who had co4e -ro4 a [ioni!t 4iieu. But it i! certain that e)en during
hi! ,ari! eGie he announced that he 4ight go Dto (eru!ae4 in October or No=
)e4ber* a-ter a 4ore or e!! de-initi)e concu!ion o- 4y !tudie!E BBrie(e ++* &99;.
What !tri3e! one a! indeci!on in the etter!* a! though he were )aciating
between [ioni!4 and 8arGi!4* in truth wa! "robaby due to the bitter in!ight
that a !oution! were not ony obCecti)ey -a!e and ina""ro"riate to reaity* but
woud ead hi4 "er!onay to a -a!e !a)ation* no 4atter whether that !a)ation
wa! abeed 8o!cow or (eru!ae4. He -et that he woud de"ri)e hi4!e- o- the
"o!iti)e cogniti)e chance! o- hi! own "o!itionFDon the to" o- a 4a!t that i!
aready cru4bingE or Ddead in hi! own i-eti4e and the rea !ur)i)orE a4ong
the ruin!. He had !etted down in the de!"erate condition! which corre!"onded
to reaityN there he wanted to re4ain in order to DdenatureE hi! own writing!
Di3e 4ethyated !"irit! ... at the ri!3 o- 4a3ing the4 un-it -or con!u4"tionE by
anyone then ai)e but with the chance o- being "re!er)ed a the 4ore re=iaby
-or an un3nown -uture.
7or the in!oubiity o- the (ewi!h ?ue!tion -or that generation by no 4ean!
con!i!ted ony in their !"ea3ing and writing 5er4an or in the -act that their
D"roduction "antE wa! ocated in Euro"eFin BenCa4inK! ca!e* in Berin We!t or
in ,ari!* !o4ething about which he did Dnot ha)e the !ighte!t iu!ion!E BBrie(e ++*
9B$;] What wa! deci!i)e wa! that the!e 4en did not wi!h to DreturnE either to the
ran3! o- the (ewi!h "eo"e or to (udai!4* and coud not de!ire to do !oFnot
becau!e they beie)ed in D"rogre!!E and an auto4atic di!a""earance o- anti=
Se4iti!4 or becau!e they were too Da!!i4iatedE and too aienated -ro4 their
(ewi!h heritage* but becau!e a tradition! and cuture! a! we a! a DbeongingE
had beco4e e?uay ?ue!tionabe to the4. Thi! i! what they -et wa! wrong with
the DreturnE to the (ewi!h -od a! "ro"o!ed by the [ioni!t!N they coud a ha)e
!aid what Ka-3a once !aid about being a 4e4ber o- the (ewi!h "eo"eN ^. . . 8y
"eo"e* "ro)ided that + ha)e one.E
.B
B&
&ntro'!"tion
No doubt* the (ewi!h ?ue!tion wa! o- great i4"ortance -or thi! generation o-
(ewi!h writer! and eG"ain! 4uch o- the "er=!ona- de!"air !o "r1nent in neary
e)erything they wrote.W the 4o!t cear=!ighted a4ong the4 were ed by their
"er!ona con-ict! to a 4uch 4ore genera and 4ore radica "robe4* na4ey* to
?ue!tioning the ree)ance o- the We!tern tradition a! a whoe. Not Cu!t 8arGi!4
a! a doctrine but the Co44uni!t re)outionary 4o)e4ent eGerted a "ower-u
attraction on the4 becau!e it i4"ied 4ore than a critici!4 o- eGi!ting !ocia and
"oitica condition! and too3 into account the totaity o- "oitica and !"iritua
tradition!. 7or BenCa4in* at any rate* thi! ?ue!tion o- the "a!t and o- tradition a!
!uch wa! deci!i)e* and "reci!ey in the !en!e in which Schoe4* warning hi!
-riend again!t the danger! to hi! thin3ing inherent in 8arGi!4* "o!ed it* abeit
without being aware o- the "robe4. BenCa4in* he wrote* wa! running the ri!3 o-
-or-eiting the chance o- beco4ing Dthe egiti4ate continuer o- the 4o!t -ruit-u
and 4o!t genuine tradition! o- a Ha4ann and a Hu4bodtE BBrie(e ++* 9.&;. What
he did not under!tand wa! that !uch a return to and continuation o- the "a!t wa!
the )ery thing which Dthe 4oraity o- Hhi!I in!ight!*E to which Schoe4 a""eaed*
wa! bound to rae out -or BenCa4in.
.<
+t !ee4! te4"ting to beie)e* and woud indeed be a co4-orting thought* that
tho!e -ew who )entured out onto the 4o!t eG"o!ed "o!ition! o- the ti4e and "aid
the -u "rice o- i!oation at ea!t thought o- the4!e)e! a! the "recur!or! o- a
new age. That certainy wa! not the ca!e. +n hi! e!!ay on Kar Krau!* BenCa4in
brought u" thi! ?ue!tion@ Doe! Krau! !tand Dat the thre!hod o- a new ageJE
DAa!* by no 4ean!. He !tand! at the thre!hod o- the 1a!t (udg4entE BD"hri(ten
++* $0<;. And at thi! thre!hod there reay !tood a tho!e who ater beca4e the
4a!ter! o- the Dnew ageEN they oo3ed u"on the dawn o- a new age ba!icay a! a
decine and )iewed hi!tory aong with the tradition! which ed u" to thi! decine
a! a -ied o- ruin!.
.'
No one ha! eG"re!!ed thi! 4ore ceary than BenCa4in in hi!
DThe!e! on the ,hio!o"hy o- Hi!tory*E and nowhere ha! he !aid it 4ore
une?ui)ocay than in a etter -ro4 ,ari! dated $%B9@ DActuay* + hardy -ee con=
!trained to try to 4a3e head or tai o- thi! condition o- the word.
B0
&ll!minations
On thi! "anet a great nu4ber o- ci)iiAation! ha)e "eri!hed in bood and
horror. Naturay* one 4u!t wi!h -or the "anet that one day it wi eG"erience a
ci)iiAation that ha! abandoned bood and horrorN in -act* + a4 . . . incined to
a!!u4e that our "anet i! waiting -or thi!. But it i! terriby doubt-u whether 3e
can bring !uch a "re!ent to it! hundred= or -our=hundred=4iionth birthday "arty.
And i- we donKt* the "anet wi -inay "uni!h u!* it! un=thought-u we=wi!her!Q
by "re!enting u! with the 1a!t (udg4entE P BBrie(e ++* &%';.
We* in thi! re!"ect the a!t thirty year! ha)e hardy brought 4uch that coud
be caed new.
+++. THE ,EAR1 D+6ER
R!ll (athom (ive th. (ather lies,
-( his ones are "oral ma'e, Those are :earls that 3ere his e.es,
Nothin# o( him that 'oth (a'e B!t 'oth s!((er a sea-"han#e &nto somethin# ri"h
an' stran#e4
THE TE8,EST* +* .
+n!o-ar a! the "a!t ha! been tran!4itted* a! tradition* it "o!!e!!e! authorityN
in!o-ar a! authority "re!ent! it!e- hi!toricay* it beco4e! tradition. Water
BenCa4in 3new that the brea3 in tradition and the o!! o- authority which
occurred in hi! i-eti4e were irre"arabe* and he concuded that he had to
di!co)er new way! o- deaing with the "a!t. +n thi! he beca4e a 4a!ter when he
di!co)ered that the tran!4i!!ibiity o- the "a!t had been re"aced by it! citabiity
and that in "ace o- it! authority there had ari!en a !trange "ower to !ette down*
"iece4ea* in the "re!ent and to de"ri)e it o- D"eace o- 4ind*E the 4inde!! "eace
o- co4"acency. D_uotation! in 4y wor3! are i3e robber! by the road!ide who
4a3e an ar4ed attac3 and reie)e an ider o- hi! con)iction!E BD"hri(ten +* 90$;.
Thi! di!co)ery o- the 4odern -unction o- ?uotation!* according to BenCa4in*
who eGe4"i-ied
Welt#eri"ht :1a!t (udg4ent; "ay! on the dua 4eaning o-
Feri"ht :Cudg4entN di!h;. :Tran!atorK! note.;
B'
&ntro'!"tion
it by Kar Krau!* wa! born out o- de!"airFnot the de!"air o- a "a!t that re-u!e!
Dto throw it! ight on the -utureE and et! the hu4an 4ind Dwander in dar3ne!!E
a! in Toc?ue)ie* but out o- the de!"air o- the "re!ent and the de!ire to de!troy
itN hence their "ower i! Dnot the !trength to "re!er)e but to cean!e* to tear out o-
conteGt* to de!troyE BD"hri(ten ++* $%.;Q Sti* the di!co)erer! and o)er! o- thi!
de!tructi)e "ower originay were in!"ired by an entirey di--erent intention* the
intention to "re!er)eN and ony becau!e they did not et the4!e)e! be -ooed by
the "ro-e!!iona D"re!er)er!E a around the4 did they -inay di!co)er that the
de!tructi)e "ower o- ?uotation! wa! Dthe ony one which !ti contain! the ho"e
that !o4ething -ro4 thi! "eriod wi !ur)i)eF-or no other rea!on than that it wa!
torn out o- it.E +n thi! -or4 o- Dthought -rag4ent!*E ?uotation! ha)e the doube
ta!3 o- interru"ting the -ow o- the "re!entation with Dtran!cendent -orceE
BD"hri(ten +* $<.=<B; and at the !a4e ti4e o- concentrating within the4!e)e!
that which i! "re!ented. A! to their weight in BenCa4inK! writing!* ?uotation! are
co4"arabe ony to the )ery di!!i4iar Bibica citation! which !o o-ten re"ace
the i44anent con!i!tency o- argu4entation in 4edie)a treati!e!. + ha)e aready
4entioned that coecting wa! BenCa4inK! centra "a!!ion. +t !tarted eary with
what he hi4!e- caed hi! Dbibio4aniaE but !oon eGtended into !o4ething -ar
4ore characteri!tic* not !o 4uch o- the "er!on a! o- hi! wor3@ the coecting o-
?uotation!. :Not that he e)er !to""ed coecting boo3!. Shorty be-ore the -a o-
7rance he !eriou!y con!idered eGchanging hi! edition o- the Coected Wor3! o-
Ka-3a* which had recenty a""eared in -i)e )ou4e!* -or a -ew -ir!t edition! o-
Ka-3aK! eary writing!Fan underta3ing which naturay wa! bound to re4ain
inco4"rehen!ibe to any nonbibio"hie.; The Dinner need to own a ibraryE
BBrie(e +* $%B; a!!erted it!e- around $%$&* at the ti4e when BenCa4in turned in
hi! !tudie! to Ro4antici!4 a! the Da!t 4o)e4ent that once 4ore !a)ed tradi=
tionE BBrie(e +* *B';. That a certain de!tructi)e -orce wa! acti)e e)en in thi!
"a!!ion -or the "a!t* !o characteri!tic o- heir! and ate=co4er!* BenCa4in did not
di!co)er unti 4uch ater* when he had aready o!t hi! -aith in tradition and in
the inde!tructibi=
B%
+u4ination!
ity o- the word. :Thi! wi be di!cu!!ed "re!enty.; +n tho!e day!* encouraged
by Sehoe4* he !ti beie)ed that hi! own e!trange4ent -ro4 tradition wa!
"robaby due to hi! (ewi!hne!! and that there 4ight be a way bac3 -or hi4 a!
there wa! -or hi! -riend* who wa! "re"aring to e4igrate to (eru!ae4. :A! eary
a! $%./* when he wa! not yet !eriou!y be!et by -inancia worrie!Q he thought o-
earning Hebrew.; He ne)er went a! -ar on thi! road a! did Ka-3a* who a-ter a
hi! e--ort! !tated bunty that he had no u!e -or anything (ewi!h eGce"t the
Ha!idic tae! which Buber had Cu!t "re"ared -or 4odern u!ageFDinto e)erything
e!e + Cu!t dri-t* and another current o- air carrie! 4e away again.E
.&
Wa! he* then*
de!"ite a doubt!* to go bac3 to the 5er4an or Euro"ean "a!t and he" with the
tradition o- it! iteratureJ
,re!u4aby thi! i! the -or4 in which the "robe4 "re!ented it!e- to hi4 in the
eary twentie!* be-ore he turned to 8arGi!4. That i! when he cho!e the 5er4an
Baro?ue Age a! a !ubCect -or hi! /ait!ation the!i!* a choice that i! )ery
characteri!tic o- the a4biguity o- thi! entire* !ti unre!o)ed cu!ter o- "robe4!.
7or in the 5er4an iterary and "oetic tradition the Baro?ue ha!* with the
eGce"tion o- the great church chorae! o- the ti4e* ne)er reay been ai)e.
5oethe righty !aid that when he wa! eighteen year! od* 5er4an iterature wa!
no oder. And BenCa4inK! choice* baro?ue in a doube !en!e* ha! an eGact
counter"art in Schoe4K! !trange deci!ion to a""roach (udai!4 )ia the Cabaa*
that i!* that "art o- Hebrew iterature which i! untran!4itted and untran!4i!!ibe
in ter4! o- (ewi!h tradition* in which it ha! away! had the odor o- !o4ething
downright di!re"utabe. Nothing !howed 4ore cearyF!o one i! incined to !ay
todayFthat there wa! no !uch thing a! a DreturnE either to the 5er4an or the
Euro"ean or the (ewi!h tradition than the choice o- the!e -ied! o- !tudy. +t wa!
an i4"icit ad4i!!ion that the "a!t !"o3e directy ony through thing! that had not
been handed down* who!e !ee4ing co!ene!! to the "re!ent wa! thu! due
"reci!ey to their eGotic character* which rued out a cai4! to a binding
authority. Obigati)e truth! were re"aced by what wa! in !o4e !en!e !igni-icant
or intere!ting* and thi! o- cour!e 4eantFa! no
</
&ntro'!"tion
one 3new better than BenCa4inFthat the Dcon!i!tence o- truth . . . ha! been
o!tE BBrie(e ++* 0&B;. Out!tanding a4ong the "ro"ertie! that -or4ed thi!
Dcon!i!tence o- truthPK wa!* at ea!t -or BenCa4in* who!e eary "hio!o"hica
intere!t wa! theoogicay in!"ired* that truth concerned a !ecret and that the
re)eation o- thi! !ecret had authority. Truth* !o BenCa4in !aid !horty be-ore he
beca4e -uy aware o- the irre"arabe brea3 in tradition and the o!! o- authority*
i! not Dan un)eiing which de!troy! the !ecret* but the re)eation which doe! it
Cu!ticeE BD"hri(ten +* $<&;. Once thi! truth had co4e into the hu4an word at the
a""ro"riate 4o4ent in hi!toryFbe it a! the 5ree3 a-letheia, )i!uay "erce"tibe
to the eye! o- the 4ind and co4"rehended by u! a! Dun=coneea4entE
B;Cnveror#enheit<8Heidegger;* or a! the acou!ticay "erce"tibe word o- 5od
a! we 3now it -ro4 the Euro"ean reigion! o- re)eationFit wa! thi!
Dcon!i!tenceE "ecuiar to it which 4ade it tangibe* a! it were* !o that it coud be
handed down by tradition. Tradition tran!-or4! truth into wi!do4* and wi!do4 i!
the con!i!tence o- tran!4i!!ibe truth. +n other word!* e)en i- truth !houd a""ear
in our word* it coud not ead to wi!do4* becau!e it woud no onger ha)e the
characteri!tic! which it coud ac?uire ony through uni)er!a recognition o- it!
)aidity. BenCa4in di!cu!!e! the!e 4atter! in connection with Ka-3a and !ay! that
o- cour!e DKa-3a wa! -ar -ro4 being the -ir!t to -ace thi! !ituation. 8any had
acco44odated the4!e)e! to it* adhering to truth or whate)er they regarded a!
truth at any gi)en ti4e and* with a 4ore or e!! hea)y heart* -orgoing it!
tran!4i!!ibiity. Ka-3aK! rea geniu! wa! that he tried !o4ething entirey newN he
!acri-iced truth -or the !a3e o- cinging to the tran!4i!!ibiityE BBrie(e ++* 0&B;. He
did !o by 4a3ing deci!i)e change! in traditiona "arabe! or in)enting new one!
in traditiona !tyeN
.0
howe)er* the!e Ddo not 4ode!ty ie at the -eet o- the
doctrine*E a! do the haggadic tae! in the Ta4ud* but DuneG"ectedy rai!e a
hea)y cawE again!t it. E)en Ka-3aK! reaching down to the !ea botto4 o- the "a!t
had thi! "ecuiar duaity o- wanting to "re!er)e and wanting to de!troy. He
wanted to "re!er)e it e)en though it wa! not truth* i- ony -or the !a3e o- thi!
Dnew beauty in what i! )ani!hingE :!ee BenCa4inK! e!!ay on
<$
+u4ination!
1e!3o);N and he 3new* on the other hand* that there i! no 4ore e--ecti)e way to
brea3 the !"e o- tradition than to cut out the Drich and !trange*E cora and "ear!*
-ro4 what had been handed down in one !oid "iece.
BenCa4in eGe4"8ed thi! a4biguity o- ge!ture in regard to the "a!t by
anayAing the coectorK! "a!!ion which wa! hi! own. Coecting !"ring! -ro4 a
)ariety o- 4oti)e! which are not ea!iy under!tood. A! BenCa4in wa! "robaby
the -ir!t to e4"ha!iAe* coecting i! the "a!!ion o- chidren* -or who4 thing! are
not yet co44oditie! and are not )aued according to their u!e-une!!* and it i!
a!o the hobby o- the rich* who own enough not to need anything u!e-u and
hence can a--ord to 4a3e Dthe tran!-iguration o- obCect!E BD"hri(ten +* <$&; their
bu!ine!!. +n thi! they 4u!t o- nece!!ity di!co)er the beauti-u* which need!
Ddi!intere!ted deightE :Kant; to be recogniAed. At any rate* a coected obCect
"o!!e!!e! ony an a4ateur )aue and no u!e )aue what!oe)er. :BenCa4in wa! not
yet aware o- the -act that coecting can a!o be an e4inenty !ound and o-ten
highy "ro-itabe -or4 o- in)e!t4ent.; And ina!4uch a! coecting can -a!ten on
any category o- obCect! :not Cu!t art obCect!* which are in any ca!e re4o)ed -ro4
the e)eryday word o- u!e obCect! becau!e they are DgoodE -or nothing; and thu!*
a! it were* redee4 the obCect a! a thing !ince it now i! no onger a 4ean! to an
end but ha! it! intrin!ic worth* BenCa4in coud under!tand the coectorK! "a!!ion
a! an attitude a3in to that o- the re)outionary. 1i3e the re)outionary* the
coector Ddrea4! hi! way not ony into a re4ote or bygone word* but at the
!a4e ti4e into a better one in which* to be !ure* "eo"e are not "ro)ided with
what they need any 4ore than they are in the e)eryday word* but in which
thing! are iberated -ro4 the drudgery o- u!e-une!!E BD"hri(ten +* 41S@4
Coecting i! the rede4"tion o- thing! which i! to co4"e4ent the rede4"tion o-
4an. E)en the reading o- hi! boo3! i! !o4ething ?ue!tionabe to a true
bibio"hie@ ^ RAnd you ha)e read a the!eJK Anatoe 7rance i! !aid to ha)e been
a!3ed by an ad4irer o- hi! ibrary. RNot one=tenth o- the4. + donKt !u""o!e you
u!e your Se)re! china e)ery dayJKQ :D2n"ac3ing 8y 1ibraryE;. :+n BenCa4inK!
ibrary there were coection! o- rare chidrenK!
<.
&ntro'!"tion
boo3! and o- boo3! by 4entay deranged author!N !ince he wa! intere!ted
neither in chid "!ychoogy nor in "!ychiatry* the!e boo3!* i3e 4any other!
a4ong hi! trea!ure!* iteray were not good -or anything* !er)ing neither to
di)ert nor to in!truct.; Co!ey connected with thi! i! the -eti!h character which
BenCa4in eG"icity cai4ed -or coected obCect!. The )aue o- genuinene!!
which i! deci!i)e -or the coector a! we a! -or the 4ar3et deter4ined by hi4
ha! re"aced the Dcut )aueE and i! it! !ecuariAation.
The!e re-ection!* i3e !o 4uch e!e in BenCa4in* ha)e !o4ething o- the
ingeniou!y briiant which i! not characteri!tic o- hi! e!!entia in!ight!* which
are* -or the 4o!t "art* ?uite down=to=earth. Sti* they are !tri3ing eGa4"e! o- the
(l'nerie in hi! thin3ing* o- the way hi! 4ind wor3ed* when he* i3e the (lane!r in
the city* entru!ted hi4!e- to chance a! a guide on hi! inteectua Courney! o-
eG"oration. (u!t a! !troing through the trea!ure! o- the "a!t i! the inheritorK!
uGuriou! "ri)iege* !o i! the DcoectorK! attitude* in the highe!t !en!e* the
attitude o- the heirE :D2n"ac3ing 8y 1ibraryE; who* by ta3ing "o!!e!!ion o-
thing!Fand Downer!hi" i! the 4o!t "ro-ound reation!hi" that one can ha)e to
obCect!E Bii'4@8e!tabi!he! hi4!e- in the "a!t* !o a! to achie)e* undi!turbed by
the "re!ent* Da renewa o- the od word.E And !ince thi! Ddee"e!t urgeE in the
coector ha! no "ubic !igni-icance what!oe)er but re!ut! in a !tricty "ri)ate
hoCbby* e)erything Dthat i! !aid -ro4 the ange o- the true coectorE i! bound to
a""ear a! Dwhi4!icaE a! the ty"icay (ean ,auian )i!ion o- one o- tho!e writer!
Dwho write boo3! not becau!e they are "oor* but becau!e they are di!!ati!-ied
with the boo3! which they coud buy but do not i3eE Bii'4@4 2"on co!er
eGa4ination* howe)er* thi! whi4!icaity ha! !o4e noteworthy and not !o
har4e!! "ecuiaritie!. There i!* -or one thing* the ge!ture* !o !igni-icant o- an era
o- "ubic dar3ne!!* with which the coector not ony withdraw! -ro4 the "ubic
into the "ri)acy o- hi! -our wa! but ta3e! aong with hi4 a 3ind! o- trea!ure!
that once were "ubic "ro"erty to decorate the4. :Thi!* o- cour!e* i! not todayK!
coector* who get! hod o- whate)er ha! or* in hi! e!ti4ate* wi ha)e a 4ar3et
)aue or can en=
<B
+u4ination!
hance hi! !ocia !tatu!* but the coector who* i3e BenCa4in* !ee3! !trange
thing! that are con!idered )auee!!.; A!o* in hi! "a!!ion -or the "a!t -or it! own
!a3e* born o- hi! conte4"t -or the "re!ent a! !uch and there-ore rather heede!!
o- obCecti)e ?uaity* there aready a""ear! a di!turbing -actor to announce that
tradition 4ay be the a!t thing to guide hi4 and traditiona )aue! by no 4ean!
be a! !a-e in hi! hand! a! one 4ight ha)e a!!u4ed at -ir!t gance.
7or tradition "ut! the "a!t in order* not Cu!t chronoogicay but -ir!t o- a
!y!te4aticay in that it !e"arate! the "o!iti)e -ro4 the negati)e* the orthodoG
-ro4 the heretica* and which i! obigatory and ree)ant -ro4 the 4a!! o-
irree)ant or 4erey intere!ting o"inion! and data. The coectorK! "a!!ion* on
the other hand* i! not ony un!y!te4atic but border! on the chaotic* not !o 4uch
becau!e it i! a "a!!ion a! becau!e it i! not "ri4ariy 3inded by the ?uaity o- the
obCectF!o4ething that i! ca!!i-iabeFbut i! in-a4ed by it! Dgenuinene!!*E it!
uni?uene!!* !o4ething that de-ie! any !y!te4atic ca!!i-ication. There-ore* whie
tradition di!cri4inate!P the coector e)e! a de-erence!N and thi! e)eingF !o
that Dthe "o!iti)e and the negati)e . . . "rediection and reCection are here co!ey
contiguou!E BD"hri(ten ++* B$B;Fta3e! "ace e)en i- the coector ha! 4ade
tradition it!e- hi! !"ecia -ied and care-uy ei4inated e)erything not recogniAed
by it. Again!t tradition the coector "it! the criterion o- genuinene!!N to the
authoritati)e he o""o!e! the !ign o- origin. To eG"re!! thi! way o- thin3ing in
theoretica ter4!@ he re"ace! content with "ure originaity or authenticity*
!o4ething that ony 7rench EGi!tentiai!4 e!tabi!hed a! a ?uaity :er se detached
-ro4 a !"eci-ic characteri!tic!. +- one carrie! thi! way o- thin3ing to it! ogica
concu!ion* the re!ut i! a !trange in)er!ion o- the origina coectorK! dri)e@
DThe genuine "icture 4ay be od* but the genuine thought i! new. +t i! o- the
"re!ent. Thi! "re!ent 4ay be 4eager* granted. But no 4atter what it i! i3e* one
4u!t -ir4y ta3e it by the horn! to be abe to con!ut the "a!t. +t i! the bu who!e
bood 4u!t -i the "it i- the !hade! o- the de"arted are to a""ear at it! edgeE
BD"hri(ten ++* B$<;. Out o- thi! "re!ent when it ha! been !acri-iced -or the
in)ocation o- the "a!t ari!e! then Dthe
<<
&ntro'!"tion
deady i4"act o- thoughtE which i! directed again!t tradition and the authority
o- the "a!t.
Thu! the heir and "re!er)er uneG"ectedy turn! into a de!troyer. DThe true*
greaty 4i!under!tood "a!!ion o- the coector i! away! anarchi!tic* de!tructi)e.
7or thi! i! it! diaectic!@ to co4bine with oyaty to an obCect* to indi)idua ite4!*
to thing! !hetered in hi! care* a !tubborn !ub)er!i)e "rote!t again!t the ty"ica*
the ca!!i-iabe.E
.'
The coector de!troy! the conteGt in which hi! obCect once
wa! ony "art o- a greater* i)ing entity* and !ince ony the uni?uey genuine wi
do -or hi4 he 4u!t cean!e the cho!en obCect o- e)erything that i! ty"ica about
it. The -igure o- the coector* a! od=-a!hioned a! that o- the (lane!r, coud a!!u4e
!uch e4inenty 4odern -eature! in BenCa4in becau!e hi!tory it!e-Fthat i!* the
brea3 in tradition which too3 "ace at the beginning o- thi! centuryFhad aready
reie)ed hi4 o- thi! ta!3 o- de!truction and he ony needed to bend down* a! it
were* to !eect hi! "reciou! -rag4ent! -ro4 the "ie o- debri!. +n other word!* the
thing! the4!e)e! o--ered* "articuary to a 4an who -ir4y -aced the "re!ent* an
a!"ect which had "re)iou!y been di!co)erabe ony -ro4 the coectorK!
whi4!ica "er!"ecti)e.
+ do not 3now when BenCa4in di!co)ered the re4ar3abe coincidence o- hi!
od=-a!hioned incination! with the reaitie! o- the ti4e!N it 4u!t ha)e been in the
4id=twentie!* when he began the !eriou! !tudy o- Ka-3a* ony to di!co)er !horty
therea-ter in Brecht the "oet who wa! 4o!t at ho4e in thi! century. + do not 4ean
to a!!ert that BenCa4in !hi-ted hi! e4"ha!i! -ro4 the coecting o- boo3! to the
coecting o- ?uotation! :eGcu!i)e with tin.; o)ernight or e)en within one year*
athough there i! !o4e e)idence in the etter! o- a con!ciou! !hi-ting o- e4"ha!i!.
At any rate* nothing wa! 4ore characteri!tic o- hi4 in the thirtie! than the itte
noteboo3! with bac3 co)er! which he away! carried with hi4 and in which he
tiree!!y entered in the -or4 o- ?uotation! what daiy i)ing and reading netted
hi4 in the way o- D"ear!E and Dcora.E On occa!ion he read -ro4 the4 aoud*
!howed the4 around i3e ite4! -ro4 a choice and "reciou! coection. And in thi!
coection* which by then wa! anything but
<9
&ll!minations
whi4!ica* it wa! ea!y to -ind neGt to an ob!cure o)e "oe4 -ro4 the eighteenth
century the ate!t new!"a"er ite4* neGt to 5oec3=ingK! DDer er!te SchneeE a
re"ort -ro4 6ienna dated !u44er $%B%* !aying that the oca ga! co4"any had
D!to""ed !u""ying ga! to (ew!. The ga! con!u4"tion o- the (ewi!h "o"uation
in)o)ed a o!! -or the ga! co4"any* !ince the bigge!t con!u4er! were the one!
who did not "ay their bi!. The (ew! u!ed the ga! e!"eciay -or co44itting
!uicideE BBrie(e ++* './;. Here indeed the !hade! o- the de"arted were in)o3ed
ony -ro4 the !acri-icia "it o- the "re!ent.
The co!e a--inity between the brea3 in tradition and the !ee4ingy whi4!ica
-igure o- the coector who gather! hi! -rag4ent! and !cra"! -ro4 the debri! o- the
"a!t i! "erha"! be!t iu!trated by the -act* a!toni!hing ony at -ir!t gance* that
there "robaby wa! no "eriod be-ore our! in which od and ancient thing!* 4any
o- the4 ong -orgotten by tradition* ha)e beco4e genera educationa 4ateria
which i! handed to !chooboy! e)erywhere in hundred! o- thou!and! o- co"ie!.
Thi! a4aAing re=)i)a* "articuary o- ca!!ica cuture* which !ince the -ortie! ha!
been e!"eciay noticeabe in reati)ey traditione!! A4erica* began in Euro"e in
the twentie!. There it wa! initiated by tho!e who were 4o!t aware o- the
3re"arabiity o- the brea3 in traditionFthu! in 5er4any* and not ony there* -ir!t
and -ore4o!t by 8artin Heidegger* who!e eGtraordinary* and eGtraordinariy
eary* !ucce!! in the twentie! wa! e!!entiay due to a Di!tening to the tradition
that doe! not gi)e it!e- u" to the "a!t but thin3! o- the "re!ent.E
.e
Without
reaiAing it* BenCa4in actuay had 4ore in co44on with HeideggerK!
re4ar3abe !en!e -or i)ing eye! and i)ing bone! that had !ea=changed into
"ear! and cora* and a! !uch coud be !a)ed and i-ted into the "re!ent ony by
doing )ioence to their conteGt in inter"reting the4 with Dthe deady i4"actE o-
new thought!* than he did with the diaectica !ubtetie! o- hi! 8arGi!t -riend!.
7or Cu!t a! the abo)e=cited co!ing !entence -ro4 the 5oethe e!!ay !ound! a!
though Ka-3a had written it* the -oowing word! -ro4 a etter to Ho-4ann!tha
dated $%.< 4a3e one thin3 o- !o4e o- HeideggerK! e!!ay! written in the -ortie!
and -i-tie!N DThe con)iction which guide! 4e in
<&
&ntro'!"tion
4y iterary atte4"t! . . . Hi!I that each truth ha! it! ho4e* it! ance!tra "aace* in
anguage* that thi! "aace wa! buit with the ode!t lo#oi. and that to a truth thu!
-ounded the in!ight! o- the !cience! wi re4ain in-erior -or a! ong a! they 4a3e
do here and there in the area o- anguage i3e no4ad!* a! it were* in the con=
)iction o- the !ign character o- anguage which "roduce! the irre!"on!ibe
arbitrarine!! o- their ter4inoogyE BBrie( e +* B.%;. +n the !"irit o- BenCa4inK!
eary wor3 on the "hio!o"hy o- anguage* word! are Dthe o""o!ite o- a
co44unication directed toward the out!ide*E Cu!t a! truth i! Dthe death o-
intention.E Anyone who !ee3! truth -are! i3e the 4an in the -abe about the
)eied "icture at SaiK!N Dthi! i! cau!ed not by !o4e 4y!teriou! 4on!trou!ne!! o-
the content to be un)eied but by the nature o- truth be-ore which e)en the "ure!t
-ire o- !earching i! eGtingui!hed a! though under waterE BD"hri(ten +* $9$* $9.;.
7ro4 the 5oethe e!!ay on* ?uotation! are at the center o- e)ery wor3 o-
BenCa4inK!. Thi! )ery -act di!tingui!he! hi! writing! -ro4 !choary wor3! o- a
3ind! in which it i! the -unction o- ?uotation! to )eri-y and docu4ent o"inion!*
where-ore they can !a-ey be reegated to the Note!. Thi! i! out o- the ?ue!tion in
BenCa4in. When he wa! wor3ing on hi! !tudy o- 5er4an tragedy* he boa!ted o-
a coection o- Do)er &// ?uotation! )ery !y!te4aticay and ceary arrangedE
BBrie(e +* BB%;N i3e the ater noteboo3!* thi! coection wa! not an accu4uation
o- eGcer"t! intended to -aciitate the writing o- the !tudy but con!tituted the 4ain
wor3* with the writing a! !o4ething !econdary. The 4ain wor3 con!i!ted in
tearing -rag4ent! out o- their conteGt and arranging the4 a-re!h in !uch a way
that they iu!trated one another and were abe to "ro)e their raison ')etre in a
-ree=-oating !tate* a! it were. +t de-initey wa! a !ort o- !urreai!tic 4ontage.
BenCa4inK! idea o- "roducing a wor3 con!i!ting entirey o- ?uotation!* one that
wa! 4ounted !o 4a!ter-uy that it coud di!"en!e with any acco4"anying teGt*
4ay !tri3e one a! whi4!ica in the eGtre4e and !e-=de!tructi)e to boot* but it
wa! not* any 4ore than were the conte4"oraneou! !urreai!tic eG"eri4ent!
which aro!e -ro4 !i4iar i4"u!e!. To the eGtent that an acco4"anying teGt by
the author "ro)ed una)oidabe* it wa!
<0
&lltamnations
a 4atter o- -a!hioning it in !uch a way a! to "re!er)e Dthe intention o- !uch
in)e!tigation!*E na4ey* Dto "u4b the de"th! o- anguage and thought ... by
driing rather than eGca)atingE BBrie(e +* B.%;* !o a! not to ruin e)erything with
eG"anation! that !ee3 to "ro)ide a cau!a or !y!te4atic connection. +n !o doing
BenCa4in wa! ?uite aware that thi! new 4ethod o- DdriingE re!uted in a certain
D-orcing o- in!ight! . . . who!e ineegant "edantry* howe)er* i! "re-erabe to
todayK! a4o!t uni)er!a habit o- -a!i-ying the4EN it wa! e?uay cear to hi4
that thi! 4ethod wa! bound to be Dthe cau!e o- certain ob!curitie!E BBrie(e +*
BB/;. What 4attered to hi4 abo)e a wa! to a)oid anything that 4ight be
re4ini!cent o- e4"athy* a! though a gi)en !ubCect o- in)e!tigation had a 4e!!age
in readine!! which ea!iy co44unicated it!e-* or coud be co44unicated* to the
reader or !"ectator@ ;No :oem is inten'e' (or the rea'er, no :i"t!re (or the
ehol'er^ no s.m:hon. (or the listener< :DThe Ta!3 o- the Tran!atorEN itaic!
added;.
Thi! !entence* written ?uite eary* coud !er)e a! 4otto -or a o- BenCa4inK!
iterary critici!4. +t !houd not be 4i!under!tood a! another dadai!t a--ront o- an
audience that e)en then had aready beco4e ?uite u!ed to a !ort! o- 4erey
ca"riciou! !hoc3 ei-ect! and D"ut=on!.E BenCa4in dea! here with thought thing!*
"articuary tho!e o- a ingui!tic nature* which* according to hi4* Dretain their
4eaning* "o!!iby their be!t !igni-icance* i- they are not a :riori a""ied
eGcu!i)ey to 4an. 7or eGa4"e* one coud !"ea3 o- an un-orgettabe i-e or
4o4ent e)en i- a 4en had -orgotten the4. +- the nature o- !uch a i-e or
4o4ent re?uired that it not be -orgotten* that "redicate woud not contain a
-a!ehood but 4erey a cai4 that i! not being -u-ied by 4en* and "erha"! a!o a
re-erence to a rea4 in which it is -u-ied@ 5odK! re4e4branceE Bii'4@4
BenCa4in ater ga)e u" thi! theoogica bac3ground but not the theory and not
hi! 4ethod o- driing to obtain the e!!entia in the -or4 o- ?uotation!Fa! one
obtain! water by driing -or it -ro4 a !ource conceaed in the de"th! o- the earth.
Thi! 4ethod i! i3e the 4odern e?ui)aent o- ritua in)ocation!* and the !"irit!
that now ari!e in)ariaby are tho!e !"iritua e!!ence! -ro4 a "a!t that ha)e
!u--ered the Sha3e=
<'
&ntro'!"tion
!"earean D!ea=changeE -ro4 i)ing eye! to "ear!* -ro4 i)ing bone! to cora.
7or BenCa4in to ?uote i! to na4e* and na4ing rather than !"ea3ing* the word
rather than the !entence* bring! truth to ight. A! one 4ay read in the "re-ace to
the -ri#in o( Ferman Tra#e'., BenCa4in regarded truth a! an eGcu!i)ey
acou!tica "heno4enon@ DNot ,ato but Ada4*E who ga)e thing! their na4e!* wa!
to hi4 the D-ather o- "hio!o"hy*E Hence tradition wa! the -or4 in which the!e
na4e=gi)ing word! were tran!4ittedN it too wa! an e!!entiay acou!tica
"heno4enon. He -et hi4!e- !o a3in to Ka-3a "reci!ey becau!e the atter* current
4i!inter"retation! notwith!tanding* had Dno -ar=!ightedne!! or R"ro"hetic )i!ion*K
^ but i!tened to tradition* and Dhe who i!ten! hard doe! not !eeE :D8aG BrodK!
Boo3 on Ka-3aE;*
There are good rea!on! why BenCa4inK! "hio!o"hica intere!t -ro4 the out!et
concentrated on the "hio!o"hy o- anguage* and why -inay na4ing through
?uoting beca4e -or hi4 the ony "o!!ibe and a""ro"riate way o- deaing with
the "a!t without the aid o- tradition. Any "eriod to which it! own "a!t ha!
beco4e a! ?ue!tionabe a! it ha! to u! 4u!t e)entuay co4e u" again!t the
"heno4enon o- anguage* -or in it the "a!t i! contained ineradieaby* thwarting
a atte4t! to get rid o- it once and -or a. The 5ree3 :olis wi continue to eGi!t
at the botto4 o- our "oitica eGi!tenceFthat i!* at the botto4 o- the !eaF-or a!
ong a! we u!e the word D"oitic!.E Thi! i! what the !e4antici!t!* who with good
rea!on attac3 anguage a! the one buwar3 behind which the "a!t hide!Fit!
con-u!ion* a! they !ayF-ai to under!tand. They are ab!outey right@ in the -ina
anay!i! a "robe4! are ingui!tic "robe4!N they !i4"y do not 3now the
i4"ication! o- what they are !aying.
But BenCa4in* who coud not yet ha)e read Wittgen!tein* et aone hi!
!ucce!!or!* 3new a great dea about the!e )ery thing!* becau!e -ro4 the
beginning the "robe4 o- truth had "re!ented it!e- to hi4 a! a Dre)eation . . .
which 4u!t be heard* that i!* which ie! in the 4eta"hy!icay acou!tica !"here.E
To hi4* there-ore* anguage wa! by no 4ean! "ri4ariy the gi-t o- !"eech which
di!tingui!he! 4an -ro4 other i)ing being!* but* on the contrary* Dthe word
e!!ence . . . -ro4 which !"eech ari!e!E
<%
&ll!minations
BBrie(e +* $%0;* which incidentay co4e! ?uite co!e to HeideggerK! "o!ition
that D4an can !"ea3 ony in!o-ar a! he i! the !ayer.E Thu! there i! Da anguage o-
truth* the ten!ione!! and e)en !ient de"o!itory o- the uti4ate !ecret! which a
thought i! concerned withE :DThe Ta!3 o- the Tran!atorE;* and thi! i! Dthe true
anguageE who!e eGi!tence we a!!u4e unthin3ingy a! !oon a! we tran!ate -ro4
one anguage into another. That i! why BenCa4in "ace! at the center o- hi! e!!ay
DThe Ta!3 o- the Tran!atorE the a!toni!hing ?uotation -ro4 8aar4e in which
the !"o3en anguage! in their 4uti"icity and di)er!ity !u--ocate* a! it were* by
)irtue o- their Babe=i3e tu4ut* the ;immortelle :aroleT which cannot e)en be
thought* !ince Dthin3ing i! writing without i4"e4ent or whi!"er!* !ienty*E and
thu! "re)ent the )oice o- truth -ro4 being heard on earth with the -orce o-
4ateria* tangibe e)idence. Whate)er theoretica re)i!ion! BenCa4in 4ay
!ub!e?uenty ha)e 4ade in the!e theoogica=4eta"hy!ica con)iction!* hi! ba!ic
a""roach* deci!i)e -or a hi! iterary !tudie!* re4ained unchanged@ not to
in)e!tigate the utiitarian or co44unicati)e -unction! o- ingui!tic creation!* but
to under!tand the4 in their cry!taiAed and thu! uti4atey -rag4entary -or4 a!
intentione!! and nonco44unicati)e utterance! o- a Dword e!!ence.E What e!e
doe! thi! 4ean than that he under!tood anguage a! an e!!entiay "oetic
"heno4enonJ And thi! i! "reci!ey what the a!t !entence o- the 8aar4&
a"hori!4* which he doe! not ?uote* !ay! in une?ui)oca carity@ ;De!lement,
sa"h-om r(e=isterait :as le versM t!i, :hiloso:hi7!ement rem!nere le 'e(a!t 'es
lan#!es, "om:liment s!:erie!r<8aUl thi! were true i- "oetry did not eGi!t* the
"oe4 that "hio!o"hicay 4a3e! good the de-ect o- anguage!* i! their !u"erior
co4"e4ent.
B/
A o- which !ay! no 4ore* though in a !ighty 4ore co4"eG
way* than what + 4entioned be-oreFna4ey* that we are deaing here with
!o4ething which 4ay not be uni?ue but i! certainy eGtre4ey rare@ the gi-t o-
thinkin# :oeti"all.,
And thi! thin3ing* -ed by the "re!ent* wor3! with the Dthought -rag4ent!E it
can wre!t -ro4 the "a!t and gather about it!e-. 1i3e a "ear di)er who de!cend!
to the botto4 o- the !ea* not to eGca)ate the botto4 and bring it to ight but to
"ry oo!e
$
Intr+,*cti+n
the rich and the !trange* the "ear! and the cora in the de"th!* and to carry the4
to the !ur-ace* thi! thin3ing de)e! into the de"th! o- the "a!tFbut not in order to
re!u!citate it the way it wa! and to contribute to the renewa o- eGtinct age!.
What guide! thi! thin3ing i! the con)iction that athough the i)ing i! !ubCect to
the ruin o- the ti4e* the "roce!! o- decay i! at the !a4e ti4e a "roce!! o-
cry!taiAation* that in the de"th o- the !ea* into which !in3! and i! di!!o)ed what
once wa! ai)e* !o4e thing! D!u--er a !ea=changeE and !ur)i)e in new cry!taiAed
-or4! and !ha"e! that re4ain i44une to the ee4ent!* a! though they waited ony
-or the "ear di)er who one day wi co4e down to the4 and bring the4 u" into
the word o- the i)ingF a! Dthought -rag4ent!*E a! !o4ething Drich and
!trange*E and "erha"! e)en a! e)era!ting Cr:hanomene4
HANNAH ARENDT
D)
Notes
`. Water BenCa4in* D"hri(ten, 7ran3-urt a.8** Suhr3a4" 6erag* $%9C* . )o!.*
and Brie( e, 7ran3-urt a.8.* $%&&* . )o!. The -oowing re-erence! are to the!e
edition!.
.. Yearboo3 o- the 1eo Baec3 +n!titute* $%&9* ". $$0.
B. O". cit.
<. The ca!!ica de!cri"tion o- the (lane!r occur! in BaudeaireK! -a4ou!
e!!ay on Con!tantin 5uy! D1e ,eintre de a )ie 4oderneEF !ee ,eiade edition*
"". '00='B. BenCa4in -re?uenty re-er! to it indirecty and ?uote! -ro4 it in the
Baudeaire e!!ay.
9. Both ha)e recenty reiterated thi!FSchoe4 in hi! 1eo Baec3
8e4oria 1ecture o- $%&9* in which he !aid* D+ a4 incined to con!ider BrechtK!
in-uence on BenCa4inK! out"ut in the thirtie! bae-u* and in !o4e re!"ect!
di!a!trou!*E and Adorno in a !tate4ent to hi! di!ci"e Ro- Tiede4ann according
to which BenCa4in ad4itted to Adorno that he had written Dhi! e!!ay on the
Wor3 o- Art in order to outdo Brecht* who4 he wa! a-raid o-* in radicai!4E
:?uoted in Ro- Tiede4ann* Dt!'ien E!r 5hiloso:hie Walter Benjamins, 7ran3=
-urt* $%&9* ". '%;. +t i! i4"robabe that BenCa4in !houd ha)e eG"re!!ed -ear o-
Brecht* and Adorno !ee4! not to cai4 that he did. A! -or the re!t o- the
!tate4ent* it i!* un-ortunatey* a too i3ey that BenCa4in 4ade it becau!e he
wa! a-raid o- Adorno. +t i! true that BenCa4in wa! )ery !hy in hi! deaing! with
"eo"e he had not 3nown !ince hi! youth* but he wa! a-raid ony o- "eo"e he
wa! de"endent u"on. Such a de"endence on Brecht woud ha)e co4e about ony
i- he had -oowed BrechtK! !ugge!tion that he 4o)e -ro4 ,ari! to BrechtK!
)icinity in con!ideraby e!! eG"en!i)e Den4ar3. A! it turned out* BenCa4in had
!eriou! doubt! about !uch an eGcu!i)e Dde"enY dence on one "er!onE in a
!trange country with a D?uite un-a4iiar anguageE BBrie(e ++* 9%&* 9%%;.
&. +n the re)iew o- the 0rei#ros"henroman4 C-. Gers!"he !er Bre"ht,
7ran3-urt* $%&&* ". %/.
0. +t now !ee4! that neary e)erything ha! been !a)ed. The 4anu!cri"t!
hidden in ,ari! were* in accordance with BenCa4inK! in!truction!* !ent to
Theodor W. AdornoN according to Tiede4ann Bo:4 "it4, ". .$.;* they are now in
Ado4oK! D"ri)ate coectionE in 7ran3=
S.
&ntro'!"tion
-urt. Re"rint! and co"ie! o- 4o!t teGt! are a!o in 5er!ho4 Schoe4K! "er!ona
coection in (eru!ae4. The 4ateria con-i!cated by the 5e!ta"o ha! turned u" in
the 5er4an De4ocratic Re"ubic. See DDer BenCa4in=Nacha!! in ,ot!da4E by
Ro!e4arie Hei!e in alternative, October=Dece4ber* $%&0.
'. C-. DWater BenCa4in hinter !einen Brie-en*E 1erk!r, 8arch $%&0.
%. C-. ,ierre 8i!!aeQ D1KEcat et e !ecret@ Water BenCa4in*E Criti7!e,
No!. .B$=B.* $%&&.
$/. 8aG Rychner* the recenty decea!ed editor o- the Ne!e
D"h3eiEer *!n's"ha!, wa! one o- the 4o!t cuti)ated and 4o!t re
-ined -igure! in the inteectua i-e o- the ti4e. 1i3e Adorno* Ern!t
Boch* and Schoe4* he "ubi!hed hi! DErinnerungen an Water Ben
Ca4inE in 0er 1onat, Se"te4ber* i%&/*
n. &i'4
$.P Ka-3a* who!e outoo3 on the!e 4atter! wa! 4ore reai!tic than that o- any
o- hi! conte4"orarie!* !aid that Dthe -ather co4"eG which i! the inteectua
nouri!h4ent o- 4any . . . concern! the (udai!4 o- the -ather! ... the )ague
con!ent o- the -ather! :thi! )aguene!! wa! the outrage;KP to their !on!K ea)ing o-
the (ewi!h -od@ Dwith their hind eg! they were !ti !tuc3 to the (udai!4 o- their
-ather!* and with the -oreeg! they -ound no new groundE :7ranA Ka-3a* Brie(e, ".
BB0;.
$B. +bid.* ". 99.
$<. &i'4, ". BB%.
$9. &i'4, ". BB0.
$&. &i'4, "". BB&=B'.
$0. 7ranA Ka-3a* Ta#e!"her, ". <..
$'. 7ranA Ka-3a* Brie(e, ". B<0.
$%. &i'4, ". B0'.
./. +n DDer Autor a! ,roduAent*E a ecture gi)en in ,ari! in $%B<P in
which BenCa4in ?uote! an earier e!!ay on the inteectua 1e-t. See Gers!"he
iier Bre"ht, ". $/%.
.$. _uoted in 8aG Brod* RranE ?a(kas Fla!en !n' +ehre, Win=terthur*
$%<'.
... Brecht* -or in!tance* tod BenCa4in that hi! e!!ay on Ka-3a ga)e aid
and co4-ort to (ewi!h 7a!ci!4. See Gers!"he, ". $.B.
9B
+u4ination!
.B. 7ranA Ka-3aQ Brie(e, ". $'B.
.B. +n the abo)e=4entioned artice ,ierre 8i!!ac dea! with the !a4e
"a!!age and write!@ DSan! !ou!=e!ti4er a )aeur dKune tee reu!!ite HdKetre e
!ucce!!eur de Ha4ann et de Hu4bodtI* on "eut "en!er ?ue BenCa4in
recherchait au!!i dan! e 8arGi!4e un 4oyen dKy echa""enE :Without
undere!ti4ating the )aue o- !uch a !ucce!! Hbeing the !ucce!!or o- Ha4ann and
Hu4bodtI* it i! "o!!ibe to thin3 that BenCa4in a!o !ought in 8arGi!4 a 4ean!
o- e!ca"ing it.;
.<. One i! i44ediatey re4inded o- BrechtK! "oe4 DOn the ,oor B.B.E=
Rrohli"h ma"het 'as /a!s 'en 9sserM er leert es4
Gon 'iesen Dta'ten 3ir' leien: 'er '!r"h sie hm'!r"h#in#, 'er Win'V
Rrohli"h ma"het 'as /a!s 'en 9sserM er leert es4
Wir 3issen, 'ass 3ir Gorla!(i#e stn'
Cn' na"h !ns 3ir' komrnen: ni"hts Nennens3ertes4 :DO- the!e citie! wi
re4ain that which bew through the4* the wind.WThe hou!e 4a3e! the -ea!ter
4erry. He cean! it out.WWe 3now weKre ony te4"orary and a-ter u! wi
-oowWNothing worth ta3ing about.E The 1an!al o( 5iet., New Yor3* $%&&.;
Worth noting* too* i! a re4ar3abe a"hori!4 o- Ka-3a in the DNote! -ro4 the
Year $%./Q under the tite DHeE@ DE)erything he doe! a""ear! to hi4
eGtraordinariy new but a!o* becau!e o- the i4"o!!ibe abundance o- the new*
eGtraordinariy a4ateuri!h* indeed hardy toerabe* inca"abe o- beco4ing
hi!torica* tearing a!under the chain o- generation!* brea3ing o-- -or the -ir!t ti4e
the 4u!ic o- the word which unti now coud at ea!t be di)ined in a it! de"th.
So4eti4e! in hi! conceit he i! 4ore worried about the word than about
hi4!e-.E
The :re'e"essor o( this moo' is, a#ain, Ba!'elaire4 ;+e mon'e va (inir4 +a
se!le ration :o!r la7!elle C :o!vait '!rer, ")est 7!elle e=iste4 J!e "ette raison
est (aile
.
"om:aree W to!tes "elles 7!i annon"ent le "ontraire, :arti"!liirement W
"elle-"i: 7!
(
est-"e 7!e le mon'e a 'eX sormais i (ake so!s le "ielT 4 4 4 J!ant a
moi 7!i sens 7!el7!e(ois en moi le ri'i"!le ')!n :ro:heteY je sais 7!e je n).
tro!verai jamais la "harite '
r
!n me'e"in4 5er'! 'ans "e vilain mon'e, "o!'o.e
:ar les (o!les
.
je s!is "omme !n homme lasse 'ont 5oeil ne voit en arriere, 'ans
les annees :ro(on'es, 7!e 'esa!sement et amert!me, et 'evant l!i 7iC!n ora#e
oil rien 'e ne!( rtest "onten!, ni ensei#nement ni 'o!le!r4
n
Rrom 2o!rna!=
intimes, 5leia'e e'ition, ::4 11%$-%Z[
9<
-fe &ntro'!"tion
C-. Ka-3a* Brie( e, ". $0B.
A !eection a""eared under the tite 5arales an' 5ara'o=es in a
biingua edition :Schoc3en Boo3!* New Yor3* $%&$;.
BenCa4in* D1ob der ,u""e*E +iteraris"he Welt, (anuary $/* $%B/.
See 8artin Heidegger* ?ants These !er 'as Dein
P
7ran3-urt* $%&.*
7or the a"hori!4 by 8aar4e* !ee D6ariation! !ur un !uCetE under
the !ubtite DCri!e de! )er!*E ,eiade edition* "". B&B=&<.
Jlluminations
Unpacking JAy Library
Jalk about Book Collecting
+ a4 un"ac3ing 4y ibrary. Ye!* + a4. The boo3! are not yet on the !he)e!* not
yet touched by the 4id boredo4 o- order. + cannot 4arch u" and down their
ran3! to "a!! the4 in re)iew be-ore a -riendy audience. You need not -ear any o-
that. +n!tead* + 4u!t a!3 you to Coin 4e in the di!order o- crate! that ha)e been
wrenched o"en* the air !aturated with the du!t o- wood* the -oor co)ered with
torn "a"er* to Coin 4e a4ong "ie! o- )ou4e! that are !eeing dayight again a-ter
two year! o- dar3ne!!* !o that you 4ay be ready to !hare with 4e a bit o- the
4oodFit i! certainy not an eegiac 4ood but* rather* one o- antici"ationFwhich
the!e boo3! arou!e in a genuine coector. 7or !uch a 4an i! !"ea3ing to you* and
on co!er !crutiny he "ro)e! to be !"ea3ing ony about hi4!e-. Woud it not be
"re!u4"tuou! o- 4e i-* in order to a""ear con)incingy obCecti)e and down=to=
earth* + enu4erated -or you the 4ain !ection! or "riAe "iece! o- a ibrary* i- +
"re!ented you with their hi!tory or e)en their u!e-une!! to a writerJ +* -or one*
ha)e in 4ind !o4ething e!! ob!cure* !o4ething 4ore "a"abe than thatN what +
a4 reay concerned with i! gi)ing you !o4e in!ight into the reation!hi" o-
9%
+u4ination!
a boo3 coector to hi! "o!!e!!ion!* into coecting rather than a coection. +- + do
thi! by eaborating on the )ariou! way! o- ac?uiring boo3!* thi! i! !o4ething
entirey arbitrary. Thi! or any other "rocedure i! 4erey a da4 again!t the !"ring
tide o- 4e4orie! which !urge! toward any coector a! he conte4"ate! hi!
"o!!e!!ion!. E)ery "a!!ion border! on the chaotic* but the coectorK! "a!!ion
border! on the chao! o- 4e4orie!. 8ore than that@ the chance* the -ate* that
!u--u!e the "a!t be-ore 4y eye! are con!"icuou!y "re!ent in the accu!to4ed
con-u!ion o- the!e boo3!. 7or what e!e i! thi! coection but a di!order to which
habit ha! acco44odated it!e- to !uch an eGtent that it can a""ear a! orderJ You
ha)e a heard o- "eo"e who4 the o!! o- their boo3! ha! turned into in)aid!* or
o- tho!e who in order to ac?uire the4 beca4e cri4ina!. The!e are the )ery area!
in which any order i! a baancing act o- eGtre4e "recariou!ne!!. DThe ony eGact
3nowedge there i!*E !aid Anatoe 7rance* Di! the 3nowedge o- the date o-
"ubication and the -or4at o- boo3!.E And indeed* i- there i! a counter"art to the
con-u!ion o- a ibrary* it i! the order o- it! cataogue.
Thu! there i! in the i-e o- a coector a diaectica ten!ion between the "oe! o-
di!order and order. Naturay* hi! eGi!tence i! tied to 4any other thing! a! we@
to a )ery 4y!teriou! reation!hi" to owner!hi"* !o4ething about which we !ha
ha)e 4ore to !ay aterN a!o* to a reation!hi" to obCect! which doe! not e4=
"ha!iAe their -unctiona* utiitarian )aueFthat i!* their u!e-une!!Fbut !tudie!
and o)e! the4 a! the !cene* the !tage* o- their -ate. The 4o!t "ro-ound
enchant4ent -or the coector i! the oc3ing o- indi)idua ite4! within a 4agic
circe in which they are -iGed a! the -ina thri* the thri o- ac?ui!ition* "a!!e!
o)er the4. E)erything re4e4bered and thought* e)erything con!ciou!* beco4e!
the "ede!ta* the -ra4e* the ba!e* the oc3 o- hi! "ro"erty. The "eriod* the region*
the cra-t!4an!hi"* the -or4er owner!hi"F-or a true coector the whoe
bac3ground o- an ite4 add! u" to a 4agic encyco"edia who!e ?uinte!!ence i!
the -ate o- hi! obCect. +n thi! circu4!cribed area* then* it 4ay be !ur4i!ed how
the great "hy!iogno4i!t!Fand coector! are the "hy!iogno4i!t! o- the word o-
obCect!Fturn into inter"reter! o-
&/
Cn:a"kin# 1. +irar.
-ate. One ha! ony to watch a coector hande the obCect! in hi! ga!! ca!e. A!
he hod! the4 in hi! hand!Q he !ee4! to be !eeing through the4 into their di!tant
"a!t a! though in!"ired. So 4uch -or the 4agica !ide o- the coectorFhi! od=
age i4age* + 4ight ca it.
/aent s!a (ata liellk the!e word! 4ay ha)e been intended a! a genera
!tate4ent about boo3!. So boo3! i3e The 0ivine Come'., S"inoAaK! 9thi"s, and
The -ri#in o( D:e"ies ha)e their -ate!. A coector* howe)er* inter"ret! thi! 1atin
!aying di--erenty. 7or hi4* not ony boo3! but a!o co"ie! o- boo3! ha)e their
-ate!. And in thi! !en!e* the 4o!t i4"ortant -ate o- a co"y i! it! encounter with
hi4* with hi! own coection. + a4 not eGaggerating when + !ay that to a true
coector the ac?ui!ition o- an od boo3 i! it! rebirth. Thi! i! the chidi3e ee4ent
which in a coector 4inge! with the ee4ent o- od age. 7or chidren can
acco4"i!h the renewa o- eGi!tence in a hundred un-aiing way!. A4ong
chidren* coecting i! ony one "roce!! o- renewaN other "roce!!e! are the
"ainting o- obCect!* the cutting out o- -igure!* the a""ication o- deca!Fthe
whoe range o- chidi3e 4ode! o- ac?ui!ition* -ro4 touching thing! to gi)ing
the4 na4e!. To renew the od wordFthat i! the coectorK! dee"e!t de!ire when
he i! dri)en to ac?uire new thing!* and that i! why a coector o- oder boo3! i!
co!er to the we!"ring! o- coecting than the ac?uirer o- uGury edition!. How
do boo3! cro!! the thre!hod o- a coection and beco4e the "ro"erty o- a
coectorJ The hi!tory o- their ac?ui!ition i! the !ubCect o- the -oowing re4ar3!.
O- a the way! o- ac?uiring boo3!* writing the4 one!e- i! regarded a! the 4o!t
"rai!eworthy 4ethod. At thi! "oint 4any o- you wi re4e4ber with "ea!ure the
arge ibrary which (ean ,auK! "oor itte !choo4a!ter WutA graduay ac?uired
by writing* hi4!e-* a the wor3! who!e tite! intere!ted hi4 in boo3=-air
cataogue!N a-ter ai* he coud not a--ord to buy the4. Writer! are reay "eo"e
who write boo3! not becau!e they are "oor* but becau!e they are di!!ati!-ied with
the boo3! which they coud buy but do not i3e. You* adie! and gente4en* 4ay
regard thi! a! a whi4!ica de-inition o- a writer. But e)erything !aid -ro4
&$
&ll!minations
the ange o- a rea coector i! whi4!ica. O- the cu!to4ary 4ode! o-
ac?ui!ition* the one 4o!t a""ro"riate to a coector woud be the borrowing o- a
boo3 with it! attendant non=returning. The boo3 borrower o- rea !tature who4
we en)i!age here "ro)e! hi4!e- to be an in)eterate coector o- boo3! not !o
4uch by the -er)or with which he guard! hi! borrowed trea!ure! and by the dea-
ear which he turn! to a re4inder! -ro4 the e)eryday word o- egaity a! by hi!
-aiure to read the!e boo3!. +- 4y eG"erience 4ay !er)e a! e)idence* a 4an i!
4ore i3ey to return a borrowed boo3 u"on occa!ion than to read it. And the
non=reading o- boo3!* you wi obCect* !houd be characteri!tic o- coector!J
Thi! i! new! to 4e* you 4ay !ay. +t i! not new! at a. EG"ert! wi bear 4e out
when + !ay that it i! the ode!t thing in the word. Su--ice it to ?uote the an!wer
which Anatoe 7rance ga)e to a "hii!tine who ad4ired hi! ibrary and then
-ini!hed with the !tandard ?ue!tion* DAnd you ha)e read a the!e boo3!*
8on!ieur 7ranceJE DNot one=tenth o- the4. + donKt !u""o!e you u!e your Se)re!
china e)ery dayJE
+ncidentay* + ha)e "ut the right to !uch an attitude to the te!t. 7or year!* -or at
ea!t the -ir!t third o- it! eGi!tence* 4y ibrary con!i!ted o- no 4ore than two or
three !he)e! which increa!ed ony by inche! each year. Thi! wa! it! 4iitant age*
when no boo3 wa! aowed to enter it without the certi-ication that + had not read
it. Thu! + 4ight ne)er ha)e ac?uired a ibrary eGten!i)e enough to be worthy o-
the na4e i- there had not been an in-ation. Suddeny the e4"ha!i! !hi-tedN boo3!
ac?uired rea )aue* or* at any rate* were di--icut to obtain. At ea!t thi! i! how it
!ee4ed in SwitAerand. At the ee)enth hour + !ent 4y -ir!t 4aCor boo3 order!
-ro4 there and in thi! way wa! abe to !ecure !uch irre"aceabe ite4! a! 0er
la!e *eiter and Bacho-enK! Da#e von Tana7!il, which coud !ti be obtained
-ro4 the "ubi!her! at that ti4e.
WeF!o you 4ay !ayFa-ter eG"oring a the!e byway! we !houd -inay
reach the wide highway o- boo3 ac?ui!ition* na4ey* the "urcha!ing o- boo3!.
Thi! i! indeed a wide highway* but not a co4-ortabe one. The "urcha!ing done
by a boo3 coector ha! )ery itte in co44on with that done in a boo3!ho"
&.
2n"ac3ing 8y 1ibrary
by a !tudent getting a teGtboo3* a 4an o- the word buying a "re!ent -or hi!
ady* or a bu!ine!!4an intending to whie away hi! neGt train Courney. + ha)e
4ade 4y 4o!t 4e4orabe "urcha!e! on tri"!* a! a tran!ient. ,ro"erty and
"o!!e!!ion beong to the tactica !"here. Coector! are "eo"e with a tactica
in!tinctN their eG"erience teache! the4 that when they ca"ture a !trange city* the
!4ae!t anti?ue !ho" can he a -ortre!!* the 4o!t re4ote !tationery !tore a 3ey
"o!ition. How 4any citie! ha)e re)eaed the4!e)e! to 4e in the 4arche! +
undertoo3 in the "ur!uit o- boo3!M
By no 4ean! a o- the 4o!t i4"ortant "urcha!e! are 4ade on the "re4i!e! o- a
deaer. Cataogue! "ay a -ar greater "art. And e)en though the "urcha!er 4ay be
thoroughy ac?uainted with the boo3 ordered -ro4 a cataogue* the indi)idua
co"y away! re4ain! a !ur"ri!e and the order away! a bit o- a ga4be. There are
grie)ou! di!a""oint4ent!* but a!o ha""y -ind!. + re4e4ber* -or in!tance* that +
once ordered a boo3 with coored iu!tration! -or 4y od coection o- chidrenK!
boo3! ony becau!e it contained -airy tae! by Abert 1udwig 5ri44 and wa!
"ubi!hed at 5ri44a* Thuringia. 5ri44a wa! a!o the "ace o- "ubication o- a
boo3 o- -abe! edited by the !a4e Abert 1udwig 5ri44. With it! !iGteen
iu!tration! 4y co"y o- thi! boo3 o- -abe! wa! the ony eGtant eGa4"e o- the
eary wor3 o- the great 5er4an boo3 iu!trator 1y!er* who i)ed in Ha4burg
around the 4idde o- the a!t century. We* 4y reaction to the con!onance o- the
na4e! had been correct. +n thi! ca!e too + di!co)ered the wor3 o- 1y!er* na4ey
Cnas 1ar"hen!"h, a wor3 which ha! re4ained un3nown to hi! bibiogra"her!
and which de!er)e! a 4ore detaied re-erence than thi! -ir!t one + a4 introducing
here.
The ac?ui!ition o- boo3! i! by no 4ean! a 4atter o- 4oney or eG"ert
3nowedge aone. Not e)en both -actor! together !u--ice -or the e!tabi!h4ent o-
a rea ibrary* which i! away! !o4ewhat i4"enetrabe and at the !a4e ti4e
uni?uey it!e-. Anyone who buy! -ro4 cataogue! 4u!t ha)e -air in addition to
the ?uaitie! + ha)e 4entioned. Date!* "ace na4e!* -or4at!* "re)iou! owner!*
binding!* and the i3e@ a the!e detai! 4u!t te hi4
&B
iu4ination!
!o4ethingFnot a! dry* i!oated -act!* but a! a har4oniou! whoeN -ro4 the
?uaity and inten!ity o- thi! har4ony he 4u!t be abe to recogn8e whether a
boo3 i! -or hi4 or not. An auction re?uire! yet another !et o- ?uaitie! in a
eoector. To the reader o- a cataogue the boo3 it!e- 4u!t !"ea3* or "o!!iby it!
"re)iou! owner!hi" i- the "ro)enance o- the co"y ha! been e!tabi!hed. A 4an
who wi!he! to "artici"ate at an auction 4u!t "ay e?ua attention to the boo3 and
to hi! co4"etitor!* in addition to 3ee"ing a coo enough head to a)oid being
carried away in the co4"etition. +t i! a -re?uent occurrence that !o4eone get!
!tuc3 with a high "urcha!e "rice becau!e he 3e"t rai!ing hi! bidF4ore to a!!ert
hi4!e- than to ac?uire the boo3 On the other hand* one o- the -ine!t 4e4orie! o-
a coector i! the 4o4ent when he re!cued a boo3 to which he 4ight ne)er ha)e
gi)en a thought* 4uch e!! a wi!h-u oo3* becau!e he -ound it oney and aban=
doned on the 4ar3et "ace and bought it to gi)e it it! -reedo4F the way the
"rince bought a beauti-u !a)e gir in The Araian Ni#hts, To a boo3 coector*
you !ee* the true -reedo4 o- a boo3! i! !o4ewhere on hi! !he)e!P
To thi! day) BaAacK! 5ea! 'e "ha#rin !tand! out -ro4 ong row! o- 7rench
)ou4e! in 4y ibrary a! a 4e4ento o- 4y 4o!t eGciting eG"erience at an
auction. Thi! ha""ened in $%$9 P the Rii4ann auction "ut u" by E4i Hir!ch*
one o- the greate!t o- boo3 eG"ert! and 4o!t di!tingui!hed o- deaer!. The
edition in ?ue!tion a""eared in $'B' in ,ari!* ,ace de a Bour!e. A! + "ic3 u"
4y co"y* + !ee not ony +t! nu4ber in the Rii4ann coection* but e)en the abe
o- the !ho" in which the -ir!t owner bought the boo3 o)er ninety year! ago -or
one=eightieth o- todayK! "rice* D,a"eterie +. 7anneau*E it !ay!. A -ine age in
which it wa! !ti "o!!ibe to buy !uch a de uGe edition at a !tationery deaerK!M
9Q !tee engra)ing! o- thi! boo3 were de!igned by ' -ore4o!t 7rench gra"hic
arti!t and eGecuted by the -ore4o!t engra)er!. But + wa! going to te you how +
ac?uired thi! boo3. + had gone to E4i Hir!chK! -or an ad)anee in!"ection and
had handed -orty or -i-ty )ou4e!N that "articuar )ou4e had in!"ired in 4e the
ardent de!ire to hod on to it -ore)er. The day o- the auction ca4e. A! chance
woud ha)e it* in the !e?uence o- the auction
&<
2n"ac3ing 8y 1ibrary
thi! co"y o- +a 5ea! 'e "ha#rin wa! "receded by a co4"ete !et o- it!
iu!tration! "rinted !e"aratey on +ndia "a"er. The bidder! !at at a ong tabeN
diagonay acro!! -ro4 4e !at the 4an who wa! the -ocu! o- a eye! at the -ir!t
bid* the -a4ou! 8unich coector Baron )on Si4oin. He wa! greaty intere!ted
in thi! !et* but he had ri)a bidder!N in !hort* there wa! a !"irited conte!t which
re!uted in the highe!t bid o- the entire auctionF-ar in eGce!! o- three thou!and
4ar3!. No one !ee4ed to ha)e eG"ected !uch a high -igure* and a tho!e "re!ent
were ?uite eGcited. E4i Hir!ch re4ained unconcerned* and whether he wanted
to !a)e ti4e or wa! guided by !o4e other con!ideration* he "roceeded to the neGt
ite4* with no one reay "aying attention. He caed out the "rice* and with 4y
heart "ounding and with the -u reaiAation that + wa! unabe to co4"ete with
any o- tho!e big coector! + bid a !o4ewhat higher a4ount. Without arou!ing
the bidder!K attention* the auctioneer went through the u!ua routineFDDo + hear
4oreJE and three bang! o- hi! ga)e* with an eternity !ee4ing to !e"arate each
-ro4 the neGtFand "roceeded to add the auctioneerK! charge. 7or a !tudent i3e
4e the !u4 wa! !ti con!iderabe.. The -oowing 4orning at the "awn!ho" i! no
onger "art o- thi! !tory* and + "re-er to !"ea3 about another incident which &
!houd i3e to ca the negati)e o- an auction. +t ha""ened a!t year at a Berin
auction. The coection o- boo3! that wa! o--ered wa! a 4i!ceany in ?uaity and
!ubCect 4atter* and ony a nu4ber o- rare wor3! on occuti!4 and natura
"hio!o"hy were worthy o- note. + bid -or a nu4ber o- the4* but each ti4e +
noticed a gente4an in the -ront row who !ee4ed ony to ha)e waited -or 4y bid
to counter with hi! own* e)identy "re"ared to to" any o--er. A-ter thi! had been
re"eated !e)era ti4e!* + ga)e u" a ho"e o- ac?uiring the boo3 which + wa!
4o!t intere!ted in that day. +t wa! the rare Rra#mente a!s 'em Na"hlass eines
j!n#en 5h.nkers H,o!thu4ou! 7rag4ent! o- a Young ,hy!ici!tI which (ohann
Wihe4 Ritter "ubi!hed in two )ou4e! at Heideberg in $'$/. Thi! wor3 ha!
ne)er been re"rinted* but + ha)e away! con!idered it! "re-ace* in which the
author=editor te! the !tory o- hi! i-e in the gui!e o- an obituary -or hi!
!u""o!edy decea!ed unna4ed -riendFwith who4 he i!
SD
Illuminations
reay identica=a! the 4o!t i4"ortant !a4"e o- "er!ona "ro!e oi 5er4an
Ro4antici!4. (u!t a! the ite4 ca4e u" + had a brain wa)e. +t wa! !i4"e enough@
!ince 4y bid wa! bound to gi)e the ite4 to the other 4an* + 4u!t not bid at a. +
controed 4y!e- and re4ained !ient. What + had ho"ed -or ca4e about@ no in=
tere!t* no bid* and the boo3 wa! "ut a!ide. + dee4ed it wi!e to et !e)era day! go
by* and when + a""eared on the "re4i!e! a-ter a wee3* + -ound the boo3 in the
!econdhand de"art4ent and bene-ited by the ac3 o- intere!t when + ac?uired it.
Once you ha)e a""roached the 4ountain! o- ca!e! in order to 4ine the boo3!
-ro4 the4 and bring the4 to the ight o- day For* rather* o- nightFwhat
4e4orie! crowd in u"on youM Nothing highight! the -a!cination o- un"ac3ing
4ore ceary than the di--icuty o- !to""ing thi! acti)ity. + had !tarted at noon*
and it wa! 4idnight be-ore + had wor3ed 4y way to the a!t ca!e!. Now + "ut 4y
hand! on two )ou4e! bound in -aded board! which* !tricty !"ea3ing* do not
beong in a boo3 ca!e at a@ two abu4! with !tic3=in "icture! which 4y 4other
"a!ted in a! a chid and which + inherited. They are the !eed! o- a coection o-
chidrenK! boo3! which i! growing !teadiy e)en today* though no onger in 4y
garden. There i! no i)ing ibrary that doe! not harbor a nu4ber o- boo3i3e
creation! -ro4 -ringe area!. They need not be !tic3=in a>u4! or -a4iy abu4!*
autogra"h boo3! or "ort-oio! containing "a4"het! or reigiou! tract!N !o4e
"eo"e beco4e attached to ea-et! and "ro!"ectu!e!* other! to handwriting
-ac!i4ie! or ty"ewritten co"ie! o- unobtainabe boo3!N and certainy "eriodica!
can -or4 the "ri!4atic -ringe! o- a ibrary. But to get bac3 to tho!e abu4!@
Actuay* inheritance i! the !ounde!t way o- ac?uiring a coection. 7or a
coectorK! attitude toward hi! "o!!e!!ion! !te4! -ro4 an ownerK! -eeing o-
re!"on!ibiity toward hi! "ro"erty. Thu! it i!* in the highe!t !en!e* the attitude o-
an heir* and the 4o!t di!tingui!hed trait o- a coection wi away! be it!
tran!4i!!ibiity. You !houd 3now that in !aying thi! + -uy reaiAe that 4y
di!cu!!ion o- the 4enta ci4ate o- coecting wi con-ir4 4any o- you in your
con)iction that thi! "a!!ion i! behind the ti4e!* in your di!tru!t o- the coector
ty"e. Nothing i! -urther -ro4 4y 4ind than to !ha3e either your con=
&&
Cn:a"kin# 1. +irar.
)iction or your di!tru!t. But one thing !houd be noted@ the "heno4enon o-
coecting o!e! it! 4eaning a! it o!e! it! "er!ona owner. E)en though "ubic
coection! 4ay be e!! obCectionabe !ociay and 4ore u!e-u acade4icay than
"ri)ate coection!* the obCect! get their due ony in the atter. + do 3now that ti4e
i! running out -or the ty"e that + a4 di!cu!!ing here and ha)e been re"re!enting
be-ore you a bit e= \]W\4 But* a! Hege "ut it* ony when it i! dar3 doe! the ow
o- 8iner)a begin it! -ight. Ony in eGtinction i! the coector co4"rehended.
Now + a4 on the a!t ha-=e4"tied ca!e and it i! way "a!t 4idnight. Other
thought! -i 4e than the one! + a4 ta3ing about Fnot thought! but i4age!*
4e4orie!. 8e4orie! o- the citie! in which + -ound !o 4any thing!@ Riga* Na"e!*
8unich* DanAig* 8o!cow* 7orence* Ba!e* ,ari!N 4e4orie! o- Ro!enthaK! !u4"=
tuou! roo4! in 8unich* o- the DanAig Stoc3tur4 where the ate Han! Rhaue wa!
do4icied* o- Su!!engutK! 4u!ty boo3 cear in North BerinN 4e4orie! o- the
roo4! where the!e boo3! had been hou!ed* o- 4y !tudentK! den in 8unich* o-
4y roo4 in Bern* o- the !oitude o- +!etwad on the 1a3e o- BrienA* and -inay
o- 4y boyhood roo4* the -or4er ocation o- ony -our or -i)e o- the !e)era
thou!and )ou4e! that are "ied u" around 4e. S bi!! o- the coector* bi!! o-
the 4an o- ei!ureM O- no one ha! e!! been eG"ected* and no one ha! had a greater
!en!e o- we=being than the 4an who ha! been abe to carry on hi! di!re"utabe
eGi!tence in the 4a!3 o- S"itAwegK! DBoo3wor4.E 7or in!ide hi4 there are
!"irit!* or at ea!t itte genii* which ha)e !een to it that -or a coectorFand +
4ean a rea coector* a coector a! he ought to beFowner!hi" i! the 4o!t
inti4ate reation!hi" that one can ha)e to obCect!. Not that they co4e ai)e in
hi4N it i! he who i)e! in the4. So + ha)e erected one o- hi! dweing!* with
boo3! a! the buiding !tone!* be-ore you* and now he i! going to di!a""ear in!ide*
a! i! ony -itting.
P0
%e Task of the Translator
An +ntroduction to the Tran!ation o- BaudeaireK! TAB1EA2L ,AR+S+ENS
+n the a""reciation o- a wor3 o- art or an art -or4* con!ideration o- the recei)er
ne)er "ro)e! -ruit-u. Not ony i! any re-erence to a certain "ubic or it!
re"re!entati)e! 4i!eading* but e)en the conce"t o- an DideaE recei)er i!
detri4enta in the theoretica con!ideration o- art* !ince a it "o!it! i! the
eGi!tence and nature o- 4an a! !uch. Art* in the !a4e way* "o!it! 4anK! "hy!ica
and !"iritua eGi!tence* but in none o- it! wor3! i! it concerned with hi! re!"on!e.
No "oe4 i! intended -or the reader* no "icture -or the behoder* no !y4"hony -or
the i!tener.
+! a tran!ation 4eant -or reader! who do not under!tand the originaJ Thi!
woud !ee4 to eG"ain ade?uatey the di)ergence o- their !tanding in the rea4
o- art. 8oreo)er* it !ee4! to be the ony concei)abe rea!on -or !aying Dthe !a4e
thingE re"eatedy. 7or what doe! a iterary wor3 D!ayEJ What doe! it co44uni=
cateJ +t Dte!E )ery itte to tho!e who under!tand it. +t! e!!entia ?uaity i! not
!tate4ent or the i4"arting o- in-or4ation. Yet l. nation which intend! to "er2 &
tran!4itting -unction cannot tran!4it anything but in-or4ationFhence*
!o4ething ine!!entia. Thi! i! the ha4ar3 o- bad tran!ation!. But do we not
P%
&ll!minations
generay regard a! the e!!entia !ub!tance o- a iterary wor3 what it contain! in
addition to in-or4ationFa! e)en a "oor tran!ator wi ad4itFthe
un-atho4abe* the 4y!teriou!* the D"oetic*E !o4ething that a tran!ator can
re"roduce ony i- he i! a!o a "oetJ Thi!* actuay* i! the cau!e o- another
characteri!tic o- in-erior tran!ation* which con!e?uenty we 4ay de-ine a! the
inaccurate tran!4i!!ion o- an ine!!entia content. Thi! wi be true whene)er a
tran!ation underta3e! to !er)e the reader. Howe)er* i- it were intended -or the
reader* the !a4e woud ha)e to a""y to the origina. +- the origina doe! not
eGi!t -or the readerK! !a3e* how coud the tran!ation be under!tood on the ba!i!
o- thi! "re4i!eJ
Tran!ation i! a 4ode. To co4"rehend it a! 4ode one 4u!t go bac3 to the
origina* -or that contain! the aw go)erning the tran!ationN it! tran!atabiity.
The ?ue!tion o- whether a wor3 i! tran!atabe ha! a dua 4eaning. EitherN Wi
an ade?uate tran!ator e)er be -ound a4ong the totaity o- it! reader!J Or* 4ore
"ertinenty@ Doe! it! nature end it!e- to tran!ation and* there-ore* in )iew o- the
!igni-icance o- the 4ode* ca -or itJ +n "rinci"e* the -ir!t ?ue!tion can be
decided ony contingentyN the !econd* howe)er* a"odicticay. Ony !u"er-icia
thin3ing wi deny the inde"endent 4eaning o- the atter and decare both
?ue!tion! to be o- e?ua !igni-icance. ... +t !houd be "ointed out that certain
correati)e conce"t! retain their 4eaning* and "o!!iby their -ore4o!t
!igni-icance* i- they are re-erred eGcu!i)ey to 4an. One 4ight* -or eGa4"e*
!"ea3 o- an un-orgettabe i-e or 4o4ent e)en i- a 4en had -orgotten it. +- the
nature o- !uch a i-e or 4o4ent re?uired that it be un-orgotten* that "redicate
woud not i4"y a -a!ehood but 4erey a cai4 not -u-ied by 4en* and
"robaby a!o a re-erence to a rea4 in which it is -u=-ied@ 5odK! re4e4brance.
Anaogou!y* the tran!atabiity o- ingui!tic creation! ought to be con!idered
e)en i- 4en !houd "ro)e unabe to tran!ate the4. 5i)en a !trict conce"t o-
tran!ation* woud they not reay be tran!atabe to !o4e degreeJ The ?ue!tion
a! to whether the tran!ation o- certain ingui!tic creation! i! caed -or ought to
be "o!ed in thi! !en!e. 7or thi! thought
ab
The Ta!3 o- the Tran!ator
i! )aid hereN +- tran!ation i! a 4ode* tran!atabiity 4u!t be an e!!entia -eature
o- certain wor3!.
Tran!atabiity i! an e!!entia ?uaity o- certain wor3!* which i! not to !ay that it
i! e!!entia that they be tran!atedN it 4ean! rather that a !"eci-ic !igni-icance
inherent in the origina 4ani-e!t! it!e- in it! tran!atabiity. +t i! "au!ibe that no
tran!ation* howe)er good it 4ay be* can ha)e any !igni-icance a! regard! the
origina. Yet* by )irtue o- it! tran!atabiity the origina i! co!ey connected with
the tran!ationN in -act* thi! connection i! a the co!er !ince it i! no onger o-
i4"ortance to the origina. We 4ay ca thi! connection a natura one* or* 4ore
!"eci-icay* a )ita connection. (u!t a! the 4ani-e!tation! o- i-e are inti4atey
connected with the "heno4enon o- i-e without being o- i4"ortance to it* a
tran!ation i!!ue! -ro4 the originaFnot !o 4uch -ro4 it! i-e a! -ro4 it!
a-teri-e. 7or a tran!ation co4e! ater than the origina* and !ince the i4"ortant
wor3! o- word Eterature ne)er -ind their cho!en tran!ator! at the ti4e o- their
origin* their tran!ation 4ar3! their !tage o- continued i-e. The idea o- i-e and
a-teri-e in wor3! o- art !houd be regarded with an entirey un4eta"horica
obCecti)ity. E)en in ti4e! o- narrowy "reCudiced thought there wa! an in3ing
that i-e wa! not i4ited to organic cor"oreaity. But it cannot be a 4atter o-
eGtending it! do4inion under the -eebe !ce"ter o- the !ou* a! 7echner tried to
do* or* con)er!ey* o- ba!ing it! de-inition on the e)en e!! concu!i)e -actor! o-
ani4aity* !uch a! !en!ation* which characteriAe i-e ony occa!ionay. The
conce"t o- i-e i! gi)en it! due ony i- e)erything that ha! a hi!tory o- it! own* and
i! not 4erey the !etting -or hi!tory* i! credited with i-e. +n the -ina anay!i!* the
range o- i-e 4u!t be deter4ined by hi!tory rather than by nature* ea!t o- a by
!uch tenuou! -actor! a! !en!ation and !ou. The "hio!o"herK! ta!3 con!i!t! in
co4"rehending a o- natura i-e through the 4ore enco4"a!!ing i-e o- hi!tory.
And indeed* i! not the continued i-e o- wor3! o- art -ar ea!ier to recogniAe than
the continua i-e o- ani4a !"ecie!J The hi!tory o- the great wor3! o- art te! u!
about their antecedent!* their reaiAation in the age o- the arti!t* their "otentiay
eterna a-teri-e in !ucceeding generation!. Where thi! a!t 4ani-e!t! it!e-* it i!
caed -a4e.
0W
&ll!minations
Tran!ation! that are 4ore than tran!4i!!ion! o- !ubCect 4atter co4e into being
when in the cour!e o- it! !ur)i)a a wor3 ha! reached the age o- it! -a4e.
Contrary* there-ore* to the cai4! o- bad tran!ator!* !uch tran!ation! do not !o
4uch !er)e the wor3 a! owe their eGi!tence to it. The i-e o- the origina! attain!
in the4 to it! e)er=renewed ate!t and 4o!t abundant -owering.
Being a !"ecia and high -or4 o- i-e* thi! -owering i! go)erned by a !"ecia*
high "ur"o!i)ene!!. The reation!hi" between i-e and "ur"o!e-une!!* !ee4ingy
ob)iou! yet a4o!t beyond the gra!" o- the inteect* re)ea! it!e- ony i- the
uti4ate "ur"o!e toward which a !inge -unction! tend i! !ought not in it! own
!"here but in a higher one. A "ur"o!e-u 4ani-e!tation! o- i-e* incuding their
)ery "ur"o!i)ene!!* in the -ina anay!i! ha)e their end not in i-e* but in the
eG"re!!ion o- it! nature* in the re"re!entation o- it! !igni-icance. Tran!ation thu!
uti4atey !er)e! the "ur"o!e o- eG"re!!ing the centra reci"roca reation!hi"
between anguage!. +t cannot "o!!iby re)ea or e!tabi!h thi! hidden reation!hi"
it!e-N but it can re"re!ent it by reaiAing it in e4bryonic or inten!i)e -or4. Thi!
re"re!entation o- hidden !igni-icance through an e4bryonic atte4"t at 4a3ing it
)i!ibe i! o- !o !inguar a nature that it i! rarey 4et with in the !"here o-
noningui!tic i-e. Thi!* in it! anaogie! and !y4bo!* can draw on other way! o-
!ugge!ting 4eaning than inten!i)eFthat i!* an=tici"ati)e* inti4atingF
reaiAation. A! -or the "o!ited centra 3in!hi" o- anguage!* it i! 4ar3ed by a
di!tincti)e con)ergence. 1anguage! are not !tranger! to one another* but are* a
"riori and a"art -ro4 a hi!torica reation!hi"!* interreated in what they want to
eG"re!!.
With thi! atte4"t at an eG"ication our !tudy a""ear! to reCoin* a-ter -utie
detour!* the traditiona theory o- tran!ation. +- the 3in!hi" o- anguage! i! to be
de4on!trated by tran!ation!* how e!e can thi! be done but by con)eying the
-or4 and 4ean=ing o- the origina a! accuratey a! "o!!ibeJ To be !ure* that
theory woud be hard "ut to de-ine the nature o- thi! accuracy and there-ore coud
!hed no ight on what i! i4"ortant in a tran!ation. Actuay* howe)er* the 3in!hi"
o- anguage! i! brought out by a tran!ation -ar 4ore "ro-oundy and ceary than
in the
The Task of the Translator
!u"er-icia and inde-inabe !i4iarity o- two wor3! o- iterature. To gra!" the
genuine reation!hi" between an origina and a tran!ation re?uire! an
in)e!tigation anaogou! to the argu4entation by which a criti?ue o- cognition
woud ha)e to "ro)e the i4"o!!ibiity o- an i4age theory. There it i! a 4atter o-
!howing that in cognition there coud be no obCecti)ity* not e)en a cai4 to it* i-
it deat with i4age! o- reaityC here it can be de4on!trated that no tran!ation
woud be "o!!ibe i- in it! uti4ate e!!ence it !tro)e -or i3ene!! to the origina.
7or in it! a-teri-eF which coud not be caed that i- it were not a tran!-or4ation
and a renewa o- !o4ething i)ingFthe origina undergoe! a change. E)en word!
with -iGed 4eaning can undergo a 4aturing "roce!!. The ob)iou! tendency o- a
writerK! iterary !tye 4ay in ti4e wither away* ony to gi)e ri!e to i44anent
tendencie! in the iterary creation. What !ounded -re!h once 4ay !ound
hac3neyed aterN what wa! once current 4ay !o4eday !ound ?uaint. To !ee3 the
e!!ence o- !uch change!* a! we a! the e?uay con!tant change! in 4eaning* in
the !ubCecti)ity o- "o!terity rather than in the )ery i-e o- anguage and it! wor3!*
woud 4eanFe)en aowing -or the crude!t "!ychoogi!4Fto con-u!e the root
cau!e o- a thing with it! e!!ence. 8ore "ertinenty* it woud 4ean denying* by an
i4"otence o- thought* one o- the 4o!t "ower-u and -ruit-u hi!torica "roce!!e!.
And e)en i- one tried to turn an authorK! a!t !tro3e o- the "en into the "o!: 'e
#ra"e o- hi! wor3* thi! !ti woud not !a)e that dead theory o- tran!ation. 7or
Cu!t a! the tenor and the !igni-icance o- the great wor3! o- iterature undergo a
co4"ete tran!-or4ation o)er the centurie!* the 4other tongue o- the tran!ator i!
tran!-or4ed a! we. Whie a "oetK! word! endure in hi! own anguage* e)en the
greate!t tran!ation i! de!tined to beco4e "art o- the growth o- it! own anguage
and e)entuay to be ab!orbed by it! renewa. Tran!ation i! !o -ar re4o)ed -ro4
being the !terie e?uation o- two dead anguage! that o- a iterary -or4! it i! the
one charged with the !"ecia 4i!!ion o- watching o)er the 4aturing "roce!! o-
the origina anguage and the birth "ang! o- it! own.
+- the 3in!hi" o- anguage! 4ani-e!t! it!e- in tran!ation!* thi! i! not
acco4"i!hed through a )ague ai3ene!! between ada"tation
0B
+u4ination!
and origina. +t !tand! to rea!on that 3in!hi" doe! not nece!!ariy in)o)e
i3ene!!. The conce"t o- 3in!hi" a! u!ed here i! in accord with it! 4ore re!tricted
co44on u!ageN in both ca!e!* it cannot be de-ined ade?uatey by identity o-
origin* athough in de-ining the 4ore re!tricted u!age the conce"t o- origin
re4ain! indi!"en!abe. Wherein re!ide! the reatedne!! o- two anguage!* a"art
-ro4 hi!torica con!ideration!J Certainy not in the !i4iarity between wor3! o-
iterature or word!. Rather* a !u"rahi!torica 3in!hi" o- anguage! re!t! in the
intention underying each anguage a! a whoeFan intention* howe)er* which no
!inge anguage can attain by it!e- but which i! reaiAed ony by the totaity o-
their intention! !u""e4enting each other@ "ure anguage. Whie a indi)idua
ee4ent! o- -oreign anguage!=word!* !entence!* !tructureFare 4utuay
eGcu!i)e* the!e anguage! !u""e4ent one another in their intention!. Without
di!tingui!hing the intended obCect -ro4 the 4ode o- intention* no -ir4 gra!" o-
thi! ba!ic aw o- a "hio!o"hy o- anguage can be achie)ed. The word! Brot and
:ain DintendE the !a4e obCect* but the 4ode! o- thi! intention are not the !a4e.
+t i! owing to the!e 4ode! that the word Brot 4ean! !o4ething di--erent to a
5er4an than the word :ain to a 7rench4an* that the!e word! are not
interchangeabe -or the4* that* in -act* they !tri)e to eGcude each other. A! to
the intended obCect* howe)er* the two word! 4ean the )ery !a4e thing. Whie
the 4ode! o- intention in the!e two word! are in con-ict* intention and obCect o-
intention co4"e4ent each o- the two anguage! -ro4 which they are deri)edN
there the obCect i! co4"e4entary to the intention. +n the indi)idua* un!u""e=
4ented anguage!* 4eaning i! ne)er -ound in reati)e inde"endence* a! in
indi)idua word! or !entence!N rather* it i! in a con!tant !tate o- -uGFunti it i!
abe to e4erge a! "ure anguage -ro4 the har4ony o- a the )ariou! 4ode! o-
intention. 2nti then* it re4ain! hidden in the anguage!. +-* howe)er* the!e an=
guage! continue to grow in thi! 4anner unti the end o- their ti4e* it i!
tran!ation which catche! -ire on the eterna i-e o- the wor3! and the "er"etua
renewa o- anguage. Tran!ation 3ee"! "utting the haowed growth o- anguage!
to the te!tN How -ar
0<
The Task o( the Translator
re4o)ed i! their hidden 4eaning -ro4 re)eation* how co!e can it be brought
by the 3nowedge o- thi! re4otene!!J
Thi!* to be !ure* i! to ad4it that a tran!ation i! ony a !o4ewhat "ro)i!iona
way o- corning to ter4! with the -oreignne!! o- anguage!. An in!tant and -ina
rather than a te4"orary and "ro)i!iona !oution o- thi! -oreignne!! re4ain! out o-
the reach o- 4an3indN at any rate* it eude! any direct atte4"t. +ndirecty*
howe)er* the growth o- reigion! ri"en! the hidden !eed into a higher
de)eo"4ent o- anguage. Athough tran!ation* uni3e art* cannot cai4
"er4anence -or it! "roduct!* it! goa i! undeniaby a -ina* concu!i)e* deci!i)e
!tage o- a ingui!tic creation. +n tran!ation the origina ri!e! into a higher and
"urer ingui!tic air* a! it were. +t cannot i)e there "er4anenty* to be !ure* and it
certainy doe! not reach it in it! entirety. Yet* in a !inguary i4"re!!i)e 4anner*
at ea!t it "oint! the way to thi! regionN the "rede!tined* hitherto inacce!!ibe
rea4 o- reconciiation and -u-i4ent o- anguage!. The tran!-er can ne)er be
tota* but what reache! thi! region i! that ee4ent in a tran!ation which goe!
beyond tran!4itta o- !ubCect 4atter. Thi! nuceu! i! be!t de-ined a! the ee4ent
that doe! not end it!e- to tran!ation. E)en when a the !ur-ace content ha! been
eGtracted and. tran!4itted* the "ri4ary concern o- the genuine tran!ator re4ain!
eu!i)e. 2ni3e the word! o- the origina* it i! not tran!atabe* becau!e the
reation!hi" between content and anguage i! ?uite di--erent in the origina and the
tran!ation. Whie content and anguage -or4 a certain unity in the origina* i3e a
-ruit and it! !3in* the anguage o- the tran!ation en)eo"! it! content i3e a roya
robe with a4"e -od!. 7or it !igni-ie! a 4ore eGated anguage than it! own and
thu! re4ain! un!uited to it! content* o)er"owering and aien. Thi! di!Cunction
"re)ent! tran!ation and at the !a4e ti4e 4a3e! it !u"er-uou!. 7or any tran!ation
o- a wor3 originating in a !"eci-ic !tage o- ingui!tic hi!tory re"re!ent!* in regard
to a !"eci-ic a!"ect o- it! content* tran!ation into a other anguage!. Thu!
tran!ation* ironicay* tran!"ant! the origina into a 4ore de-initi)e ingui!tic
rea4 !ince it can no onger be di!"aced by a !econdary rendering. The origina
can ony .e rai!ed t(ere ane/ and at other 0+inB +f time$ It i) n+ mere c+in!
$9
&ll!minations
cidence that the word DironicE here bring! the Ro4antici!t! to 4ind. They*
4ore than any other!* were gi-ted with an in!ight into the i-e o- iterary wor3!
which ha! it! highe!t te!ti4ony in tran!ation. To be !ure* they hardy recogniAed
tran!ation in thi! !en!e* but de)oted their entire attention to critici!4* another* i-
a e!!er* -actor in the continued i-e o- iterary wor3!. But e)en though the
Ro4antici!t! )irtuay ignored tran!ation in their theoretica writing!* their own
great tran!ation! te!ti-y to their !en!e o- the e!!entia nature and the dignity o-
thi! iterary 4ode. There i! abundant e)idence that thi! !en!e i! not nece!!ariy
4o!t "ronounced in a "oetN in -act* he 4ay be ea!t o"en to it. Not e)en iterary
hi!tory !ugge!t! the traditiona notion that great "oet! ha)e been e4inent
tran!ator! and e!!er "oet! ha)e been indi--erent tran!ator!. A nu4ber o- the
4o!t e4inent one!* !uch a! 1uther* 6o!!* and Schege* are inco4"araby 4ore
i4"ortant a! tran!ator! than a! creati)e writer!N !o4e o- the great a4ong the4*
!uch a! Hoderin and Ste-an 5eorge* cannot be !i4"y !ub!u4ed a! "oet!* and
?uite "articuary not i- we con!ider the4 a! tran!ator!. A! tran!ation i! a 4ode
o- it! own* the ta!3 o- the tran!ator* too* 4ay be regarded a! di!tinct and ceary
di--erentiated -ro4 the ta!3 o- the "oet.
The ta!3 o- the tran!ator con!i!t! in -inding that intended e--ect K&ntention^
u"on the anguage into which he i! tran!ating which "roduce! in it the echo o-
the origina. Thi! i! a -eature o- tran!ation which ba!icay di--erentiate! it -ro4
the "oetK! wor3* becau!e the e--ort o- the atter i! ne)er directed at the anguage
a! !uch* at it! totaity* but !oey and i44ediatey at !"eci-ic ingui!tic conteGtua
a!"ect!. 2ni3e a wor3 o- iterature* tran!ation doe! not -ind it!e- in the center o-
the anguage -ore!t but on the out!ide -acing the wooded ridgeN it ca! into it
without entering* ai4ing at that !inge !"ot where the echo i! abe to gi)e* in it!
own anguage* the re)erberation o- the wor3 in the aien one. Not ony doe! the
ai4 o- tran!ation di--er -ro4 that o- a iterary wor3Fit intend! anguage a! a
whoe* ta3ing an indi)idua wor3 in an aien anguage a! a "oint o- de"artureF
but it i! a di--erent e--ort atogether. The intention o- the "oet i! !"ontaneou!*
"ri4ary* gra"hicN that o- the tran!ator i! deri)ati)e*
a&
The Task o( the Translator
uti4ate* ideationa. 7or the great 4oti- o- integrating 4any tongue! into one
true anguage i! at wor3. Thi! anguage i! one in which the inde"endent
!entence!* wor3! o- iterature* critica Cudg4ent!* wi ne)er co44unicate=-or
they re4ain de"endent on tran!ationN but in it the anguage! the4!e)e!*
!u""e4ented and reconcied in their 4ode o- !igni-ication* har4oniAeQ +- there i!
!uch a thing a! a anguage o- truth* the ten!ione!! and e)en !ient de"o!itory o-
the uti4ate truth which a thought !tri)e! -or* then thi! anguage o- truth i!Fthe
true anguage. And thi! )ery anguage* who!e di)ination and de!cri"tion i! the
ony "er-ection a "hio!o"her can ho"e -or* i! conceaed in concentrated -a!hion
in tran!ation!. There i! no 4u!e o- "hio!o"hy* nor i! there one o- tran!ation.
But de!"ite the cai4! o- !enti4enta arti!t!* the!e two are not banau!ic. 7or there
i! a "hio!o"hica geniu! that i! characteriAed by a yearning -or that anguage
which 4ani-e!t! it!e- in tran!ation!. ;+es hn#aes im:ar(aites en "eh 7!e
:l!sie!rs, man7!e la s!:rDme: :enser etant e"rire sans a""essoires, ni
"h!"hotement mats ta"ite en"ore 5immortelle :arole, la 'iversite, s!r terre, 'es
i'iomes em:e"he :ersonne 'e :ro(erer les mots 7!i, sinon se tro!veraient, :ar
!ne (ra::e !ni7!e, elle-mDme matiriellement la verite< P +- what 8aar4e
e)o3e! here i! -uy -atho4abe to a "hio!o"her* tran!ation* with it! rudi4ent! o-
!uch a anguage* i! 4idway between "oetry and doctrine. +t! "roduct! are e!!
!har"y de-ined* but it ea)e! no e!! o- a 4ar3 on hi!tory.
+- the ta!3 o- the tran!ator i! )iewed in thi! ight* the road! toward a !oution
!ee4 to be a the 4ore ob!cure and i4"enetrabe. +ndeed* the "robe4 o-
ri"ening the !eed o- "ure anguage in a tran!ation !ee4! to be in!oube*
deter4inabe in no !oution. 7or i! not the ground cut -ro4 under !uch a !oution
i- the re"roduction o- the !en!e cea!e! to be deci!i)eJ 6iewed negati)ey* thi! i!
actuay the 4eaning o- a the -oregoing. The traditiona
DThe i4"er-ection o- anguage! con!i!t! in their "uraity* the
!u"re4e one i! ac3ingN thin3ing i! writing without acce!!orie! or e)en
whi!"ering* the i44orta word !ti re4ain! !ientN the di)er!ity o- idio4! on
earth "re)ent! e)erybody -ro4 uttering the word! which otherwi!e* at one !inge
!tro3e* woud 4ateriaiAe a! truth.E
00
+u4ination!
conce"t! in any di!cu!!ion o- tran!ation! are -ideity and icen!eF the -reedo4
o- -aith-u re"roduction and* in it! !er)ice* -ideity to the word. The!e idea! !ee4
to be no onger !er)iceabe to a theory that oo3! -or other thing! in a tran!ation
than re"roduction o- 4eaning. To be !ure* traditiona u!age 4a3e! the!e ter4!
a""ear a! i- in con!tant con-ict with each other. What can -ideity reay do -or
the rendering o- 4eaningJ 7ideity in the tran!ation o- indi)idua word! can
a4o!t ne)er -uy re"roduce the 4eaning they ha)e in the origina. 7or !en!e in
it! "oetic !igni-icance i! not i4ited to 4eaning* but deri)e! -ro4 the conno=
tation! con)eyed by the word cho!en to eG"re!! it. We !ay o- word! that they
ha)e e4otiona connotation!. A itera rendering o- the !yntaG co4"etey
de4oi!he! the theory o- re"roduction o- 4eaning and i! a direct threat to
co4"rehen!ibiity. The nineteenth century con!idered HoderinK! tran!ation! o-
So"hoce! a! 4on!trou! eGa4"e! o- !uch iterane!!. 7inay* it i! !e-=e)ident how
greaty -ideity in re"roducing the -or4 i4"ede! the rendering o- the !en!e. Thu!
no ca!e -or iterane!! can be ba!ed on a de!ire to retain the 4eaning. 8eaning i!
!er)ed -ar betterFand iterature and anguage -ar wor!eFby the unre!trained
icen!e o- bad tran!ator!. O- nece!!ity* there-ore* the de4and -or iterane!!*
who!e Cu!ti-ication i! ob)iou!* who!e egiti4ate ground i! ?uite ob!cure* 4u!t be
under!tood in a 4ore 4eaning-u conteGt. 7rag4ent! o- a )e!!e which are to be
gued together 4u!t 4atch one another in the !4ae!t detai!* athough they need
not be i3e one another. +n the !a4e way a tran!ation* in!tead o- re!e4bing the
4eaning o- the origina* 4u!t o)ingy and in detai incor"orate the originaK!
4ode o- !igni-ication* thu! 4a3ing both the origina and the tran!ation
recogniAabe a! -rag4ent! o- a greater anguage* Cu!t a! -rag4ent! are "art o- a
)e!!e. 7or thi! )ery rea!on tran!ation 4u!t in arge 4ea!ure re-rain -ro4 want=
ing to co44unicate !o4ething* -ro4 rendering the !en!e* and in thi! the origina
i! i4"ortant to it ony in!o-ar a! it ha! aready reie)ed the tran!ator and hi!
tran!ation o- the e--ort o- a!!e4bing and eG"re!!ing what i! to be con)eyed. +n
the rea4 o- tran!ation* too* the word! !) k:__ (. c defbg Hin the beginning wa!
the wordI a""y. On the other hand* a! regard! the 4ean=
0h
The Task o( the Translator
ing* the anguage o- a tran!ation canFin -act* 4u!tFet it!e- go* !o that it
gi)e! )oice to the intentio o- the origina not a! re"roduction but a! har4ony* a!
a !u""e4ent to the anguage in which it eG"re!!e! it!e-* a! it! own 3ind o-
intentio4 There-ore it i! not the highe!t "rai!e o- a tran!ation* "articuary in the
age o- it! origin* to !ay that it read! a! i- it had originay been written in that
anguage. Rather* the !igni-icance o- -ideity a! en!ured by iterane!! i! that the
wor3 re-ect! the great onging -or ingui!tic co4"e4entation. A rea tran!ation
i! tran!"arentN it doe! not co)er the origina* doe! not boc3 it! ight* but aow!
the "ure anguage* a! though rein-orced by it! own 4ediu4* to !hine u"on the
origina a the 4ore -uy. Thi! 4ay be achie)ed* abo)e a* by a itera rendering
o- the !yntaG which "ro)e! word! rather than !entence! to be the "ri4ary ee4ent
o- the tran!ator. 7or i- the !entence i! the wa be-ore the anguage o- the
origina* iterane!! i! the arcade.
7ideity and -reedo4 in tran!ation ha)e traditionay been regarded a!
con-icting tendencie!. Thi! dee"er inter"retation o- the one a""arenty doe! not
!er)e to reconcie the twoN in -act* it !ee4! to deny the other a Cu!ti-ication. 7or
what i! 4eant by -reedo4 but that the rendering o- the !en!e i! no onger to be
regarded a! a=i4"ortantJ Ony i- the !en!e o- a ingui!tic creation 4ay be
e?uated with the in-or4ation it con)ey! doe! !o4e uti4ate* deci!i)e ee4ent
re4ain beyond a co44unicationF?uite co!e and yet in-initey re4ote*
conceaed or di!tingui!habe* -rag4ented or "ower-u. +n a anguage and
ingui!tic creation! there re4ain! in addition to what can be con)eyed !o4ething
that cannot be co44unicatedN de"ending on the conteGt in which it a""ear!* it i!
!o4ething that !y4boiAe! or !o4ething !y4boiAed. +t i! the -or4er ony in the
-inite "roduct! o- anguage* the atter in the e)o)ing o- the anguage!
the4!e)e!. And that which !ee3! to re"re!ent* to "roduce it!e- in the e)o)ing
o- anguage!* i! that )ery nuceu! o- "ure anguage. Though conceaed and
-rag4entary* it i! an acti)e -orce in i-e a! the !y4boiAed thing it!e-* wherea! it
inhabit! ingui!tic creation! ony in !y4boiAed -or4. Whie that uti4ate
e!!ence* "ure anguage* in the )ariou! tongue! i! tied ony to ingui!tic ee4ent!
and
0%
&ll!minations
their change!* in ingui!tic creation! it i! weighted with a hea)yQ ahen 4eaning*
To reie)e it o- thi!* to turn the !y4boiAing into the !y4boiAed* to regain "ure
anguage -uy -or4ed in the ingui!tic -uG* i! the tre4endou! and ony ca"acity
o- tran!ation. +n thi! "ure anguageFwhich no onger 4ean! or eG"re!!e! any=
thing but i!* a! eG"re!!ione!! and creati)e Word* that which i! 4eant in a
anguage!=a in-or4ation* a !en!e* and a intention -inay encounter a !tratu4
in which they are de!tined to be eGtingui!hed. Thi! )ery !tratu4 -urni!he! a new
and higher Cu!ti-ication -or -ree tran!ationN thi! Cu!ti-ication doe! not deri)e -ro4
the !en!e o- what i! to be con)eyed* -or the e4anci"ation -ro4 thi! !en!e i! the
ta!3 o- -ideity. Rather* -or the !a3e o- "ure anguage* a -ree tran!ation ba!e! the
te!t on it! own anguage. +t i! the ta!3 o- the tran!ator to reea!e in hi! own
anguage that "ure anguage which i! under the !"e o- another* to iberate the
anguage i4"ri!oned in a wor3 in hi!* re=creation o- that wor3 7or the !a3e o-
"ure anguage he brea3! through decayed barrier! o- hi! own anguage* 1uther*
6o!!* Hoderin* and 5eorge ha)e eGtended the boundarie! o- the 5er4an
anguage.F And what o- the !en!e in it! i4"ortance -or the reation!hi" between
tran!ation and originaJ A. !i4ie 4ay he" here. (u!t a! a tangent touche! a circe
ighty and at but one "oint* with thi! touch rather than with the "oint !etting the
aw according to which it i! to continue on it! !traight "ath to in-inity* a tran!a=
tion touche! the origina ighty and ony at the in-initey !4a "oint o- the
!en!e* thereu"on "ur!uing it! own cour!e according to the aw! o- -ideity in the
-reedo4 o- ingui!tic -uG. Without eG"icity na4ing or !ub!tantiating it* Rudo-
,annwitA ha! characteriAed the true !igni-icance o- thi! -reedo4. Hi!
ob!er)ation! are contained in 0ie ?risis 'er e!ro:'is"hen ?!lt!r and ran3 with
5oetheK! Note! to the Westostli"her 0ivan a! the be!t co44ent on the theory o-
tran!ation that ha! been "ubi!hed in 5er4any. ,annwitA write!@ DOur
tran!ation!* e)en the be!t one!* "roceed -ro4 a wrong "re4i!e. They want to
turn Hindi* 5ree3* Engi!h into 5er4an in!tead o- turning 5er4an into Hindi*
5ree3* Engi!h. Our tran!ator! ha)e a -ar greater re)erence -or the u!age o- their
own anguage than -or the !"irit o- the -oreign wor3!.
'/
The Ta!3 o- the Tran!ator
. .. The ba!ic error o- the tran!ator i! that he "re!er)e! the !tate in which hi!
own anguage ha""en! to be in!tead o- aowing hi! anguage to be "ower-uy
a--ected by the -oreign tongue. ,articuary when tran!ating -ro4 a anguage
)ery re4ote -ro4 hi! own he 4u!t go bac3 to the "ri4a ee4ent! o- anguage
it!e- and "enetrate to the "oint where wor3* i4age* and tone con)erge. He 4u!t
eG"and and dee"en hi! anguage by 4ean! o- the -oreign anguage. +t i! not
generay reaiAed to what eGtent thi! i! "o!!ibe* to )Yhat eGtent any anguage
can be tran!-or4ed* how anguage di--er! -ro4 anguage a4o!t the way diaect
di--er! -ro4 diaectN howe)er* thi! a!t i! true ony i- one ta3e! anguage
!eriou!y enough* not i- one ta3e! it ighty.E
The eGtent to which a tran!ation 4anage! to be in 3ee"ing with the nature o-
thi! 4ode i! deter4ined obCecti)ey by the tran!atabiity o- the origina. The
ower the ?uaity and di!tinction o- it! anguage* the arger the eGtent to which it
i! in-or4ation* the e!! -ertie a -ied i! it -or tran!ation* unti the utter
"re"onderance o- content* -ar -ro4 being the e)er -or a tran!ation o- di!tincti)e
4ode* render! it i4"o!!ibe. The higher the e)e o- a wor3* the 4ore doe! it
re4ain tran!atabe e)en i- it! 4eaning i! touched u"on ony -ieetingy. Thi!* o-
cour!e* a""ie! to origina! ony. Tran!ation!* on the other hand* "ro)e to be
untran!atabe not becau!e o- any inherent di--icuty* but becau!e o- the
oo!ene!! with which 4eaning attache! to the4. Con-ir4ation o- thi! a! we a!
o- e)ery other i4"ortant a!"ect i! !u""ied by HoderinK! tran!ation!*
"articuary tho!e o- the two tragedie! by So"hoce!. +n the4 the har4ony o- the
anguage! i! !o "ro-ound that !en!e i! touched by anguage ony the way an
aeoian har" i! touched by the wind. HoderinK! tran!ation! are "rototy"e! o-
their 3indN they are to e)en the 4o!t "er-ect rendering! o- their teGt! a! a
"rototy"e i! to a 4ode Thi! can be de4on!trated by co4"aring HoderinK! and
Rudo- BorchardtK! tran!ation! o- ,indarK! Third ,ythian Ode. 7or thi! )ery
rea!on HoderinK! tran!ation! in "articuar are !ubCect to the enor4ou! danger
inherent in a tran!ation!N the gate! o- a anguage thu! eG"anded and 4odi-ied
4ay !a4 !hut and enco!e the tran!ator with !ience. HoderinK! tran!ation!
-ro4 So"hoce! were hi! a!t
Si
Illuminations
wor3N in the4 4eaning "unge! -ro4 aby!! to aby!! unti it threaten! to
beco4e o!t in the botto4e!! de"th! o- anguage. There i!* howe)er* a !to". +t i!
)ouch!a-ed to Hoy Writ aone* in which 4eaning ha! cea!ed to be the
water!hed -or the -ow o- anguage and the -ow o- re)eation. Where a teGt i!
identica with truth or dog4a* where it i! !u""o!ed to be Dthe true anguageE in
a it! Hterane!! and without the 4ediation o- 4eaning* thi! teGt i!
unconditionay tran!atabe. +n !uch ca!e tran!ation! are caed -or ony becau!e
o- the "uraity o- anguage!. (u!t a!* in the originaQ anguage and re)eation are
one without any ten!ion* !o the tran!ation 4u!t be one with the origina in the
-or4 o- the interinear )er!ion* in which Hterane!! and -reedo4 are united. 7or to
!o4e degree a great teGt! contain their "otentia tran!ation between the ine!N
thi! i! true to the highe!t degree o- !acred writing!. The interinear )er!ion o- the
Scri"=tue! i! the "rototy"e oPr idea o- a tran!ation.
Z.
_e Dtor.teller
Reflections on the Works of Nikolai Ceskov
7a4iiar though hi! na4e 4ay be to u!* the !toryteer in hi! i)ing i44ediacy
i! by no 4ean! a "re!ent -orce. He ha! aready beco4e !o4ething re4ote -ro4 u!
and !o4ething that i! getting e)en 4ore di!tant. To "re!ent !o4eone i3e 1e!3o)
a! a !toryteer doe! not 4ean bringing hi4 co!er to u! but* rather* increa!ing
our di!tance -ro4 hi4. 6iewed -ro4 a certain di!tance* the great* !i4"e outine!
which de-ine the !toryteer !tand out in hi4* or rather* they beco4e )i!ibe in
hi4* Cu!t a! in a roc3 a hu4an head or an ani4aK! body 4ay a""ear to an
ob!er)er at the "ro"er di!tance and ange o- )i!ion. Thi! di!tance and thi! ange
o- )i!ion are "re!cribed -or u! by an eG"erience which we 4ay ha)e a4o!t e)ery
day. +t teache! u! that the art o- !toryteing i! co4ing to an end. 1e!! and e!!
-re?uenty do we encounter "eo"e with the abiity to te a tae "ro"ery. 8ore
and 4ore o-ten there i! e4barra!!4ent a around when the wi!h to hear a !tory
i! eG"re!!ed. +t i! a! i- !o4ething that !ee4ed inaienabe to u!* the !ecure!t
a4ong our "o!!e!!ion!* were ta3en -ro4 u!@ the abiity to eGchange eG"erience!.
One rea!on -or thi! "heno4enon i! ob)iou!@ eG"erience ha!
S1
Illuminations
-aen in )aue. And it oo3! a! i- it i! continuing to -a into bot=to4e!!ne!!.
E)ery gance at a new!"a"er de4on!trate! that it ha! reached a new ow* that our
"icture* not ony o- the eGterna word but o- the 4ora word a! we* o)ernight
ha! undergone change! which were ne)er thought "o!!ibe. With the H7ir!tI
Word War a "roce!! began to beco4e a""arent which ha! not hated !ince then.
Wa! it not noticeabe at the end o- the war that 4en returned -ro4 the batte-ied
grown !ientFnot richer* but "oorer in co44unicabe eG"erienceJ What ten
year! ater wa! "oured out in the -ood o- war boo3! wa! anything but eG"erience
that goe! -ro4 4outh to 4outh. And there wa! nothing re4ar3abe about that.
7or ne)er ha! eG"erience been contradicted 4ore thoroughy than !trategic
eG"erience by tactica war-are* econo4ic eG"erience by in-ation* bodiy
eG"erience by 4echanica war-are* 4ora eG"erience by tho!e in "ower. A gen=
eration that had gone to !choo on a hor!e=drawn !treetcar now !tood under the
o"en !3y in a country!ide in which nothing re4ained unchanged but the coud!*
and beneath the!e coud!* in a -ied o- -orce o- de!tructi)e torrent! and
eG"o!ion!* wa! the tiny* -ragie hu4an body.
II
EG"erience which i! "a!!ed on -ro4 4outh to 4outh i! the !ource -ro4 which
a !toryteer! ha)e drawn. And a4ong tho!e who ha)e written down the tae!* it
i! the great one! who!e written )er!ion di--er! ea!t -ro4 the !"eech o- the 4any
na4ee!! !toryteer!. +ncidentay* a4ong the a!t na4ed there are two grou"!
which* to be !ure* o)era" in 4any way!. And the -igure o- the !toryteer get! it!
-u cor"oreaity ony -or the one who can "icture the4 both* DWhen !o4eone
goe! on a tri"* he ha! !o4ething to te about*E goe! the 5er4an !aying* and
"eo"e i4agine the !toryteer a! !o4eone who ha! co4e -ro4 a-ar. But they
enCoy no e!! i!tening to the 4an who ha! !tayed at ho4e* 4a3ing an hone!t
i)ing* and who 3now! the oca tae! and tradition!* +- one want! to "icture the!e
two grou"! through their archaic re"re!entati)e!* one i! e4bodied in the re!ident
tier o-
'<
The Dtor.teller
the !oi* and the other in the trading !ea4an. +ndeed* each !"here o- i-e ha!* a! it
were* "roduced it! own tribe o- !toryteer!. Each o- the!e tribe! "re!er)e! !o4e o-
it! characteri!tic! centurie! ater. Thu!* a4ong nineteenth=century 5er4an
!toryteer!* writer! 83e Hebe and 5otthe- !te4 -ro4 the -ir!t tribe* writer! i3e
Sea!-ied and 5er!tac3er -ro4 the !econd. With the!e tribe!* howe)er* a! !tated
abo)e* it i! ony a 4atter o- ba!ic ty"e!. The actua eGten!ion o- the rea4 o-
!toryteing in it! -u hi!torica breadth i! inconcei)abe without the 4o!t inti4ate
inter"enetra=tion o- the!e two archaic ty"e!. Such an inter"enetration wa!
achie)ed "articuary by the 8idde Age! in their trade !tructure. The re!ident
4a!ter cra-t!4an and the tra)eing Courney4en wor3ed together in the !a4e
roo4!N and e)ery 4a!ter had been a tra)eing Courney4an be-ore he !etted down
in hi! ho4e town or !o4ewhere e!e. +- "ea!ant! and !ea4en were "a!t 4a!ter! o-
!toryteing* the arti!an ca!! wa! it! uni)er!ity. +n it wa! co4bined the ore o-
-araway "ace!* !uch a! a 4uch=tra)eed 4an bring! ho4e* with the ore o- the
"a!t* a! it be!t re)ea! it!e- to nati)e! o- a "ace.
ijj
1e!3o) wa! at ho4e in di!tant "ace! a! we a! di!tant ti4e!. He wa! a 4e4ber
o- the 5ree3 OrthodoG Church* a 4an with genuine reigiou! intere!t!. But he wa!
a no e!! !incere o""onent o- ecce!ia!tic bureaucracy. Since he wa! not abe to
get aong any better with !ecuar o--iciado4* the o--icia "o!ition! he hed were
not o- ong duration. O- a hi! "o!t!* the one he hed -or a ong ti4e a! Ru!!ian
re"re!entati)e o- a big Engi!h -ir4 wa! "re!u4aby the 4o!t u!e-u one -or hi!
writing. 7or thi! -ir4 he tra)eed through Ru!!ia* and the!e tri"! ad)anced hi!
wordy wi!do4 a! 4uch a! they did hi! 3nowedge o- condition! in Ru!!ia. +n
thi! way he had an o""ortunity o- beco4ing ac?uainted with the organiAation o-
the !ect! in the country. Thi! e-t it! 4ar3 on hi! wor3! o- -iction. +n the Ru!!ian
egend! 1e!3o) !aw aie! in hi! -ight again!t OrthodoG bureaucracy. There are a
nu4ber o- hi! egendary tae! who!e -ocu! i! a righteou! 4an*
8D
lll!mi(mtions
!edo4 an a!cetic* u!uay a !i4"e* acti)e 4an who beco4e! a !aint a""arenty
in the 4o!t natura way in the word. 8y!tica eGatation i! not 1e!3o)K! -orte.
E)en though he occa!ionay i3ed to induge in the 4iracuou!* e)en in
"iou!ne!! he "re-er! to !tic3 with a !turdy nature. He !ee! the "rototy"e in the
4an who -ind! hi! way about the word without getting too dee"y in)o)ed with
it.
He di!"ayed a corre!"onding attitude in wordy 4atter!. +t i! in 3ee"ing with
thi! that be began to write ate* at the age o- twenty=nine. That wa! a-ter hi!
co44ercia tra)e!. Hi! -ir!t "rinted wor3 wa! entited DWhy Are Boo3!
EG"en!i)e in Kie)JE A nu4ber o- other writing! about the wor3ing ca!!*
acohoi!4* "oice doctor!* and une4"oyed !ae!4en are "recur!or! o- hi! wor3!
o- -iction.
IV
An orientation toward "ractica intere!t! i! characteri!tic o- 4any born
!toryteer!. 8ore "ronouncedy than in 1e!3o) thi! trait can be recogniAed* -or
eGa4"e* in 5otthe-* who ga)e hi! "ea!ant! agricutura ad)iceN it i! -ound in
Nodier* who concerned hi4!e- with the "eri! o- ga! ightN and Hebe* who
!i""ed bit! o- !cienti-ic in!truction -or hi! reader! into hi! D"hatE-kastlein, i! in
thi! ine a! we. AH thi! "oint! to the nature o- e)ery rea !tory. +t contain!*
o"eny or co)erty* !o4ething u!e-u. The u!e-une!! 4ay* in one ca!eQ con!i!t in
a 4oraN in another* in !o4e "ractica ad)iceN in a third* in a "ro)erb or 4aGi4. +n
e)ery ca!e the !toryteer i! a 4an who ha! coun!e -or hi! reader!. But i- today
Dha)ing coun!eE i! beginning to ha)e an od=-a!hioned ring* thi! i! becau!e the
co44unicabiity o- eG"erience i! decrea!ing. +n con!e?uence we ha)e no coun!e
either -or our!e)e! or -or other!. A-ter a* coun!e i! e!! an an!wer to a ?ue!tion
than a "ro"o!a concerning the continuation o- a !tory which i! Cu!t un-oding. To
!ee3 thi! coun!e one woud -ir!t ha)e to be abe to te the !tory. :_uite a"art
-ro4 the -act that a 4an i! rece"ti)e to coun!e ony to the eGtent that he aow!
hi! !ituation to !"ea3.; Coun!e wo)en into the -abric o-
'&
The Dtor.teller
rea i-e i! wi!do4. The art o- !toryteing i! reaching it! end becau!e the e"ic
!ide o- truth* wi!do4* i! dying out. Thi!* howe)er* i! a "roce!! that ha! been
going on -or a ong ti4e. And nothing woud be 4ore -atuou! than to want to !ee
in it 4erey a D!y4"to4 o- decay*E et aone a D4odernE !y4"to4. +t i!* rather*
ony a conco4itant !y4"to4 o- the !ecuar "roducti)e -orce! o- hi!tory* a
conco4itant that ha! ?uite graduay re4o)ed narrati)e -ro4 the rea4 o- i)ing
!"eech and at the !a4e ti4e i! 4a3ing it "o!!ibe to !ee a new beauty in what i!
)ani!hing.
k
The earie!t !y4"to4 o- a "roce!! who!e end i! the decine o- !toryteing i! the
ri!e o- the no)e at the beginning o- 4odern ti4e!. What di!tingui!he! the no)e
-ro4 the !tory :and -ro4 the e"ic in the narrower !en!e; i! it! e!!entia
de"endence on the boo3. The di!!e4ination o- the no)e beca4e "o!!ibe ony
with the in)ention o- "rinting. What can be handed on oray* the weath o- the
e"ic* i! o- a di--erent 3ind -ro4 what con!titute! the !toc3 in trade o- the no)e.
What di--erentiate! the no)e -ro4 a other -or4! o- "ro!e iteratureFthe -airy
tae* the egend* e)en the no)eaFi! that it neither co4e! -ro4 ora tradition nor
goe! into it. Thi! di!tingui!he! it -ro4 !toryteing in "articuar. The !toryteer
ta3e! what he te! -ro4 eG"erience Fhi! own or that re"orted by other!. And he
in turn 4a3e! it the eG"erience o- tho!e who are i!tening to hi! tae. The no)ei!t
ha! i!oated hi4!e-. The birth"ace o- the no)e i! the !oitary indi)idua* who i!
no onger abe to eG"re!! hi4!e- by gi)ing eGa4"e! o- hi! 4o!t i4"ortant
concern!* i! hi4!e- uncoun!eed* and cannot coun!e other!. To write a no)e
4ean! to carry the inco44en!urabe to eGtre4e! in the re"re!entation o- hu4an
i-e. +n the 4id!t o- i-eK! -une!!* and through the re"re!entation o- thi! -une!!*
the no)e gi)e! e)idence o- the "ro-ound "er"eGity o- the i)ing. E)en the -ir!t
great boo3 o- the genre* 0on J!i=ote, teache! how the !"iritua greatne!!* the
bodne!!* the he"-une!! o- one o- the nobe!t o- 4en* Don _uiGote* are co4=
"etey de)oid o- coun!e and do not contain the !ighte!t !cin=
P0
&ll!minations
tia o- wi!do4. +- now and then* in the cour!e o- the centurie!* e--ort! ha)e
been 4adeF4o!t e--ecti)ey* "erha"!* in Wilhelm 1eisters Wan'erjahre-to
i4"ant in!truction in the no)e* the!e atte4"t! ha)e away! a4ounted to a
4odi-ication o- the no)e -or4. The Bil'!n#sroman, on the other hand* doe! not
de)iate in any way -ro4 the ba!ic !tructure o- the no)e. By integrating the
!ocia "roce!! with the de)eo"4ent o- a "er!on* it be!tow! the 4o!t -rangibe
Cu!ti-ication on the order deter4ining it. The egiti4acy it "ro)ide! !tand! in
direct o""o!ition to reaity. ,articuary in the Bil'!n#sroman, it i! thi!
inade?uacy that i! actuaiAed.
VI
One 4u!t i4agine the tran!-or4ation o- e"ic -or4! occurring in rhyth4!
co4"arabe to tho!e o- the change that ha! co4e o)er the earthK! !ur-ace in the
cour!e o- thou!and! o- centurie!. Hardy any other -or4! o- hu4an
co44unication ha)e ta3en !ha"e 4ore !owy* been o!t 4ore !owy. +t too3 the
no)e* who!e beginning! go bac3 to anti?uity* hundred! o- year! be-ore it en=
countered in the e)o)ing 4idde ca!! tho!e ee4ent! which were -a)orabe to it!
-owering. With the a""earance o- the!e ee4ent!* !toryteing began ?uite
!owy to recede into the archaicN in 4any way!* it i! true* it too3 hod o- the new
4ateria* but it wa! not reay deter4ined by it. On the other hand* we recogniAe
that with the -u contro o- the 4idde ca!!* which ha! the "re!! a! one o- it!
4o!t i4"ortant in!tru4ent! in -uy de)eo"ed ca"itai!4* there e4erge! a -or4
o- co44unication which* no 4atter how -ar bac3 it! origin 4ay ie* ne)er be-ore
in-uenced the e"ic -or4 in a deci!i)e way. But now it doe! eGert !uch an
in-uence. And it turn! out that it con-ront! !toryteing a! no e!! o- a !tranger
than did the no)e* but in a 4ore 4enacing way* and that it a!o bring! about a
cri!i! in the no)e. Thi! new -or4 o- co44unication i! in-or4ation.
6ie4e!!ant* the -ounder o- +e Ri#aro, characteriAed the nature o- in-or4ation
in a -a4ou! -or4uation. DTo 4y reader!*E he u!ed to !ay* Dan attic -ire in the
1atin _uarter i! 4ore i4"ortant
''
The Dtor.teller
than a re)oution in 8adrid.E Thi! 4a3e! !tri3ingy cear that it i! no onger
inteigence co4ing -ro4 a-ar* but the in-or4ation which !u""ie! a hande -or
what i! neare!t that get! the readie!t hearing. The inteigence that ca4e -ro4 a-ar
Fwhether the !"atia 3ind -ro4 -oreign countrie! or the te4"ora 3ind o- tradi=
tionF"o!!e!!ed an authority which ga)e it )aidity* e)en when it wa! not !ubCect
to )eri-ication. +n-or4ation* howe)er* ay! cai4 to "ro4"t )eri-iabiity. The
"ri4e re?uire4ent i! that it a""ear Dunder!tandabe in it!e-.E O-ten it i! no 4ore
eGact than the inteigence o- earier centurie! wa!. But whie the atter wa!
incined to borrow -ro4 the 4iracuou!* it i! indi!"en!abe -or in-or4ation to
!ound "au!ibe. Becau!e o- thi! it "ro)e! inco4"atibe with the !"irit o-
!toryteing. +- the art o- !toryteing ha! beco4e rare* the di!!e4ination o-
in-or4ation ha! had a deci!i)e !hare in thi! !tate o- a--air!.
E)ery 4orning bring! u! the new! o- the gobe* and yet we are "oor in
noteworthy !torie!. Thi! i! becau!e no e)ent any onger co4e! to u! without
aready being !hot through with eG"anation. +n other word!* by now a4o!t
nothing that ha""en! bene-it! !toryteingN a4o!t e)erything bene-it! in-or4ation.
Actuay* it i! ha- the art o- !toryteing to 3ee" a !tory -ree -ro4 eG"anation a!
one re"roduce! it. 1e!3o) i! a 4a!ter at thi! :co4"are "iece! i3e DThe
Dece"tionE and DThe White EageE;. The 4o!t eGtraordinary thing!* 4ar)eou!
thing!* are reated with the greate!t accuracy* but the "!ychoogica connection o-
the e)ent! i! not -orced on the reader. +t i! e-t u" to hi4 to inter"ret thing! the
way he under!tand! the4* and thu! the narrati)e achie)e! an a4"itude that
in-or4ation ac3!.
6++
1e!3o) wa! grounded in the ca!!ic!. The -ir!t !toryteer o- the 5ree3! wa!
Herodotu!. +n the -ourteenth cha"ter o- the third boo3 o- hi! /istories there i! a
!tory -ro4 which 4uch can be earned. +t dea! with ,!a44enitu!.
When the Egy"tian 3ing ,!a44enitu! had been beaten and ca"tured by the
,er!ian 3ing Ca4by!e!* Ca4by!e! wa! bent on
P%
&ll!minations
hu4bing hi! "ri!oner. He ga)e order! to "ace ,!a44enitu! on the road aong
which the ,er!ian triu4"ha "roce!!ion wa! to "a!!. And he -urther arranged
that the "ri!oner !houd !ee hi! daughter "a!! by a! a 4aid going to the we with
her "itcher. Whie a the Egy"tian! were a4enting and bewaiing thi! !"ectace*
,!a44enitu! !tood aone* 4ute and 4otione!!* hi! eye! -iGed on the groundN
and when "re!enty he !aw hi! !on* who wa! being ta3en aong in the "roce!!ion
to be eGecuted* he i3ewi!e re4ained un4o)ed. But when a-terward! he
recogniAed one o- hi! !er)ant!* an od* i4"o)eri!hed 4an* in the ran3! o- the
"ri!oner!* he beat hi! -i!t! again!t hi! head and ga)e a the !ign! o- dee"e!t
4ourning.
7ro4 thi! !tory it 4ay be !een what the nature o- true !toryteing i!. The )aue
o- in-or4ation doe! not !ur)i)e the 4o4ent in which it wa! new. +t i)e! ony at
that 4o4entN it ha! to !urrender to it co4"etey and eG"ain it!e- to it without
o!ing any ti4e* A !tory i! di--erent. +t doe! not eG"end it!e-. +t "re!er)e! and
concentrate! it! !trength and i! ca"abe o- reea!ing it e)en titer a ong ti4e.
Thu! 8ontaigne re-erred to thi! Egy"tian 3ing and a!3ed hi4!e- why he
4ourned ony when he caught !ight o- hi! !er)ant. 8ontaigne an!wer!@ DSince
he wa! aready o)er-u o- grie-* it too3 ony the !4ae!t increa!e -or it to bur!t
through it! da4!.E Thu! 8ontaigne. But one coud a!o !ay@ The 3ing i! not
4o)ed by the -ate o- tho!e o- roya bood* -or it i! hi! own -ate. Or@ We are
4o)ed by 4uch on the !tage that doe! not 4o)e u! in rea i-e=* to the 3ing* thi!
!er)ant i! ony an actor. Or@ 5reat grie- i! "ent u" and brea3! -orth ony with re=
aGation. Seeing thi! !er)ant wa! the reaGation. Herodotu! o--er! no
eG"anation!. Hi! re"ort i! the drie!t. That i! why thi! !tory -ro4 ancient Egy"t
i! !ti ca"abe a-ter thou!and! o- year! o- arou!ing a!toni!h4ent and
thought-une!!. +t re!e4be! the !eed! o- grain which ha)e ain -or centurie! in
the cha4ber! o- the "yra4id! !hut u" air=tight and ha)e retained their
ger4inati)e "ower to thi! day.
%/
The Storyteer 6+++
There i! nothing that co44end! a !tory to 4e4ory 4ore e--ecti)ey than that
cha!te co4"actne!! which "recude! "!ychoogica anay!i!. And the 4ore natura
the "roce!! by which the !toryteer -orgoe! "!ychoogica !hading* the greater
beco4e! the !toryK! cai4 to a "ace in the 4e4ory o- the i!tener* the 4ore
co4"etey i! it integrated into hi! own eG"erience* the greater wi be hi!
incination to re"eat it to !o4eone e!e !o4eday* !ooner or ater. Thi! "roce!! o-
a!!i4iation* which ta3e! "ace in de"th* re?uire! a !tate o- reaGation which i!
beco4ing rarer and rarer* +- !ee" i! the a"ogee o- "hy!ica reaGation* boredo4 i!
the a"ogee o- 4enta reaGation. Boredo4 i! the drea4 bird that hatche! the egg
o- eG"erience. A ru!ting in the ea)e! dri)e! hi4 away. Hi! ne!ting "ace!Fthe
acti)itie! that are inti4atey a!!ociated with boredo4Fare aready eGtinct in the
citie! and are decining in the country a! we. With thi! the gi-t -or i!tening i!
o!t and the co44unity o- i!tener! di!a""ear!. 7or !toryteing i! away! the art
o- re"eating !torie!* and thi! art i! o!t when the !torie! are no onger retained. +t
i! o!t becau!e there i! no 4ore wea)ing and !"inning to go on whie they are
being i!tened to. The 4ore !e-=-orget-u the i!tener i!* the 4ore dee"y i! what
he i!ten! to i4"re!!ed u"on hi! 4e4ory. When the rhyth4 o- wor3 ha! !eiAed
hi4* he i!ten! to the tae! in !uch a way that the gi-t o- reteing the4 co4e! to
hi4 a by it!e-. Thi!* then* i! the nature o- the web in which the gi-t o-
!toryteing i! craded. Thi! i! how today it i! beco4ing unra)=eed at a it! end!
a-ter being wo)en thou!and! o- year! ago in the a4bience o- the ode!t -or4! o-
cra-t!4an!hi".
&`
The !toryteing that thri)e! -or a ong ti4e in the 4iieu o- wor3Fthe rura* the
4ariti4e* and the urbanFi! it!e- an arti!an -or4 o- co44unication* a! it were.
+t doe! not ai4 to con)ey the "ure e!!ence o- the thing* i3e in-or4ation or a
re"ort. +t !in3! the thing into the i-e o- the !toryteer* in order to bring it out
%P
&ll!minations
o- hi4 again. Thu! trace! o- the !toryteer cing to the !tory the way the
hand"rint! o- the "otter cing to the cay )e!!e. Storyteer! tend to begin their
!tory with a "re!entation o- the circu4!tance! in which they the4!e)e! ha)e
earned what i! to -oow* une!! they !i4"y "a!! it o-- a! their own eG"erience.
1e!3o) begin! hi! DDece"tionE with the de!cri"tion o- a train tri" on which he
!u""o!edy heard -ro4 a -eow "a!!enger the e)ent! which he then goe! on to
reateN or he thin3! o- Do!toe)=!3yK! -unera* where he !et! hi! ac?uaintance
with the heroine o- hi! !tory DA ,ro"o! o- the KreutAer SonataEN or he e)o3e! a
gathering o- a reading circe in which we are tod the e)ent! that he re"roduce!
-or u! in hi! D+ntere!ting 8en.E Thu! hi! trac3! are -re?uenty e)ident in hi!
narrati)e!* i- not a! tho!e o- the one who eG"erienced it* then a! tho!e o- the one
who re"ort! it.
Thi! cra-t!4an!hi"* !toryteing* wa! actuay regarded a! a cra-t by 1e!3o)
hi4!e-. DWriting*E he !ay! in one o- hi! etter!* Di! to 4e no ibera art* but a
cra-t.E +t cannot co4e a! a !ur"ri!e that he -et bond! with cra-t!4an!hi"* but
-aced indu!tria technoogy a! a !tranger. To!toy* who 4u!t ha)e under!tood
thi!* occa!ionay touche! thi! ner)e o- 1e!3o)K! !toryteing taent when he ca!
hi4 the -ir!t 4an Dwho "ointed out the inade?uacy o- econo4ic "rogre!!. * . . +t
i! !trange that Do!toe)!3y i! !o widey read. . . . But + !i4"y cannot
co4"rehend why 1e!3o) i! not read. He i! a truth-u writer.E +n hi! art-u and
high=!"irited !tory DThe Stee 7ea*E which i! 4idway between egend and -arce*
1e!3o) gori-ie! nati)e cra-t!4an!hi" through the !i)er!4ith! o- Tua. Their
4a!ter"iece* the !tee -ea* i! !een by ,eter the 5reat and con)ince! hi4 that the
Ru!!ian! need not be a!ha4ed be-ore the Engi!h.
The inteectua "icture o- the at4o!"here o- cra-t!4an!hi" -ro4 which the
!toryteer co4e! ha! "erha"! ne)er been !3etched in !uch a !igni-icant way a!
by ,au 6aery. DHe !"ea3! o- the "er-ect thing! in nature* -awe!! "ear!* -u=
bodied* 4atured wine!* truy de)eo"ed creature!* and ca! the4 Rthe "reciou!
"roduct o- a ong chain o- cau!e! !i4iar to one another.KQ The accu4uation o-
!uch cau!e! ha! it! te4"ora i4it ony at "er-ection. DThi! "atient "roce!! o-
Nature*E 6aery continue!*
%.
The Storyteer
Dwa! once i4itated by 4en. 8iniature!* i)ory car)ing!* eaborated to the "oint
o- greate!t "er-ection* !tone! that are "er-ect in "oi!h and engra)ing* ac?uer
wor3 or "ainting! in which a !erie! o- thin* tran!"arent ayer! are "aced one on
to" o- the otherFa the!e "roduct! o- !u!tained* !acri-icing e--ort are )ani!hing*
and the ti4e i! "a!t in which ti4e did not 4atter. 8odern 4an no onger wor3!
at what cannot be abbre)iated.E
+n "oint o- -act* he ha! !ucceeded in abbre)iating e)en !toryteing. We ha)e
witne!!ed the e)oution o- the D!hort !tory*E which ha! re4o)ed it!e- -ro4 ora
tradition and no onger "er4it! that !ow "iing one on to" o- the other o- thin*
tran!"arent ayer! which con!titute! the 4o!t a""ro"riate "icture o- the way in
which the "er-ect narrati)e i! re)eaed through the ayer! o- a )ariety o-
reteing!.
2
6ary concude! hi! ob!er)ation! with thi! !entence@ D+t i! a4o!t a! i- the
decine o- the idea o- eternity coincided with the increa!ing a)er!ion to !u!tained
e--ort.E The idea o- eternity ha! e)er had it! !tronge!t !ource in death. +- thi! idea
decine!* !o we rea!on* the -ace o- death 4u!t ha)e changed. +t turn! out that thi!
change i! identica with the one that ha! di4ini!hed the co4=4unicabiity o-
eG"erience to the !a4e eGtent a! the art o- !toryteing ha! decined.
+t ha! been ob!er)abe -or a nu4ber o- centurie! how in the genera
con!ciou!ne!! the thought o- death ha! decined in o4ni"re!ence and )i)idne!!. +n
it! a!t !tage! thi! "roce!! i! acceerated. And in the cour!e o- the nineteenth
century bourgeoi! !ociety ha!* by 4ean! o- hygienic and !ocia* "ri)ate and "ubic
in!titution!* reaiAed a !econdary e--ect which 4ay ha)e been it! !ubcon!ciou!
4ain "ur"o!e@ to 4a3e it "o!!ibe -or "eo"e to a)oid the !ight o- the dying.
Dying wa! once a "ubic "roce!! in the i-e o- the indi)idua and a 4o!t
eGe4"ary oneN thin3 o- the 4edie)a "icture! in which the deathbed ha! turned
into a throne toward which the "eo"e "re!! through the wide=o"en door! o- the
death hou!e. +n the cour!e o- 4odern ti4e! dying
%B
&ll!minations
ha! been "u!hed -urther and -urther out o- the "erce"tua word o- the i)ing.
There u!ed to be no hou!e* hardy a roo4* in which !o4eone had not once died.
:The 8idde Age! a!o -et !"atiay what 4a3e! that in!cri"tion on a !un dia o-
+biAa* Cltima m!ltis Hthe a!t day -or 4anyI* !igni-icant a! the te4"er o- the
ti4e!.; Today "eo"e i)e in roo4! that ha)e ne)er been touched by death* dry
dweer! o- eternity* and when their end a""roache! they are !towed away in
!anatoria or ho!"ita! by their heir!. +t i!* howe)er* characteri!tic that not ony a
4anK! 3nowedge or wi!do4* but abo)e a hi! rea i-eFand thi! i! the !tu-- that
!torie! are 4ade o-F-ir!t a!!u4e! tran!4i!!ibe -or4 at the 4o4ent o- hi!
death. (u!t a! a !e?uence o- i4age! i! !et in 4otion in!ide a 4an a! hi! i-e co4e!
to an endFun-oding the )iew! o- hi4!e- under which he ha! encountered
hi4!e- without being aware o- itF!uddeny in hi! eG"re!!ion! and oo3! the
un-orgettabe e4erge! and i4"art! to e)erything that concerned hi4 that au=
thority which e)en the "oore!t wretch in dying "o!!e!!e! -or the i)ing around
hi4. Thi! authority i! at the )ery !ource o- the !tory.
XI
Death i! the !anction o- e)erything that the !toryteer can te. He ha!
borrowed hi! authority -ro4 death. +n other word!* it i! natura hi!tory to which
hi! !torie! re-er bac3. Thi! i! eG"re!!ed in eGe4"ary -or4 in one o- the 4o!t
beauti-u !torie! we ha)e by the inco4"arabe (ohann ,eter Hebe. +t i! -ound in
the D"hatEkastlein 'es rheinisehen /ms(re!n'es, i! entited D2neG"ected
Reunion*E and begin! with the betrotha o- a young ad wio wor3* in rhe 4ine!
r-W On the e)e o- hi! wedding he die! a 4inerK! death at the botto4 o- hi!
tunne. Hi! bride 3ee"! -aith with hi4 a-ter hi! death* and !he i)e! ong enough
to beco4e a wiAened od wo4anN one day a body i! brought u" -ro4 the
abandoned tunne which* !aturated with iron )itrio* ha! e!ca"ed decay* and !he
recogniAe! her betrothed. A-ter thi! reunion !he too i! caed away by death.
When Hebe* in the cour!e o- thi! !tory* wa! con-ronted with the nece!!ity o-
4a3ing
%<
The Dtor.teller
thi! ong "eriod o- year! gra"hic* he did !o in the -oowing !entence!N D+n the
4eanti4e the city o- 1i!bon wa! de!troyed by an earth?ua3e* and the Se)en
Year!K War ca4e and went* and E4"eror 7ranci! + died* and the (e!uit Order
wa! aboi!hed* and ,oand wa! "artitioned* and E4"re!! 8aria There!a died* and
Struen!ee wa! eGecuted. A4erica beca4e inde"endent* and the united 7rench and
S"ani!h -orce! were unabe to ca"ture 5ibratar. The Tur3! oc3ed u" 5enera
Stein in the 6eteraner Ca)e in Hungary* and E4"eror (o!e"h died a!o. King
5u!ta)u! o- Sweden con?uered Ru!!ian 7inand* and the 7rench Re)oution and
the ong war began* and E4"eror 1eo"od ++ went to hi! gra)e too. Na"oeon
ca"tured ,ru!!ia* and the Engi!h bo4=barded Co"enhagen* and the "ea!ant!
!owed and har)e!ted. The 4ier! ground* the !4ith! ha44ered* and the 4iner!
dug -or )ein! o- ore in their underground wor3!ho"!. But when in $'/% the
4iner! at 7aun . ..Q
Ne)er ha! a !toryteer e4bedded hi! re"ort dee"er in natura hi!tory than Hebe
4anage! to do in thi! chronoogy. Read it care-uy. Death a""ear! in it with the
!a4e reguarity a! the Rea"er doe! in the "roce!!ion! that "a!! around the
cathedra coc3 at noon.
L++
Any eGa4ination o- a gi)en e"ic -or4 i! concerned with the reation!hi" o- thi!
-or4 to hi!toriogra"hy. +n -act* one 4ay go e)en -urther and rai!e the ?ue!tion
whether hi!toriogra"hy doe! not con!titute the co44on ground o- a -or4! o-
the e"ic. Then written hi!tory woud be in the !a4e reation!hi" to the e"ic -or4!
a! white ight i! to the coor! o- the !"ectru4. Howe)er thi! 4ay be* a4ong a
-or4! o- the e"ic there i! not one who!e incidence in the "ure* coore!! ight o-
written hi!tory i! 4ore certain than the chronice. And in the broad !"ectru4 o-
the chronice the way! in which a !tory can be tod are graduated i3e !hading! o-
one and the !a4e coor. The chronicer i! the hi!tory=teer. +- we thin3 bac3 to the
"a!!age -ro4 Hebe* which ha! the tone o- a chronice throughout* it wi ta3e no
e--ort to gauge
%9
&ll!minations
the di--erence between the writer o- hi!tory* the hi!torian* and the teer o- it*
the chronicer. The hi!torian i! bound to eG"ain in one way or another the
ha""ening! with which he dea!N under no circu4!tance! can he content hi4!e-
with di!"aying the4 a! 4ode! o- the cour!e o- the word. But thi! i! "reci!ey
what the chronicer doe!* e!"eciay in hi! ca!!ica re"re!entati)e!* the chronicer!
o- the 8idde Age!* the "recur!or! o- the hi!torian! o- today. By ba!ing their
hi!torica tae! on a di)ine "an o- !a)ationFan in!crutabe oneFthey ha)e -ro4
the )ery !tart i-ted the burden o- de4on!trabe eG"anation -ro4 their own
!houder!. +t! "ace i! ta3en by inter"retation* which i! not concerned with an
accurate concatenation o- de-inite e)ent!* but with the way the!e are e4bedded
in the great in!crutabe cour!e o- the word.
Whether thi! cour!e i! e!chatoogicay deter4ined or i! a natura one 4a3e! no
di--erence. +n the !toryteer the chronicer i! "re!er)ed in changed -or4*
!ecuariAed* a! it were. 1e!3o) i! a4ong tho!e who!e wor3 di!"ay! thi! with
"articuar carity. Both the chronicer with hi! e!chatoogica orientation and the
!toryteer with hi! "ro-ane outoo3 are !o re"re!ented in hi! wor3! that in a
nu4ber o- hi! !torie! it can hardy be decided whether the web in which they
a""ear i! the goden -abric o- a reigiou! )iew o- the cour!e o- thing!* or the
4uticoored -abric o- a wordy )iew.
Con!ider the !tory DThe AeGandrite*E which tran!"ort! the reader into Dthat od
ti4e when the !tone! in the wo4b o- the earth and the "anet! at cee!tia height!
were !ti concerned with the -ate o- 4en* and not today when both in the hea)en!
and beneath the earth e)erything ha! grown indi--erent to the -ate! o- the !on! o-
4en and no )oice !"ea3! to the4 -ro4 anywhere* et aone doe! their bidding.
None o- the undi!co)ered "anet! "ay any "art in horo!co"e! any 4ore* and
there are a ot o- new !tone!* a 4ea!ured and weighed and eGa4ined -or their
!"eci-ic weight and their den!ity* but they no onger "rocai4 anything to u!* nor
do they bring u! any bene-it. Their ti4e -or !"ea3ing with 4en i! "a!t.E
A! i! e)ident* it i! hardy "o!!ibe una4biguou!y to charac=
%
&
The Dtor.teller
teriAe the cour!e o- the word that i! iu!trated in thi! !tory o- 1e!3o)K!. +! it
deter4ined e!chatoogicay or naturai!ticayJ The ony certain thing i! that in
it! )ery nature it i! by denition out!ide a rea hi!torica categorie!. 1e!3o) te!
u! that the e"och in which 4an coud beie)e hi4!e- to be in har4ony with
nature ha! eG"ired. Schier caed thi! e"och in the hi!tory o- the word the "eriod
o- nai)e "oetry. The !toryteer 3ee"! -aith with it* and hi! eye! do not !tray -ro4
that dia in -ront o- which there 4o)e! the "roce!!ion o- creature! o- which*
de"ending on circu4!tance!* Death i! either the eader or the a!t wretched
!tragger.
XIII
+t ha! !edo4 been reaiAed that the i!tenerK! nai)e reation!hi" to the
!toryteer i! controed by hi! intere!t in retaining what he i! tod. The cardina
"oint -or the una--ected i!tener i! to a!!ure hi4!e- o- the "o!!ibiity o-
re"roducing the !tory. 8e4ory i! the e"ic -acuty :ar e="ellen"e4 Ony by )irtue
o- a co4"rehen!i)e 4e4ory can e"ic writing ab!orb the cour!e o- e)ent! on the
one hand and* with the "a!!ing o- the!e* 4a3e it! "eace with the "ower o- death
on the other. +t i! not !ur"ri!ing that to a !i4"e 4anYo- the "eo"e* !uch a! 1e!3o)
once in)ented* the CAar* the head o- the !"here in which hi! !torie! ta3e "ace*
ha! the 4o!t encyco"edic 4e4ory at hi! co44and. DOur E4"eror*E he !ay!*
Dand hi! entire -a4iy ha)e indeed a 4o!t a!toni!hing 4e4ory.E
8ne4o!yne* the re4e4berer* wa! the 8u!e o- the e"ic art a4ong the 5ree3!.
Thi! na4e ta3e! the ob!er)er bac3 to a "arting o- the way! in word hi!tory. 7or
i- the record 3e"t by 4e4oryFhi!toriogra"hyFcon!titute! the creati)e 4atriG o-
the )ariou! e"ic -or4! :a! great "ro!e i! the creati)e 4atriG o- the )ariou!
4etrica -or4!;* it! ode!t -or4* the e"ic* by )irtue o- being a 3ind o- co44on
deno4inator incude! the !tory and the no)e. When in the cour!e o- centurie! the
no)e began to e4erge -ro4 the wo4b o- the e"ic* it turned out that in the no)e
the ee4ent o- the e"ic 4ind that i! deri)ed -ro4 the 8u!eFthat i!*
%0
&ll!minations
4e4ory=4ani-e!t! it!e- in a -or4 ?uite di--erent -ro4 the way it 4ani-e!t!
it!e- in the !tory.
1emor. create! the chain o- tradition which "a!!e! a ha""ening on -ro4
generation to generation. +t i! the 8u!e=deri)ed ee4ent o- the e"ic art in a
broader !en!e and enco4"a!!e! it! )arietie!. +n the -ir!t "ace a4ong the!e i! the
one "racticed by the !toryteer. +t !tart! the web which a !torie! together -or4
in the end. One tie! on to the neGt* a! the great !toryteer!* "articuary the
Orienta one!* ha)e away! readiy !hown. +n each o- the4 there i! a
ScheheraAade who thin3! o- a -re!h !tory whene)er her tae co4e! to a !to". Thi!
i! e"ic re4e4brance and the 8u!e=in!"ired ee4ent o- the narrati)e. But thi!
!houd be !et again!t another "rinci"e* a!o a 8u!e=deri)ed ee4ent in a narrower
!en!e* which a! an ee4ent o- the no)e in it! earie!t -or4Fthat i!* in the e"icF
ie! conceaed* !ti undi--erentiated -ro4 the !i4iary deri)ed ee4ent o- the
!tory. +t can* at any rate* occa!ionay be di)ined in the e"ic!* "articuary at
4o4ent! o- !oe4nity in the Ho4eric e"ic!* a! in the in)ocation! to the 8u!e at
their beginning. What announce! it!e- in the!e "a!!age! i! the "er"etuating
re4e4brance o- the no)ei!t a! contra!ted with the !hort=i)ed re4ini!cence! o-
the !toryteer. The -ir!t i! dedicated to one hero* one ody!!ey* one batteN the
!econd* to man. di--u!e occurrence!. +t i!* in other word!* rememran"e which*
a! the 8u!e=deri)ed ee4ent o- the no)e* i! added to re4ini!cence* the
corre!"onding ee4ent o- the !tory* the unity o- their origin inE 4e4ory ha)ing
di!a""eared with the decine o- the e"ic.
XIV
DNo one*E ,a!ca once !aid* Ddie! !o "oor that he doe! not ea)e !o4ething
behind.E Surey it i! the !a4e with 4e4orie! too=athough the!e do not away!
-ind an heir. The no)ei!t ta3e! charge o- thi! be?ue!t* and !edo4 without
"ro-ound 4ean=choy. 7or what Arnod Bennett !ay! about a dead wo4an in one
o- hi! no)e!Fthat !he had had a4o!t nothing in the way o- rea i-eFi! u!uay
true o- the !u4 tota o- the e!tate which the no)e=
%'
The Storyteer
i!t ad4ini!ter!. Regarding thi! a!"ect o- the 4atter we owe the 4o!t i4"ortant
eucidation to 5eorg 1u3ac!* who !ee! in the no)e Dthe -or4 o- tran!cendenta
ho4ee!!ne!!.E According to 1u3ac!* the no)e i! at the !a4e ti4e the ony art
-or4 which incude! ti4e a4ong it! con!tituti)e "rinci"e!.
DTi4e*E he !ay! in hi! Theor. o( the Novel, Dcan beco4e con!tituti)e ony
when connection with the tran!cendenta ho4e ha! been o!t. Ony in the no)e
are 4eaning and i-e* and thu! the e!!entia and the te4"ora* !e"aratedN one can
a4o!t !ay that the whoe inner action o- a no)e i! nothing e!e but a !trugge
again!t the "ower o- ti4e. .. . And -ro4 thi! . . . ari!e the genuiney e"ic
eG"erience! o- ti4eN ho"e and 4e4ory. . . . Ony in the no)e . . . doe! there
occur a creati)e 4e4ory which tran!-iGe! the obCect and tran!-or4! it. . . . The
duaity o- inwardne!! and out!ide word can here be o)erco4e -or the !ubCect
RonyK when he !ee! the . . . unity o- hi! entire i-e . . . out o- the "a!t i-e=!trea4
which i! co4"re!!ed in 4e4ory. . . . The in!ight which gra!"! thi! unity . * *
beco4e! the di)inatory=intuiti)e gra!"ing o- the unattained and there-ore
ineG"re!!ibe 4eaning o- i-e.E
The D4eaning o- i-eE i! reay the center about which the no)e 4o)e!. But the
?ue!t -or it i! no 4ore than the initia eG"re!!ion o- "er"eGity with which it!
reader !ee! hi4!e- i)ing thi! written i-e. Here D4eaning o- i-eEFthere D4ora
o- the !toryE@ with the!e !ogan! no)e and !tory con-ront each other* and -ro4
the4 the totay di--erent hi!torica co=ordinate! o- the!e art -or4! 4ay be
di!cerned. +- 0on J!i=ote i! the earie!t "er-ect !"eci4en o- the no)e* it! ate!t
eGe4"ar i! "erha"! the 9'!"ation sentimentale4
+n the -ina word! o- the a!t=na4ed no)e* the 4eaning which the bourgeoi! age
-ound in it! beha)ior at the beginning o- it! decine ha! !etted i3e !edi4ent in
the cu" o- i-e. 7Yderic and De!aurier!* the boyhood -riend!* thin3 bac3 to their
youth-u -riend!hi". Thi! itte incident then occurred@ one day they !howed u" in
the bordeo o- their ho4e town* !teathiy and ti4idy* doing nothing but
"re!enting the :atronne with a bou?uet o- -ower! which they had "ic3ed in their
own garden!.
%%
&ll!minations
DThi! !tory wa! !ti di!cu!!ed three year! ater. And now they tod it to each
other in detai* each !u""e4enting the recoection o- the other. RThat 4ay ha)e
been*K !aid 7rddiric when they had -ini!hed* Rthe -ine!t thing in our i)e!.K RYe!*
you 4ay be right*P !aid De!aurier!* Rthat wa! "erha"! the -ine!t thing in our
h)e!.K ^ With !uch an in!ight the no)e reache! an end which i! 4ore "ro"er to it*
in a !tricter !en!e* than to any !tory. Actuay there i! no !tory -or which the
?ue!tion a! to how it continued woud not be egiti4ate. The no)ei!t* on the
other hand* cannot ho"e to ta3e the !4ae!t !te" beyond that i4it at which he
in)ite! the reader to a di)inatory reaiAation o- the 4eaning o- i-e by writing
D7ini!.E
G)
A 4an i!tening to a !tory i! in the co4"any o- the !toryteerN e)en a 4an
reading one !hare! thi! co4"anion!hi". The reader o- a no)e* howe)er* i!
i!oated* 4ore !o than any other reader* :7or e)en the reader o- a "oe4 i! ready
to utter the word!* -or the bene-it o- the i!tener.; +n thi! !oitude o- hi!* the
reader o- a no)e !eiAe! u"on hi! 4ateria 4ore Ceaou!y than anyone e!e. He i!
ready to 4a3e it co4"etey hi! own* to de)our it* a! it were. +ndeed* he de!troy!*
he !waow! u" the 4ateria a! the -ire de)our! og! in the -ire"ace. The
!u!"en!e which "er4eate! the no)e i! )ery 4uch i3e the dra-t which !ti4uate!
the -a4e in the -ire"ace and eni)en! it! "ay.
+t i! a dry 4ateria on which the burning intere!t o- the reader -eed!. DA 4an
who die! at the age o- thirty=-i)e*E !aid 8oritA Hei4ann once* Di! at e)ery "oint
o- hi! i-e a 4an who die! at the age o- thirty=-i)e.E Nothing i! 4ore dubiou!
than thi! !entence=but -or the !oe rea!on that the ten!e i! wrong. A 4anF!o
!ay! the truth that wa! 4eant hereFwho died at thirty=-i)e wi a""ear to
rememran"e at e)ery "oint in hi! i-e a! a 4an who die! at the age o- thirty=-i)e.
+n other word!* the !tate4ent that 4a3e! no !en!e -or rea i-e beco4e!
indi!"utabe -or re4e4bered i-e. The nature o- the character in a no)e cannot
be "re!ented any better than i! done in thi! !tate4ent* which !ay! that the
D4ean=
$//
The Dtor.teller
ingE o- hi! i-e i! re)eaed ony in hi! death. But the reader o- a no)e actuay
doe! oo3 -or hu4an being! -ro4 who4 he deri)e! the D4eaning o- i-e.E
There-ore he 4u!t* no 4atter what* 3now in ad)ance that he wi !hare their
eG"erience o- death@ i- need be their -igurati)e deathFthe end o- the no)eFbut
"re-eraby their actua one. How do the character! 4a3e hi4 under!tand that
death i! aready waiting -or the4Fa )ery de-inite death and at a )ery de-inite
"aceJ That i! the ?ue!tion which -eed! the readerK! con!u4ing intere!t in the
e)ent! o- the no)e.
The no)e i! !igni-icant* there-ore* not becau!e it "re!ent! !o4eone e!eK! -ate
to u!* "erha"! didacticay* but becau!e thi! !trangerK! -ate by )irtue o- the -a4e
which con!u4e! it yied! u! the war4th which we ne)er draw -ro4 our own -ate.
What draw! the reader to the no)e i! the ho"e o- war4ing hi! !hi)ering i-e with
a death he read! about.
XVI
D1e!3o)*E write! 5or3y* Di! the writer 4o!t dee"y rooted in the "eo"e and i!
co4"etey untouched by any -oreign in-uence!.E A great !toryteer wi away!
be rooted in the "eo"e* "ri4ariy in a 4iieu o- cra-t!4en. But Cu!t a! thi!
incude! the rura* the 4ariti4e* and the urban ee4ent! in the 4any !tage! o-
their econo4ic and technica de)eo"4ent* there are 4any gradation! in the
conce"t! in which their !tore o- eG"erience co4e! down to u!. :To !ay nothing o-
the by no 4ean! in!igni-icant !hare which trader! had in the art o- !toryteingN
their ta!3 wa! e!! to increa!e it! didactic content than to re-ine the tric3! with
which the attention o- the i!tener wa! ca"tured. They ha)e e-t dee" trace! in the
narrati)e cyce o- The Araian Ni#hts4@ Tn !hort* de!"ite the "ri4ary roe which
!toryteing "ay! in the hou!ehod o- hu4anity* the conce"t! through which the
yied o- the !torie! 4ay be garnered are 4ani-od. What 4ay 4o!t readiy be "ut
in reigiou! ter4! in 1e!3o) !ee4! a4o!t auto4aticay to -a into "ace in the
"edagogica "er!"ecti)e! o- the Enighten4ent in Hebe* a""ear! a! her4etic
tradition in ,oe* -ind! a a!t re-uge in Ki"ing in the i-e o- Briti!h !ea4en and
$/$
lll!minatiom
coonia !odier!. A great !toryteer! ha)e in co44on the -reedo4 with
which they 4o)e u" and down the rung! o- their eG"erience a! on a adder. A
adder eGtending downward to the interior o- the earth and di!a""earing into the
coud! i! the i4age -or a coecti)e eG"erience to which e)en the dee"e!t !hoc3 o-
e)ery indi)idua eG"erience* death* con!titute! no i4"edi4ent or barrier.
DAnd they i)ed ha""iy e)er a-ter*E !ay! the -airy tae. The -airy tae* which to
thi! day i! the -ir!t tutor o- chidren becau!e it wa! once the -ir!t tutor o-
4an3ind* !ecrety i)e! on in the !tory. The -ir!t true !toryteer i!* and wi
continue to be
t
the teer o- -airy tae!. Whene)er good coun!e wa! at a
"re4iu4* the -airy tae had it* and where the need wa! greate!t* it! aid wa!
neare!t. Thi! need wa! the need created by the 4yth. The -airy tae te! u! o- the
earie!t arrange4ent! that 4an3ind 4ade to !ha3e o-- the night4are which the
4yth had "aced u"on it! che!t. +n the -igure o- the -oo it !how! u! how
4an3ind Dact! du4bE toward the 4ythN in the -igure o- the younge!t brother it
!how! u! how oneK! chance! increa!e a! the 4ythica "ri4iti)e ti4e! are e-t
behindN in the -igure o- the 4an who !et! out to earn what -ear i! it !how! u!
that the thing! we are a-raid o- can be !een throughN in the -igure o- the wi!eacre
it !how! u! that the ?ue!tion! "o!ed by the 4yth are !i4"e=4inded* i3e the
ridde o- the S"hinGN in the !ha"e o- the ani4a! which co4e to the aid o- the
chid in the -airy tae it !how! that nature not ony i! !ub!er)ient to the 4yth* but
4uch "re-er! to be aigned with 4an. The wi!e!t thingF!o the -airy tae taught
4an3ind in oden ti4e!* and teache! chidren to thi! dayFi! to 4eet the -orce!
o- the 4ythica word with cunning and with high !"irit!. :Thi! i! how the -airy
tae "oariAe! 1!t
P
courage* di)iding it diaecticay into Cnterm!t, that i!*
cunning* and Cerm!t, high !"irit!.; The iberating 4agic which the -airy tae
ha! at it! di!"o!a doe! not bring nature into "ay in a 4ythica way* but "oint! to
it! co4"icity with iberated 4an. A 4ature 4an -ee! thi! co4"icity ony
occa!ionay* that i!* when he i! ha""yN but the chid -ir!t 4eet! it in -airy tae!*
and it 4a3e! hi4 ha""y.
$/.
The Dtor.teller
L6++
7ew !toryteer! ha)e di!"ayed !o "ro-ound a 3in!hi" with the !"irit o- the
-airy tae a! did 1e!3o). Thi! in)o)e! tendencie! that were "ro4oted by the
dog4a! o- the 5ree3 OrthodoG Church* A! i! we 3nown* OrigenK! !"ecuation
about a:okata-stasis8the entry o- a !ou! into ,aradi!eFwhich wa! reCected by
the Ro4an Church "ay! a !igni-icant "art in the!e dog4a!. 1e!3o) wa! )ery
4uch in-uenced by Origen and "anned to tran!ate hi! wor3 -n Rirst
5rin"i:les4 +n 3ee"ing with Ru!!ian -o3 beie- he inter"reted the Re!urrection
e!! a! a tran!-iguration than a! a di!enchant4ent* in a !en!e a3in to the -airy
tae. Such an inter"retation o- Origen i! at the botto4 o- DThe Enchanted
,igri4.E +n thi!* a! in 4any other tae! by 1e!3o)* a hybrid between -airy tae
and egend i! in)o)ed* not uni3e that hybrid which Ern!t Boch 4ention! in a
connection in which he utiiAe! our di!tinction between 4yth and -airy tae in hi!
-a!hion.
DA hybrid between -airy tae and egend*E he !ay!* Dcontain! -igurati)ey
4ythica ee4ent!* 4ythica ee4ent! who!e e--ect i! certainy ca"ti)ating and
!tatic* and yet not out!ide 4an. +n the egend there are Taoi!t -igure!* e!"eciay
)ery od one!* which are R4ythicaK in thi! !en!e. 7or in!tance* the cou"e
,hie4on and Bauci!N 4agicay e!ca"ed though in natura re"o!e. And !urey
there i! a !i4iar reation!hi" between -airy tae and egend in the Taoi!t ci4ate
o- 5otthe-* which* to be !ure* i! on a 4uch ower e)e. At certain "oint! it
di)orce! the egend -ro4 the ocaity o- the !"e* re!cue! the -a4e o- i-e* the
!"eci-icay hu4an -a4e o- i-e* ca4y burning* within a! without.E
D8agicay e!ca"edE are the being! that ead the "roce!!ion o- 1e!3o)K!
creation!@ the righteou! one!. ,a)in* 7igura* the tou"ee arti!te* the bear 3ee"er*
the he"-u !entryFa o- the4 e4bodi4ent! o- wi!do4* 8ndne!!* co4-ort the
word* crowd about the !toryteer. They are un4i!ta3aby !u--u!ed with the
ima#o o- hi! 4other.
Thi! i! how 1e!3o) de!cribe! her@ DShe wa! !o thoroughy good that !he wa!
not ca"abe o- har4ing any 4an* nor e)en an ani4a. She ate neither 4eat nor
-i!h* becau!e !he had !uch "ity
$/B
+u4ination!
-or i)ing creature!. So4eti4e! 4y -ather u!ed to re"roach her with thi!. But
!he an!wered@ P+ ha)e rai!ed the itte ani4a! 4y!e-* they are i3e 4y chidren
to 4e. + canKt eat 4y own chidren* can +JK She woud not eat 4eat at a
neighborK! hou!e either. l ha)e !een the4 ai)e*K !he woud !ayN Rthey are 4y
ac?uaintance!. + canKt eat 4y ac?uaintance!* can +JKQ
The righteou! 4an i! the ad)ocate -or created thing! and at the !a4e ti4e he i!
their highe!t e4bodi4ent. +n 1e!3o) he ha! a 4aterna touch which i!
occa!ionay inten!i-ied into the 4ythica :and thu!* to be !ure* endanger! the
"urity o- the -airy tae;. Ty"ica o- thi! i! the "rotagoni!t o- hi! !tory DKotin the
,ro)ider and ,atonida.E Thi! -igure* a "ea!ant na4ed ,i!on!3i* i! a
her4a"hrodite. 7or twe)e year! hi! 4other rai!ed hi4 a! a gir. Hi! 4ae and
-e4ae organ! 4ature !i4utaneou!y* and hi! bi=!eGuaity Dbeco4e! the !y4bo
o- 5od incarnate.E
+n 1e!3o)K! )iew* the "innace o- creation ha! been attained with thi!* and at
the !a4e ti4e he "re!u4aby !ee! it a! a bridge e!tabi!hed between thi! word
and the other. 7or the!e earthiy "ower-u* 4aterna 4ae -igure! which again and
again cai4 1e!3o)K! !3i a! a !toryteer ha)e been re4o)ed -ro4 obedience to
the !eGua dri)e in the boo4 o- their !trength. They do not* howe)er* reay
e4body an a!cetic ideaN rather* the continence o- the!e righteou! 4en ha! !o
itte "ri)ati)e character that it beco4e! the ee4enta counter"oi!e to
uncontroed u!t which the !toryteer ha! "er!oni-ied in +a'. 1a"eth o(
1Eensk4 +- the range between a ,a)in and thi! 4erchantK! wi-e co)er! the
breadth o- the word o- created being!* in the hierarchy o- hi! character! 1e!3o)
ha! no e!! "u4bed it! de"th.
XVIII
The hierarchy o- the word o- created thing!* which ha! it! a"eG in the
righteou! 4an* reache! down into the aby!! o- the inani4ate by 4any gradation!.
+n thi! connection one "articuar ha! to be noted. Thi! whoe created word
!"ea3! not !o 4uch with the hu4an )oice a! with what coud be caed Dthe
)oice o- NatureE in the tite o- one o- 1e!3o)K! 4o!t !igni-icant !torie!.
$/<
The Dtor.teller
Thi! !tory dea! with the "etty o--icia ,hii" ,hii"o)ich who ea)e! no !tone
unturned to get the chance to ha)e a! hi! hou!e gue!t a -ied 4ar!ha "a!!ing
through hi! itte town. He 4anage! to do !o. The gue!t* who i! at -ir!t !ur"ri!ed
at the cer3K! urgent in)itation* graduay co4e! to beie)e that he recogniAe! in
hi4 !o4eone he 4u!t ha)e 4et "re)iou!y. But who i! heJ He cannot re4e4ber.
The !trange thing i! that the ho!t* -or hi! "art* i! not wiing to re)ea hi! identity.
+n!tead* he "ut! o-- the high "er!onage -ro4 day to day* !aying that the D)oice o-
NatureE wi not -ai to !"ea3 di!tincty to hi4 one day. Thi! goe! on unti -inay
the gue!t* !horty be-ore continuing on hi! Courney* 4u!t grant the ho!tK! "ubic
re?ue!t to et the D)oice o- NatureE re!ound. Thereu"on the ho!tK! wi-e
withdraw!. She Dreturned with a big* brighty "oi!hed* co""er hunting horn
which !he ga)e to her hu!band. He too3 the horn* "ut it to hi! i"!* and wa! at the
!a4e in!tant a! though tran!-or4ed. Hardy had he in-ated hi! chee3! and
"roduced a tone a! "ower-u a! the roing o- thunder when the -ied 4ar!ha
cried@ RSto"* +K)e got it now* brother. Thi! 4a3e! 4e recogniAe you at onceM You
are the buger -ro4 the regi4ent o- Caeger!* and becau!e you were !o hone!t +
!ent you to 3ee" an eye on a croo3ed !u""ie! !u"er)i!or.K RThatK! it* Your
EGceency*K an!wered the ho!t. l didnKt want to re4ind you o- thi! 4y!e-* but
wanted to et the )oice o- Nature !"ea3.PQ
The way the "ro-undity o- thi! !tory i! hidden beneath it! !iine!! con)ey! an
idea o- 1e!3o)K! 4agni-icent hu4or. Thi! hu4or i! con-ir4ed in the !a4e !tory
in an e)en 4ore cry"tic way. We ha)e heard that becau!e o- hi! hone!ty the
o--icia wa! a!!igned to watch a croo3ed !u""ie! !u"er)i!or. Thi! i! what we are
tod at the end* in the recognition !cene. At the )ery beginning o- the !tory*
howe)er* we earn the -oowing about the ho!t@ DA the inhabitant! o- the town
were ac?uainted with the 4an* and they 3new that he did not hod a high o--ice*
-or he wa! neither a !tate o--icia nor a 4iitary 4an* but a itte !u"er)i!or at the
tiny !u""y de"ot* where together with the rat! he chewed on the !tate ru!3! and
boot !oe!* and in the cour!e o- ti4e had chewed hi4!e- together a nice itte
-ra4e hou!e.E +t
$/Z
&ll!minations
i! e)ident that thi! !tory re-ect! the traditiona !y4"athy which !toryteer!
ha)e -or ra!ca! and croo3!. A the iterature o- -arce bear! witne!! to it. Nor i!
it denied on the height! o- artN o- a HebeK! character!* the Bra!!enhei4 8ier*
Tinder 7rieder* and Red Dieter ha)e been hi! 4o!t -aith-u co4"anion!. And yet
-or Hebe* too* the righteou! 4an ha! the 4ain roe in the theatr!m m!n'i4 But
becau!e no one i! actuay u" to thi! roe* it 3ee"! changing hand!. Now it i! the
tra4"* now the hagging (ewi!h "edder* now the 4an o- i4ited inteigence
who !te"! in to "ay thi! "art. +n e)ery !inge ca!e it i! a gue!t "er-or4ance* a
4ora i4"ro)i!ation. Hebe i! a ca!ui!tQ He wi not -or anything ta3e a !tand
with any "rinci"e* but he doe! not reCect it either* -or any "rinci"e can at !o4e
ti4e beco4e the in!tru4ent o- the righteou! 4an. Co4"are thi! with 1e!3o)K!
attitude* D+ reaiAe*E he write! in hi! !tory DA ,ro"o! o- the KreutAer Sonata*E
Dthat 4y thin3ing i! ba!ed 4uch 4ore on a "ractica )iew o- i-e than on ab!tract
"hio!o"hy or o-ty 4oraityN but + a4 ne)erthee!! u!ed to thin3ing the way +
do.E To be !ure* the 4ora cata!tro"he! that a""ear in 1e!3o)K! word are to the
4ora incident! in HebeK! word a! the great* !ient -owing o- the 6oga i! to the
babbing* ru!hing itte 4i!trea4. A4ong 1e!3o)K! hi!torica tae! there are
!e)era in which "a!!ion! are at wor3 a! de!tructi)ey a! the wrath o- Achie! or
the hatred o- Hagen. +t i! a!toni!hing how -ear-uy the word can dar3en -or thi!
author and with what 4aCe!ty e)i can rai!e it! !ce"ter. 1e!3o) ha! e)identy
3nown 4ood!Fand thi! i! "robaby one o- the -ew characteri!tic! he !hare!
with Do!toe)!3yFin which he wa! co!e to an=tino4ian ethic!. The ee4enta
nature! in hi! Tales (rom -l'en Times go to the i4it in their ruthe!! "a!!ion.
But it i! "reci!ey the 4y!tic! who ha)e been incined to !ee thi! i4it a! the
"oint at which utter de"ra)ity turn! into !aintine!!.
XIX
The ower 1e!3o) de!cend! on the !cae o- created thing! the 4ore ob)iou!y
doe! hi! way o- )iewing thing! a""roach the 4y!tica. Actuay* a! wi be
!hown* there i! 4uch e)idence that
1!
T(e St+r3teller
in thi!* too* a characteri!tic i! re)eaed which i! inherent in the nature o- the
!toryteer. To be !ure* ony a -ew ha)e )entured into the de"th! o- inani4ate
nature* and in 4odern narrati)e iterature there i! not 4uch in which the )oice o-
the anony4ou! !toryteer* who wa! "rior to a iterature* re!ound! !o ceary a!
it doe! in 1e!3o)K! !tory DThe AeGandrite.E +t dea! with a !e4i"reciou! !tone*
the chry!obery. The 4inera i! the owe!t !tratu4 o- created thing!. 7or the
!toryteer* howe)er* it i! directy Coined to the highe!t. To hi4 it i! granted to
!ee in thi! chry!obery a natura "ro"hecy o- "etri-ied* i-ee!! nature concerning
the hi!torica word in which he hi4!e- i)e!. Thi! word i! the word o-
AeGander ++* The !toryteerFor rather* the 4an to who4 he attribute! hi! own
3nowedgeFi! a ge4 engra)er na4ed WenAe who ha! achie)ed the greate!t
concei)abe !3i in hi! art. One can CuGta"o!e hi4 with the !i)er!4ith! o- Tua
and !ay thatFin the !"irit o- 1e!3o)Fthe "er-ect arti!an ha! acce!! to the
inner4o!t cha4ber o- the rea4 o- created thing!. He i! an incarnation o- the
de)out. We are tod o- thi! ge4 cutter@ DHe !uddeny !?ueeAed 4y hand on
which wa! the ring with the aeGandrite* which i! 3nown to !"ar3e red in
arti-icia ight* and cried@ R1oo3* here it i!* the "ro"hetic Ru!!ian !toneM S cra-ty
Siberian. +t wa! away! green a! ho"e and ony toward e)ening wa! it !u--u!ed
with bood. +t wa! that way -ro4 the beginning o- the word* but it conceaed
it!e- -or a ong ti4e* ay hidden in the earth* and "er4itted it!e- to be -ound
ony on the day when CAar AeGander wa! decared o- age* when a great !orcerer
had co4e to Siberia to -ind the !tone* a 4agician. . . .K RWhat non!en!e are you
ta3ing*K + interru"ted hi4N Rthi! !tone wa!nKt -ound by a 4agician at a* it wa! a
!choar na4ed Norden=!3CodMK m 4agicianM + te you* a 4agicianMK !crea4ed
WenAe in a oud )oice. P(u!t oo3N what a !toneM A green 4orning i! in it and a
boody e)ening . . . Thi! i! -ate* the -ate o- nobe CAar AeGanderMK With the!e
word! od WenAe turned to the wa* "ro""ed hi! head on hi! ebow!* and . . .
began to !ob.E
One can hardy co4e any co!er to the 4eaning o- thi! !igni-icant !tory than by
!o4e word! which ,au 6aery wrote in a )ery re4ote conteGt. DArti!tic
ob!er)ation*E he !ay! in re-ec=
$/0
&ll!minations
tion! on a wo4an arti!t who!e wor3 con!i!ted in the !i3 e4broidery o- -igure!*
Dcan attain an a4o!t 4y!tica de"th. The obCect! on which it -a! o!e their
na4e!. 1ight and !hade -or4 )ery "articuar !y!te4!* "re!ent )ery indi)idua
?ue!tion! which de"end u"on no 3nowedge and are deri)ed -ro4 no "ractice*
but get their eGi!tence and )aue eGcu!i)ey -ro4 a certain accord o- the !ou*
the eye* and the hand o- !o4eone who wa! born to "ercei)e the4 and e)o3e
the4 in hi! own inner !e-.E
With the!e word!* !ou* eye* and hand are brought into connection. +nteracting
with one another* they deter4ine a "ractice. We are no onger -a4iiar with thi!
"ractice. The roe o- the hand in "roduction ha! beco4e 4ore 4ode!t* and the
"ace it -ied in !toryteing ie! wa!te. :A-ter a* !toryteing* in it! !en!ory
a!"ect* i! by no 4ean! a Cob -or the )oice aone. Rather* in genuine !toryteing
the hand "ay! a "art which !u""ort! what i! eG"re!!ed in a hundred way! with
it! ge!ture! trained by wor3.; That od co=ordination o- the !ou* the eye* and the
hand which e4erge! in 6aeryK! word! i! that o- the arti!an which we encounter
where)er the art o- !toryteing i! at ho4e. +n -act* one can go on and a!3 one!e-
whether the reation!hi" o- the !toryteer to hi! 4ateria* hu4an i-e* i! not in
it!e- a cra-t!4anK! reation!hi"* whether it i! not hi! )ery ta!3 to -a!hion the raw
4ateria o- eG"erience* hi! own and that o- other!* in a !oid* u!e-u* and uni?ue
way. +t i! a 3ind o- "rocedure which 4ay "erha"! 4o!t ade?uatey be
eGe4"i-ied by the "ro)erb i- one thin3! o- it a! an ideogra4 o- a !tory. A
"ro)erb* one 4ight !ay* i! a ruin which !tand! on the !ite o- an od !tory and in
which a 4ora twine! about a ha""ening i3e i)y around a wa.
Seen in thi! way* the !toryteer Coin! the ran3! o- the teacher! and !age!. He
ha! coun!eFnot -or a -ew !ituation!* a! the "ro)erb doe!* but -or 4any* i3e the
!age. 7or it i! granted to hi4 to reach bac3 to a whoe i-eti4e :a i-e*
incidentay* that co4"ri!e! not ony hi! own eG"erience but no itte o- the eG=
"erience o- other!N what the !toryteer 3now! -ro4 hear!ay i! added to hi! own;.
Hi! gi-t i! the abiity to reate hi! i-eN hi! di!tinction* to be abe to te hi! entire
i-e. The !toryteer@ he i! the 4an who coud et the wic3 o- hi! i-e be
con!u4ed co4=
$/'
The Dtor.teller
"etey by the gente -a4e o- hi! !tory. Thi! i! the ba!i! o- the inco4"arabe
aura about the !toryteer* in 1e!3o) a! in Hau--* in ,oe a! in Ste)en!on. The
!toryteer i! the -igure in which the righteou! 4an encounter! hi4!e-.
to"
(ratiA (Ca-3a
-n the 2)enth Anniversar. o( aUA -eath
POTE4'5N
+t i! reated that ,ote43in !u--ered -ro4 !tate! o- de"re!!ion which recurred
4ore or e!! reguary. At !uch ti4e! no one wa! aowed to go near hi4* and
acce!! to hi! roo4 wa! !tricty -orbidden. Thi! 4aady wa! ne)er 4entioned at
court* and in "articuar it wa! 3nown that any au!ion to it incurred the di!-a)or
o- E4"re!! Catherine. One o- the ChanceorK! de"re!!ion! a!ted -or an
eGtraordinary ength o- ti4e and brought about !eriou! di--icutie!N in the o--ice!
docu4ent! "ied u" that re?uired ,ote4dnK! !ignature* and the E4"re!! "re!!ed
-or their co4"etion. The high o--icia! were at their wit!K end. One day an
uni4"ortant itte cer3 na4ed Shu)a3in ha""ened to enter the anteroo4 o- the
ChanceorK! "aace and -ound the councior! o- !tate a!!e4bed there* 4oaning
and groaning a! u!ua. DWhat i! the 4atter* Your EGceencie!JE a!3ed the
obiging Shu)a3in. They eG"ained thing! to hi4 and regretted that they coud
not u!e hi! !er)ice!. D+- thatK! a it i!*E !aid Shu)a3in* D+ beg you to et 4e ha)e
tho!e "a"er!.E Ha)ing nothing to o!e* the councior! o- !tate et the4!e)e! be
"er!uaded to do !o* and with the !hea- o- docu4ent! under hi! ar4* Shu)a3in !et
out*
4
+u4ination!
through gaerie! and corridor!* -or ,ote43inK! bedroo4. Without !to""ing or
bothering to 3noc3* he turned the door=handeN the roo4 wa! not oc3ed. +n
!e4idar3ne!! ,ote43in wa! !itting on hi! bed in a threadbare night!hirt* biting
hi! nai!. Shu)a3in !te""ed u" to the writing de!3* di""ed a "en in in3* and
without !aying a word "re!!ed it into ,ote43inK! hand whie "utting one o- the
docu4ent! on hi! 3nee!. ,ote43in ga)e the intruder a )acant !tareN then* a!
though in hi! !ee"* he !tarted to !ignF-ir!t one "a"er* then a !econd* -inay a o-
the4. When the a!t !ignature had been a--iGed* Shu)a3in too3 the "a"er! under
hi! ar4 and e-t the roo4 without -urther ado* Cu!t a! he had entered it. Wa)ing
the "a"er! triu4"anty* he !te""ed into the anteroo4. The councior! o- !tate
ru!hed toward hi4 and tore the docu4ent! out o- hi! hand!. Breathe!!y they
bent o)er the4. No one !"o3e a wordN the whoe grou" !ee4ed "arayAed. Again
Shu)a3in ca4e co!er and !ohcitou!y a!3ed why the gente4en !ee4ed !o u"!et.
At that "oint he noticed the !ignature!. One docu4ent a-ter another wa! !igned
Shu)a3in . . . Shu)a3in . . . Shu)a3in. . . .
Thi! !tory i! i3e a herad racing two hundred year! ahead o- Ka-3aK! wor3.
The enig4a which beeoud! it i! Ka-3aK! enig4a. The word o- o--ice! and
regi!trie!* o- 4u!ty* !habby* dar3 roo4!* i! Ka-3aK! word. The obiging
Shu)a3in* who 4a3e! ight o- e)erything and i! -inay e-t e4"ty=handed* i!
Ka-3aK! K. ,ote43in* who )egetate!* !o4noent and un3e4"t* in a re4ote*
inacce!!ibe roo4* i! an ance!tor o- tho!e hoder! o- "ower in Ka-3aK! wor3!
who i)e in the attic! a! Cudge! or in the ca!te a! !ecretarie!N no 4atter how
highy "aced they 4ay be* they are away! -aen or -aing 4en* athough e)en
the owe!t and !eedie!t o- the4* the door3ee"er! and the decre"it o--icia!* 4ay
abru"ty and !tri3ingy a""ear in the -une!! o- their "ower. Why do they
)egetateJ Coud they be the de!cendant! o- the -igure! o- Ata! that !u""ort
gobe! with their !houder!J ,erha"! that i! why each ha! hi! head D!o dee" on
hi! che!t that one can hardy !ee hi! eye!*E i3e the Ca!tean in hi! "ortrait* or
Ka44 when he i! aone. But it i! not the gobe they are carryingN it i! Cu!t that
e)en the 4o!t co44on"ace thing! ha)e
$$.
RranE ?a(ka
their weight. DHi! -atigue i! that o- the gadiator a-ter the -ightN hi! Cob wa! the
whitewa!hing o- a corner in the o--iceME 5eorg 1u3ac! once !aid that in order to
4a3e a decent tabe nowaday!* a 4an 4u!t ha)e the architectura geniu! o- a
8icheangeo. +- 1u3ae! thin3! in ter4! o- age!* Ka-3a thin3! in ter4! o- co!4ic
e"och!. The 4an who whitewa!he! ha! e"och! to 4o)e* e)en in hi! 4o!t
in!igni-icant 4o)e4ent. On 4any occa!ion! and o-ten -or !trange rea!on!
Ka-3aK! -igure! ca" their hand!. Once the ca!ua re4ar3 i! 4ade that the!e
hand! are Dreay !tea4 ha44er!.E
We encounter the!e hoder! o- "ower in con!tant* !ow 4o)e4ent* ri!ing or
-aing. But they are at their 4o!t terribe when they ri!e -ro4 the dee"e!t decay
F-ro4 the -ather!. The !on ca4! hi! !"irite!!* !enie -ather who4 he ha! Cu!t
genty "ut to bed@ ^ RDonKt worry* you are we co)ered u".K RNo*K cried hi!
-ather* cutting !hort the an!wer* threw the ban3et o-- with !uch !trength that it
un-oded -uy a! it -ew* and !tood u" in bed. Ony one hand ighty touched the
ceiing to !teady hi4. RYou wanted to co)er 4e u"* + 3now* 4y itte !ca4"* but
74 not a co)ered u" yet. And e)en i- thi! i! a the !trength + ha)e e-t* itK!
enough -or you* too 4uch -or you. . . . But than3 goodne!! a -ather doe! not need
to be taught how to !ee through hi! !on.K . . . And he !tood u" ?uite un!u""orted
and 3ic3ed hi! eg! out. He bea4ed with in!ight. . . . RSo now you 3now what
e!e there wa! in the word be!ide! your!e-N unti now you ha)e 3nown ony
about your!e-M +t i! true* you were an innocent chid* but it i! e)en 4ore true that
you ha)e been a de)ii!h "er!onMK ^ A! the -ather throw! o-- the burden o- the
ban3et* he a!o throw! o-- a co!4ic burden. He ha! to !et co!4ic age! in 4otion
in order to turn the age=od -ather=!on reation!hi" into a i)ing and con!e?uentia
thing. But what con!e?uence!M He !entence! hi! !on to death by drowning. The
-ather i! the one who "uni!he!N guit attract! hi4 a! it doe! the court o--icia!.
There i! 4uch to indicate that the word o- the o--icia! and the word o- the
-ather! are the !a4e to Ka-3a. The !i4iarity doe! not redound to thi! wordK!
creditN it con!i!t! o- dune!!* decay* and dirt. The -atherK! uni-or4 i! !tained a
o)erN hi! underwear
$$B
+u4ination!
i! dirty. 7ith i! the ee4ent o- the o--icia!. DShe coud not under!tand why
there were o--ice hour! -or the "ubic in the -ir!t "ace. RTo get !o4e dirt on the
-ront !tairca!eKFthi! i! how her ?ue!tion wa! once an!wered by an o--icia* who
wa! "robaby=annoyed* but it 4ade a ot o- !en!e to her.E 2nceanne!! i! !o
4uch the attribute o- o--icia! that one coud a4o!t regard the4 a! enor4ou!
"ara!ite!. Thi!* o- cour!e* doe! not re-er to the econo4ic conteGt* but to the
-orce! o- rea!on and hu4anity -ro4 which thi! can 4a3e! a i)ing. +n the !a4e
way the -ather! in Ka-3aK! !trange -a4iie! batten on their !on!* ying on to" o-
the4 i3e giant "ara!ite!. They not ony "rey u"on their !trength* but gnaw away
at the !on!K right to eGi!t. The -ather! "uni!h* but they are at the !a4e ti4e the
accu!er!. The !in o- which they accu!e their !on! !ee4! to be a 3ind o- origina
!in. The de-inition o- it which Ka-3a ha! gi)en a""ie! to the !on! 4ore than to
anyone e!eN DOrigina !in* the od inCu!tice co44itted by 4an* con!i!t! in the
co4"aint uncea!ingy 4ade by 4an that he ha! been the )icti4 o- an inCu!tice*
the )icti4 o- origina !in.E But who is accu!ed o- thi! inherited !inFthe !in o-
ha)ing "roduced an heirFi- not the -ather by the !onJ Accordingy the !on
woud be the !inner. But one 4u!t not concude -ro4 Ka-3aK! de-inition that the
accu!ation i! !in-u becau!e it i! -a!e. Nowhere doe! Ka-3a !ay that it i! 4ade
wrong-uy. A ne)er=ending "roce!! i! at wor3 here* and no cau!e can a""ear in
a wor!e ight than the one -or which the -ather eni!t! the aid o- the!e o--icia!
and court o--ice!. A bounde!! corru"tibiity i! not their wor!t -eature* -or their
e!!ence i! !uch that their )enaity i! the ony ho"e hed out to the hu4an !"irit
-acing the4. The court!* to be !ure* ha)e awboo3! at their di!"o!a* but "eo"e
are not aowed to !ee the4* D+t i! characteri!tic o- thi! ega !y!te4*E conCecture!
K.* Dthat one i! !entenced not ony in innocence but a!o in ignorance.E 1aw! and
de-inite nor4! re4ain unwritten in the "rehi!toric word. A 4an can tran!gre!!
the4 without !u!"ecting it and thu! beco4e !ubCect to atone4ent. But no 4atter
how hard it 4ay hit the un!u!"ecting* the tran!gre!!ion in the !en!e o- the aw i!
not accidenta but -ated* a de!tiny which a""ear! here in a it! a4biguity. +n a
cur!ory in)e!tigation
$$<
7ranA Ka-3a
o- the idea o- -ate in anti?uity Her4ann Cohen ca4e to a Dconcu!ion that
beco4e! ine!ca"abeE@ Dthe )ery rue! o- -ate !ee4 to be what cau!e! and bring!
about the brea3ing away -ro4 the4* the de-ection.E +t i! the !a4e way with the
ega authoritie! who!e "roceeding! are directed again!t K. +t ta3e! u! bac3 -ar
beyond the ti4e o- the gi)ing o- the 1aw on twe)e tabet! to a "rehi!toric word*
written aw being one o- the -ir!t )ictorie! !cored o)er thi! word. +n Ka-3a the
written aw i! contained in boo3!* but the!e are !ecretN by ba!ing it!e- on the4
the "rehi!toric word eGert! it! rue a the 4ore ruthe!!y.
+n Ka-3aK! wor3!* the condition! in o--ice! and in -a4iie! ha)e 4uti-ariou!
"oint! o- contact. +n the )iage at the -oot o- Ca!te Hi "eo"e u!e an
iu4inating !aying. ^ RWe ha)e a !aying here that you 4ay be -a4iiar withN
O--icia deci!ion! are a! !hy a! young gir!.P RThatK! a !ound ob!er)ation*P !aid
K.* Ra !ound ob!er)ation. Deci!ion! 4ay ha)e e)en other characteri!tic! in co4=
4on with gir!.KQ The 4o!t re4ar3abe o- the!e ?uaitie! i! the wiingne!! to end
one!e- to anything* i3e the !hy gir! who4 K. 4eet! in The Castle and The
Trial, gir! who induge in un=cha!tity in the bo!o4 o- their -a4iy a! they woud
in a bed. He encounter! the4 at e)ery turnN the re!t gi)e hi4 a! itte troube a!
the con?ue!t o- the bar4aid. DThey e4braced each otherN her itte body burned
in K.K! hand!N in a !tate o- uncon!ciou!ne!! which K. tried to 4a!ter con!tanty
but -ruite!!y* they roed a itte way* hit Ka44K! door with a thud* and then
ay in the itte "udde! o- beer and the other re-u!e that ittered the -oor. Hour!
"a!!ed ... in which K. con!tanty had the -eeing that he wa! o!ing hi! way or
that he had wandered -arther than anyone had e)er wandered be-ore* to a "ace
where e)en the air had nothing in co44on with hi! nati)e air* where a thi!
!trangene!! 4ight cho3e one* yet a "ace !o in!aney enchanting that one coud
not he" but go on and o!e one!e- e)en -urther.E We !ha ha)e 4ore to !ay
about thi! !trange "ace. The re4ar3abe thing i! that the!e whorei3e wo4en
ne)er !ee4 to be beauti-u. Rather* beauty a""ear! in Ka-3aK! word ony in the
4o!t ob!cure "ace!Fa4ong the accu!ed "er!on!* -or eGa4"e. DThi!* to be !ure*
i! a !trange "heno4enon* a natura aw* a! it were. . . .
$$9
&ll!minations
+t cannot be guit that 4a3e! the4 attracti)e . . . nor can it be the Cu!t
"uni!h4ent which 4a3e! the4 attracti)e in antici"ation ... !o it 4u!t be the
4ere charge! brought again!t the4 that !o4ehow !how on the4.E
7ro4 The Trial it 4ay be !een that the!e "roceeding! u!uay are ho"ee!! -or
tho!e accu!ed=ho"ee!! e)en when they ha)e ho"e! o- being ac?uitted. +t 4ay be
thi! ho"ee!!ne!! that bring! out the beauty in the4Fthe ony creature! in Ka-3a
thu! -a)ored. At ea!t thi! woud be )ery 4uch in 3ee"ing with a con)er!ation
which 8aG Brod ha! reated. D+ re4e4ber*E Brod write!* Da con)er!ation with
Ka-3a which began with "re!ent=day Euro"e and the decine o- the hu4an race.
We are nihii!tic thought!* !uicida thought! that co4e into 5odK! head*K Ka-3a
!aid. Thi! re4inded 4e at -ir!t o- the 5no!tic )iew o- i-eN 5od a! the e)i
de4iurge* the word a! hi! 7a. Oh no*K !aid Ka-3a* Rour word i! ony a bad
4ood o- 5od* a bad day o- hi!.K RThen there i! ho"e out!ide thi! 4ani-e!tation o-
the word that we 3now.K He !4ied. ROh* "enty o- ho"e* an in-inite a4ount o-
ho"eFbut not -or u!.EK The!e word! "ro)ide a bridge to tho!e eGtre4ey !trange
-igure! in Ka-3a* the ony one! who ha)e e!ca"ed -ro4 the -a4iy circe and -or
who4 there 4ay be ho"e. The!e are not the ani4a!* not e)en tho!e hybrid! or
i4aginary creature! i3e the Cat 1a4b or Odrade3N they a !ti i)e under the
!"e o- the -a4iy. +t i! no accident that 5regor Sa4!a wa3e! u" a! a bug in hi!
"arenta ho4e and not !o4ewhere e!e* and that the "ecuiar ani4a which i! ha-
3itten* ha- a4b* i! inherited -ro4 the -atherN Odrade3 i3ewi!e i! the concern o-
the -ather o- the -a4iy. The Da!!i!tant!*E howe)er* are out!ide thi! circe.
The!e a!!i!tant! beong to a grou" o- -igure! which recur! through Ka-3aK!
entire wor3. Their tribe incude! the con-idence 4an who i! un4a!3ed in
D8editationEN the !tudent who a""ear! on the bacony at night a! Kar
Ro!!4annK! neighborN and the -oo! who i)e in that town in the !outh and ne)er
get tired. The twiight in which they eGi!t i! re4ini!cent o- the uncertain ight in
which the -igure! in the !hort "ro!e "iece! o- Robert Wa!er a""ear Hthe author
o- 0er Fehiil(e, The A!!i!tant* a no)e Ka-3a wa! )ery -ond o-I. +n +ndian
4ythoogy there are the
$$&
RranE ?a(ka
#an'harvas, cee!tia creature!* being! in an un-ini!hed !tate. Ka-3aK! a!!i!tant!
are o- that 3indN neither 4e4ber! o-* nor !tranger! to* any o- the other grou"! o-
-igure!* but* rather* 4e!!enger! -ro4 one to the other. Ka-3a te! u! that they
re!e4be Barnaba!* who i! a 4e!!enger. They ha)e not yet been co4"etey
reea!ed -ro4* the wo4b o- nature* and that i! why they ha)e D!etted down on
two od wo4enK! !3irt! on the -oor in a corner. +t wa! . . . their a4bition ... to
u!e u" a! itte !"ace a! "o!!ibe. To that end they 3e"t 4a3ing )ariou!
eG"eri4ent!* -oding their ar4! and eg!* hudding co!e togetherN in the dar3ne!!
a one coud !ee in their corner wa! one big baKP +t i! -or the4 and their 3ind*
the un-ini!hed and the bunger!* that there i! ho"eQ
What 4ay be di!cerned* !ubty and in-or4ay* in the acti)itie! o- the!e
4e!!enger! i! aw in an o""re!!i)e and goo4y way -or thi! whoe grou" o-
being!. None ha! a -ir4 "ace in the word* -ir4* inaienabe outine!. There i!
not one that i! not either ri!ing or -aing* none that i! not trading ?uaitie! with
it! ene4y or neighbor* none that ha! not co4"eted it! "eriod o- ti4e and yet i!
unri"e* none that i! not dee"y eGhau!ted and yet i! ony at the beginning o- a
ong eGi!tence. To !"ea3 o- any order or hierarchy i! i4"o!!ibe here. E)en the
word o- 4yth o- which we thin3 in thi! conteGt i! inco4"araby younger than
Ka-3aK! word* which ha! been "ro4i!ed rede4"tion by the 4yth. But i- we can
be !ure o- one thing* it i! thi!@ Ka-3a did not !uccu4b to it! te4"tation. A atter=
day 2y!!e!* he et the Siren! go by Dhi! gaAe which wa! -iGed on the di!tance*
the Siren! di!a""eared a! it were be-ore hi! deter4ination* and at the )ery
4o4ent when he wa! co!e!t to the4 he wa! no onger aware o- the4.E A4ong
Ka-3aK! ance!tor! in the ancient word* the (ew! and the Chine!e* who4 we !ha
encounter ater* thi! 5ree3 one !houd not be -orgotten* 2y!!e!* a-ter a* !tand!
at the di)iding ine between 4yth and -airy tae. Rea!on and cunning ha)e
in!erted tric3! into 4yth!N their -orce! cea!e to be in)incibe. 7airy tae! are the
traditiona !torie! about )ictory o)er the!e -orce!* and -airy tae! -or diaectician!
are what Ka-3a wrote when he went to wor3 on egend!. He in!erted itte tric3!
into the4N then he u!ed the4 a! "roo- Dthat inade?uate* e)en
Illuminations
chidi!h 4ea!ure! 4ay a!o !er)e to re!cue one.E With the!e word! he begin!
hi! !tory about the DSience o- the Siren!.E 7or Ka-3aK! Siren! are !ientN they
ha)e Dan e)en 4ore terribe wea"on than their !ong . . . their !ience.E Thi! they
u!ed on 2y!!e!. But he* !o Ka-3a te! u!* Dwa! !o -u o- guie* wa! !uch a -oG
that not e)en the godde!! o- -ate coud "ierce hi! ar4or. ,erha"! he had reay
noticed* athough here the hu4an under!tanding i! beyond it! de"th!* that the
Siren! were !ient* and o""o!ed the a-ore=4entioned "reten!e to the4 and the
god! 4erey a! a !ort o- !hied.E
Siren! are !ient. ,erha"! becau!e -or Ka-3a 4u!ic and !inging are an
eG"re!!ion or at ea!t a to3en o- e!ca"e* a to3en o- ho"e which co4e! to u! -ro4
that inter4ediate wordF at once un-ini!hed and co44on"ace* co4-orting and
!iyFin which the a!!i!tant! are at ho4e. Ka-3a i! i3e the ad who !et out to
earn what -ear wa!. He ha! got into ,ote43inK! "aace and -inay* in the de"th!
o- it! cear* ha! encountered (o!e"hine* the !inging 4ou!e* who!e tune he
de!cribe!@ DSo4ething o- our "oor* brie- chidhood i! in it* !o4ething o- o!t
ha""ine!! which can ne)er be -ound again* but a!o !o4ething o- acti)e "re!ent=
day i-e* o- it! !4a gaietie!* unaccountabe and yet rea and un?uenchabe.E
A CH+1DHOOD ,HOTO5RA,H
There i! a chidhood "hotogra"h o- Ka-3a* a rarey touching "ortraya o- the
D"oor* brie- chidhood*E +t wa! "robaby 4ade in one o- tho!e nineteenth=century
!tudio! who!e dra"erie! and "a4 tree!* ta"e!trie! and ea!e! "aced the4
!o4ewhere between a torture cha4ber and a throne roo4. At the age o- a""roGi=
4atey !iG the boy i! "re!ented in a !ort o- greenhou!e !etting* wearing a tight*
hea)iy ace=tri44ed* a4o!t e4barra!!ing chidK! !uit. ,a4 branche! oo4 in
the bac3ground. And a! i- to 4a3e the!e u"ho!tered tro"ic! !ti 4ore !utry and
!tic3y* the 4ode hod! in hi! e-t hand an o)er!iAed* wide=bri44ed hat o- the
ty"e worn by S"aniard!. +44en!ey !ad eye! do4inate the and=
$$'
7ranA Ka-3a
!ca"e "rearranged -or the4* and the aurice o- a big ear !ee4! to be i!tening
-or it! !ound!*
The ardent Dwi!h to beco4e a Red +ndianE 4ay ha)e con!u4ed thi! great
!adne!! at !o4e "oint. D+- one were ony an +ndian* in!tanty aert* and on a
racing hor!e* eaning again!t the wind* 3e"t on ?ui)ering brie-y o)er the
?ui)ering ground* unti one !hed oneK! !"ur!* -or there were no !"ur!* threw
away the rein!* -or there were no rein!* and barey !aw the and be-ore one a! a
!4oothy 4own heath* with the hor!eK! nec3 and head aready #one< A great
dea i! contained in thi! wi!h. +t! -u-i4ent* which he -ind! in A4erica* yied!
u" it! !ecret. That Atnerika i! a )ery !"ecia ca!e i! indicated by the na4e o- it!
hero. Whie in the earier no)e! the author ne)er addre!!ed hi4!e- otherwi!e
than with a 4u4bed initia* here he eG"erience! a rebirth on a new continent
with a -u na4e. He ha! thi! eG"erience in the Nature Theater o- O3aho4a. DAt
a !treet corner Kar !aw a "o!ter with the -oowing announce4entN The O3a=
ho4a Theater wi engage 4e4ber! -or it! co4"any today at Cayton Racetrac3
-ro4 & a.4P unti 4idnight. The great Theater o- O3aho4a ca! youM The one
and ony ca i! todayM +- you 4i!! your chance now* you 4i!! it -ore)erM +- you
thin3 o- your -uture* you !houd be one o- u!M E)eryone i! weco4eM +- you want
to be an arti!t* co4e -orwardM Our Theater can u!e e)eryone and -ind the right
"ace -or e)eryoneM +- you decide to Coin u!* we congratuate you here and nowM
But hurry* !o that you get in be-ore 4idnightM At twe)e oKcoc3 the door! wi
be !hut and ne)er o"ened againM A cur!e on tho!e who do not beie)e in u!M Set
out -or CaytonME The reader o- thi! announce4ent i! Kar Ro!!4ann* the third
and ha""ier incarnation o- K.* the hero o- Ka-3aK! no)e!. Ha""ine!! await! hi4
at the Nature Theater o- O3aho4a* which i! reay a racetrac3* Cu!t a!
Dunha""ine!!E had once be!et hi4 on the narrow rug in hi! roo4 on which he
ran about Da! on a racetrac3.E E)er !ince Ka-3a wrote hi! Dre-ection! -or
gente4an Coc3ey!*E e)er !ince he 4ade the Dnew attorneyE 4ount the cou3ou1
!te"!* i-ting hi! eg! high* with a tread that 4ade the 4arbe ring* e)er !ince he
4ade hi! Dchidren on a country roadE a4be through the
^%
+u4ination!
country!ide with arge !te"! and -oded ar4!* thi! -igure had been -a4iiar to
hi4N and e)en Kar Ro!!4ann* Ddi!tracted by hi! !ee"ine!!*E 4ay o-ten 4a3e
Dtoo high* ti4e=con!u4ing* and u!ee!! ea"!.E Thu! it can ony be a racetrac3 on
which he attain! the obCect o- hi! de!ire.
Thi! racetrac3 i! at the !a4e ti4e a theater* and thi! "o!e! a "uAAe. The
4y!teriou! "ace and the entirey un4y!teriou!* tran!"arent* "ure -igure o- Kar
Ro!!4ann are congruou!* howe)er. 7or Kar Ro!!4ann i! tran!"arent* "ure*
without character a! it were in the !a4e !en!e in which 7ranA Ro!enAweig !ay!
in hi! Dtar o( *e'em:tion that in China "eo"e* in their !"iritua a!"ect!* are Da!
it were de)oid o- indi)idua characterN the idea o- the wi!e 4an* o- which
Con-uciu! i! the ca!!ic incarnation* bur! any indi)iduaity o- character= he i!
the truy charactere!! 4an* na4ey* the a)erage 4an. . . . What di!tingui!he! a
Chine!e i! !o4ething ?uite di--erent -ro4 character@ a )ery ee4enta "urity o-
-eeing.E No 4atter how one 4ay con)ey it inteectuay* thi! "urity o- -eeing
4ay be a "articuary !en!iti)e 4ea!ure4ent o- ge!tic beha)iorN the Nature
Theater o- O3aho4a in any ca!e har3! bac3 to the Chine!e theater* which i! a
ge!tic theater. One o- the 4o!t !igni-icant -unction! o- thi! theater i! to di!!o)e
ha""ening! into their ge!tic co4"onent!. One can go e)en -urther and !ay that a
good nu4ber o- Ka-3aK! !horter !tudie! and !torie! are !een in their -u ight
ony when they are* !o to !"ea3* "ut on a! act! in the DNature Theater o-
O3aho4a.E Ony then wi one recogniAe with certainty that Ka-3aK! entire wor3
con!titute! a code o- ge!ture! which !urey had no de-inite !y4boic 4eaning -or
the author -ro4 the out!etN rather* the author tried to deri)e !uch a 4eaning -ro4
the4 in e)er=changing conteGt! and eG"eri4enta grou"ing!. The theater i! the
ogica "ace -or !uch grou"ing!. +n an un"ubi!hed co44entary on DA
7ratricide*E Werner Kra-t "erce"ti)ey identi-ied the e)ent! in thi! itte !tory a!
!cenic e)ent!. DThe "ay i! ready to begin* and it i! actuay announced by a be.
Thi! co4e! about in a )ery natura way. We!e ea)e! the buiding in which hi!
o--ice i! ocated. But thi! doorbe* !o we are eG"re!!y tod* i! Rtoo oud -or a
doorbeN it ring! out o)er the town and u" to
$./
RranE ?a(ka
hea)en.KQ (u!t a! thi! be* which i! too oud -or a doorbe* ring! out toward
hea)en* the ge!ture! o- Ka-3aK! -igure! are too "ower-u -or our accu!to4ed
!urrounding! and brea3 out into wider area!. The greater Ka-3aK! 4a!tery
beca4e* the 4ore -re?uenty did he e!chew ada"ting the!e ge!ture! to co44on
!ituation! or eG"aining the4. D+t i! !trange beha)ior*E we read in DThe
8eta4or"ho!i!*E Dto !it on the de!3 and ta3 down at the e4"oyee* who*
-urther4ore* 4u!t co4e ?uite co!e becau!e hi! bo!! i! hard o- hearing.E The
Trial ha! aready e-t !uch 4oti)ation! -ar behind. +n the "enuti4ate cha"ter* K.
!to"! at the -ir!t row! in the Cathedra* Dbut the "rie!t !ee4ed to con!ider the
di!tance !ti too greatN he !tretched out an ar4 and "ointed with hi! !har"y bent
-ore-inger to a !"ot right in -ront o- the "u"it. K. -oowed thi! direction tooN at
that "ace he had to bend hi! head -ar bac3 to !ee the "rie!t at a.E
8aG Brod ha! !aidN DThe word o- tho!e reaitie! that were i4"ortant -or hi4
wa! in)i!ibe.E What Ka-3a coud !ee ea!t o- a wa! the #est!s4 Each ge!ture i!
an e)entFone 4ight e)en !ay* a dra4aFin it!e-. The !tage on which thi! dra4a
ta3e! "ace i! the Word Theater which o"en! u" toward hea)en. On the other
hand* thi! hea)en i! ony bac3groundN to eG"ore it according to it! own aw!
woud be i3e -ra4ing the "ainted bac3dro" o- the !tage and hanging it in a
"icture gaery. 1i3e E 5reco* Ka-3a tear! o"en the !3y behind e)ery ge!tureN
but a! with E 5reco=who wa! the "atron !aint o- the EG"re!!ioni!t!=the ge!ture
re4ain! the deci!i)e thing* the center o- the e)ent. The "eo"e who ha)e a!!u4ed
re!"on!ibiity -or the 3noc3 at the 4anor gate wa3 doubed u" with -right. Thi! i!
how a Chine!e actor woud "ortray terror* but no one woud gi)e a !tart.
E!ewhere K. hi4!e- doe! a bit o- acting. Without being -uy con!ciou! o- it*
D!owy . . . with hi! eye! not oo3ing down but cautiou!y rai!ed u"ward! he
too3 one o- the "a"er! -ro4 the de!3* "ut it on the "a4 o- hi! hand and graduay
rai!ed it u" to the gente4en whie getting u" hi4!e-. He had nothing de-inite in
4ind* but acted ony with the -eeing that thi! wa! what he woud ha)e to do once
he had co4"eted the big "etition which wa! to eGonerate hi4 co4"etey.E Thi!
ani4a ge!ture co4bine! the ut4o!t
$.$
&ll!minations
4y!teriou!ne!! with the ut4o!t !i4"icity. +t i! "o!!ibe to read Ka-3aK! ani4a
!torie! -or ?uite a whie without reaiAing that they are not about hu4an being!
at a. When one encounter! the na4e o- the creatureF4on3ey* dog* 4oeFone
oo3! u" in -right and reaiAe! that one i! aready -ar away -ro4 the continent o-
4an. But it i! away! Ka-3aN he di)e!t! the hu4an ge!ture o- it! traditiona
!u""ort! and then ha! a !ubCect -or re-ection without end.
Strangey enough* the!e re-ection! are ende!! e)en when their "oint o-
de"arture i! one o- Ka-3aK! "hio!o"hica tae!. Ta3e* -or eGa4"e* the "arabe
DBe-ore the 1aw.E The reader who read it in A Co!ntr. 0o"tor 4ay ha)e been
!truc3 by the coudy !"ot in it. But woud it ha)e ed hi4 to the ne)er=ending
!erie! o- re-ection! traceabe to thi! "arabe at the "ace where Ka-3a underta3e!
to inter"ret itJ Thi! i! done by the "rie!t in The Trial, and at !uch a !igni-icant
4o4ent that it oo3! a! i- the no)e were nothing but the un-oding o- the
"arabe. The word Dun-odingKP ha! a doube 4eaning. A bud un-od! into a
bo!!o4* but the boat which one teache! chidren to 4a3e by -oding "a"er
un-od! into a -at !heet o- "a"er. Thi! !econd 3ind o- Dun-odingE i! -eay
a""ro"riate to the "arabeN it i! the readerK! "ea!ure to !4ooth it out !o that he
ha! the 4eaning on the "a4 o- hi! hand. Ka-3aK! "arabe!* howe)er* un-od in
the -ir!t !en!e* the way a bud turn! into a bo!!o4. That i! why their e--ect
re!e4be! "oetry. Thi! doe! not 4ean that hi! "ro!e "iece! beong entirey in the
tradition o- We!tern "ro!e -or4!N they ha)e* rather* a !i4iar reation!hi" to
doctrine a! the Haggadah doe! to the Haa3ah. They are not "arabe!* and yet
they do not want to be ta3en at their -ace )aueN they end the4!e)e! to
?uotation and can be tod -or "ur"o!e! o- cari-ication. But do we ha)e the
doctrine which Ka-3aK! "arabe! inter"ret and which K.K! "o!ture! and the
ge!ture! o- hi! ani4a! cari-yJ +t doe! not eGi!tN a we can !ay i! that here and
there we ha)e an au!ion to it. Ka-3a 4ight ha)e !aid that the!e are reic!
tran!4itting the doctrine* athough we coud regard the4 Cu!t a! we
8
6 cur!or!
"re"aring the doctrine. +n e)ery ca!e it i! a ?ue!tion o- how i-e and wor3 are
organiAed in hu4an !ociety. Thi! ?ue!=
$..
7ranA Ka-3a
tion increa!ingy occu"ied Ka-3a a! it beca4e i4"enetrabe to hi4. +-
Na"oeon* in hi! -a4ou! con)er!ation with 5oethe at Er-urt* !ub!tituted "oitic!
-or -ate* Ka-3a* in a )ariation o- thi! !tate4ent* coud ha)e de-ined organiAation
a! de!tiny. He -ace! it not ony in the eGten!i)e hierarchy o- o--iciado4 in The
Trial and The Castle, but e)en 4ore concretey in the di--icut and incacuabe
con!truction "an! who!e )enerabe 4ode he deat with in The Freat Wall o(
China4
DThe wa wa! to be a "rotection -or centurie!N accordingy* the 4o!t !cru"uou!
care in the con!truction* the a""ication o- the architectura wi!do4 o- a 3nown
age! and "eo"e!* a con!tant !en!e o- "er!ona re!"on!ibiity on the "art o- the
buider! were indi!"en!abe "rere?ui!ite! -or the wor3. To be !ure* -or the 4enia
ta!3! ignorant day aborer! -ro4 the "o"uace* 4en* wo4en* and chidren*
whoe)er o--ered hi! !er)ice! -or good 4oney* coud be u!edN but -or the
!u"er)i!ion e)en o- e)ery -our day aborer! a 4an trained in the buiding trade
wa! re?uired. . . . WeFand here + !"ea3 in the na4e o- 4any "eo"eFdid not
reay 3now our!e)e! unti we had care-uy !crutiniAed the decree! o- the high
co44andN then we di!co)ered that without thi! eader!hi" neither our boo3
earning nor our co44on !en!e woud ha)e !u--iced -or the hu4be ta!3! which
we "er-or4ed in the great whoe.E Thi! organiAation re!e4be! -ate. 8etchni3o--*
who ha! outined thi! in hi! -a4ou! boo3 +a Civilisation et les #ran's (le!ves
histori7!es HCi)iiAation and the 5reat Hi!torica Ri)er!I* u!e! anguage that
coud be Ka-3aK!. DThe cana! o- the YangtAe and the da4! o- the Yeow Ri)er*E
he write!* Dare in a i3eihood the re!ut o- the !3i-uy organiAed Coint abor o-
. . * generation!. The !ighte!t caree!!ne!! in the digging o- a ditch or the
buttre!!ing o- a da4* the ea!t bit o- negigence or !e-i!h beha)ior on the "art o- an
indi)idua or a grou" o- 4en in the 4aintenance o- the co44on hydrauic weath
beco4e!* under !uch unu!ua circu4!tance!* the !ource o- !ocia e)i! and -ar=
reaching !ocia caa4ity. Con!e?uenty* a i-e=gi)ing ri)er re?uire! on "ain o-
death a co!e and "er4anent !oidarity between grou"! o- "eo"e that -re?uenty
are aien or e)en ho!tie to one anotherN it !entence! e)eryone to abor! who!e
co44on u!e-uy
Ill*minati+n)
ne!! i! re)eaed ony by ti4e and who!e de!ign ?uite o-ten re4ain! uttery
inco4"rehen!ibe to an ordinary 4an.E
Ka-3a wi!hed to be nu4bered a4ong ordinary 4en. He wa! "u!hed to the
i4it! o- under!tanding at e)ery turn* and he i3ed to "u!h other! to the4 a!
we. At ti4e! he !ee4! to co4e co!e to !aying with Do!toe)!3yK! 5rand
+n?ui!itorN DSo we ha)e be-ore u! a 4y!tery which we cannot co4"rehend. And
"reci!ey becau!e it i! a 4y!tery we ha)e had the right to "reach it* to teach the
"eo"e that what 4atter! i! neither -reedo4 nor o)e* but the ridde* the !ecret*
the 4y!tery to which they ha)e to bowFwithout re-ection and e)en again!t
their con!cience.E Ka-3a did not away! e)ade the te4"tation! o- 4y!tici!4.
There i! a diary entry concerning hi! encounter with Rudo- SteinerN in it!
"ubi!hed -or4 at ea!t it doe! not re-ect Ka-3aK! attitude toward hi4. Did he
a)oid ta3ing a !tandJ Hi! way with hi! own writing! certainy doe! not eGcude
thi! "o!!ibiity. Ka-3a had a rare ca"acity -or creating "arabe! -or hi4!e-. Yet
hi! "arabe! are ne)er eGhau!ted by what i! eG"ainabeN on the contrary* he too3
a concei)abe "recaution! again!t the inter"retation o- hi! writing!. One ha! to
-ind oneK! way in the4 circu4!"ecty* cautiou!y* and wariy. One 4u!t 3ee" in
4ind Ka-3aK! way o- reading a! eGe4"i-ied in hi! inter"retation o- the abo)e=
4entioned "arabe. Hi! te!ta4ent i! another ca!e in "oint. 5i)en it! bac3ground*
the directi)e in which Ka-3a ordered the de!truction o- hi! iterary re4ain! i!
Cu!t a! un-atho4abe* to be weighed Cu!t a! care-uy a! the an!wer! o- the
door3ee"er be-ore the aw. ,erha"! Ka-3a* who!e e)ery day on earth brought hi4
u" again!t in!oube beha)ior "robe4! and undeci"herabe co44unication!* in
death wi!hed to gi)e hi! conte4"orarie! a ta!te o- their own 4edicine.
Ka-3aK! word i! a word theater. 7or hi4* 4an i! on the !tage -ro4 the )ery
beginning. The "roo- o- the "udding i! the -act that e)eryone i! acce"ted by the
Nature Theater o- O3aho4a. What the !tandard! -or ad4i!!ion are cannot be
deter4ined. Dra4atic taent* the 4o!t ob)iou! criterion* !ee4! to be o- no
i4"ortance. But thi! can be eG"re!!ed in another way@ a that i! eG"ected o- the
a""icant! i! the abiity to "ay the4!e)e!. +t i!
$.<
RranE ?a(ka
no onger within the rea4 o- "o!!ibiity that they coud* i- nece!!ary* be what
they cai4 to be. With their roe! the!e "eo"e oo3 -or a "o!ition in the Nature
Theater Cu!t a! ,irandeoK! !iG character! !ought an author. 7or a o- the4 thi!
"ace i! the a!t re-uge* which doe! not "recude it -ro4 being their !a)ation.
Sa)ation i! not a "re4iu4 on eGi!tence* but the a!t way out -or a 4an who!e
"ath* a! Ka-3a "ut! it* i! Dboc3ed ... by hi! own -ronta bone.E The aw o- thi!
theater i! contained in a !entence tuc3ed away in DA Re"ort to an Acade4yE@ D+
i4itated "eo"e becau!e + wa! oo3ing -or a way out* and -or no other rea!on.E
Be-ore the end o- hi! tria* K. !ee4! to ha)e an inti4ation o- the!e thing!. He
!uddeny turn! to the two gente4en wearing to" hat! who ha)e co4e -or hi4
and a!3! the4@ ^ RWhat theater are you "aying atJK RTheaterJK a!3ed one* the
corner! o- hi! 4outh twitching a! he oo3ed -or ad)ice to the other* who acted a!
i- he were a 4ute !trugging to o)erco4e a !tubborn di!abiity.E The 4en do not
an!wer thi! ?ue!tion* but there i! 4uch to indicate that it ha! hit ho4e.
At a ong bench which ha! been co)ered with a white coth a tho!e who wi
hence-orth be with the Nature Theater are -ed. DThey were a ha""y and
eGcited.E By way o- ceebration* eGtra! act a! ange!. They !tand on high
"ede!ta! that are co)ered with -owing rai4ent! and ha)e !tair! in!ideFthe
4a3ing! o- a country church -air* or 4aybe a chidrenK! -e!ti)a* which 4ay ha)e
ei4inated the !adne!! -ro4 the eye! o- the tighty aced* dre!!ed=u" boy we
di!cu!!ed abo)e. But -or the -act that their wing! are tied on* the!e ange! 4ight
be rea. They ha)e -orerunner! in Ka-3aK! wor3!. One o- the4 i! the i4"re!ario
who ci4b! u" on the uggage rac3 neGt to the tra"eAe arti!t be!et by hi! D-ir!t
!orrow*E care!!e! hi4 and "re!!e! hi! -ace again!t the arti!tK!* ^!o that he wa!
bathed by the tra"eAe arti!tK! tear!.E Another* a guardian ange or guardian o- the
aw* ta3e! care o- Sch4ar the 4urderer -oowing the D-ratricideE and ead! hi4
away* !te""ing ighty* with Sch4arK! D4outh "re!!ed again!t the "oice4anK!
!houder.E Ka-3aK! Amerika end! with the ru!tic cere4onie! o- O3aho4a. D+n
Ka-3a*E !aid So4a 8orgen=!tern* Dthere i! the air o- a )iage* a! with a great
-ounder! o-
$.Z
&ll!minations
reigion!.E 1ao=t!eK! "re!entation o- "iou!ne!! i! a the 4ore "ertinent here
becau!e Ka-3a ha! !u""ied it! 4o!t "er-ect de!cri"tion in DThe NeGt 6iage.E
DNeighboring countrie! 4ay be within !ight* !o that the !ound! o- roo!ter! and
dog! 4ay be heard in the di!tance. And yet "eo"e are !aid to die at a ri"e od age
without ha)ing tra)eed -ar.E Thu! 1ao=t!e. Ka-3a wa! a writer o- "arabe!* but
he did not -ound a reigion.
1et u! con!ider the )iage at the -oot o- Ca!te Hi whence K.P! aeged
e4"oy4ent a! a and !ur)eyor i! !o 4y!teriou!y and uneG"ectedy con-ir4ed.
+n hi! ,o!t!cri"t to The Castle Brod 4entioned that in de"icting thi! )iage at the
-oot o- Ca!te Hi Ka-3a had in 4ind a !"eci-ic "ace* [tirau in the ErA 5ebirge.
We 4ay* howe)er* a!o recogniAe another )iage in it. +t i! the )iage in a
Ta4udic egend tod by a rabbi in an!wer to the ?ue!tion why (ew! "re"are a
-e!ti)e e)ening 4ea on 7riday!. The egend i! about a "rince!! angui!hing in
eGie* in a )iage who!e anguage !he doe! not under!tand* -ar -ro4 her co4"a=
triot!. One day thi! "rince!! recei)e! a etter !aying that her -iance ha! not
-orgotten her and i! on hi! way to her. The -iance* !o !ay! the rabbi* i! the
8e!!iahN the "rince!! i! the !ouN the )iage in which !he i)e! in eGie i! the
body. She "re"are! a 4ea -or hi4 becau!e thi! i! the ony way in which !he can
eG"re!! her Coy in a )iage who!e anguage !he doe! not 3now. Thi! )iage o-
the Ta4ud i! right in Ka-3aK! word. 7or Cu!t a! K. i)e! in the )iage on Ca!te
Hi* 4odern 4an i)e! in hi! bodyN the body !i"! away -ro4 hi4* i! ho!tie
toward hi4. +t 4ay ha""en that a 4an wa3e! u" one day and -ind! hi4!e-
tran!-or4ed into )er4in. EGieFhi! eGieFha! gained contro o)er hi4. The air o-
thi! )iage bow! about Ka-3a* and that i! why he wa! not te4"ted to -ound a
reigion. The "ig!ty which hou!e! the country doctorK! hor!e!N the !tu--y bac3
roo4 in which Ka44* a cigar in hi! 4outh* !it! o)er a ga!! o- beerN the 4anor
gate* to 3noc3 again!t which bring! ruinFa theie are "art o- thi! )iage. The air
in thi! )iage i! not -ree o- a the aborti)e and o)erri"e ee4ent! that -or4 !uch
a "utrid 4iGture. Thi! i! the air that Ka-3a had to breathe a hi! i-e. He wa!
neither 4antic nor the -ounder o- a reigion. How wa! he abe to !ur)i)e in thi!
airJ
$.&
7ranA Ka-3a
THE 1+TT1E H2NCHBACK
So4e ti4e ago it beca4e 3nown that Knut Ha4!un wa! in the habit o-
eG"re!!ing hi! )iew! in an occa!iona etter to the editor o- the oca "a"er in the
!4a town near which he i)ed. Year! ago that town wa! the !cene o- the Cury
tria o- a 4aid who had 3ied her in-ant chid. She wa! !entenced to a "ri!on
ter4. Soon therea-ter the oca "a"er "rinted a etter -ro4 Ha4!un in which he
announced hi! intention o- ea)ing a town which did not )i!it the !u"re4e
"uni!h4ent on a 4other who 3ied her newborn chidFthe gaow!* or at ea!t a
i-e ter4 o- hard abor. A -ew year! "a!!ed. Fro3th o( the Doil a""eared* and it
contained the !tory o- a 4aid who co44itted the !a4e cri4e* !u--ered the !a4e
"uni!h4ent* and* a! i! 4ade cear to the reader* !urey de!er)ed no 4ore !e)ere
one.
Ka-3aK! "o!thu4ou! re-ection!* which are contained in The Freat Wall o(
China, reca thi! to 4ind. Hardy had thi! )ou4e a""eared when the re-ection!
!er)ed a! the ba!i! -or a Ka-3a critici!4 which concentrated on an inter"retation
o- the!e re-ection! to the negect o- hi! rea wor3!. There are two way! to 4i!!
the "oint o- Ka-3aK! wor3!. One i! to inter"ret the4 naturay* the other i! the
!u"ernatura inter"retation. Both the "!ychoanaytic and the theoogica
inter"retation! e?uay 4i!! the e!!entia "oint!. The -ir!t 3ind i! re"re!ented by
Hernuth Kai!erN the !econd* by nu4erou! writer!* !uch a! H. (. Schoe"!* Bern=
hard Rang* and Be4hard 5roethuy!en. To the!e a!t a!o beong! Wiy Haa!*
athough he ha! 4ade re)eaing co44ent! on Ka-3a in other conteGt! which we
!ha di!cu!! aterN !uch in!ight! did not "re)ent hi4 -ro4 inter"reting Ka-3aK!
wor3 a-ter a theoogica "attern. DThe "ower! abo)e* the rea4 o- grace*E !o
Haa! write!* DKa-3a ha! de"icted in hi! great no)e The CastleM the "ower!
beow* the rea4 o- the court! and o- da4nation* he ha! deat with in hi! e?uay
great no)e The Trial4 The earth between the two* earthy -ate and it! arduou!
de4and!* he atte4"ted to "re!ent in !tricty !tyiAed -or4 in a third no)e*
AmerikaT The -ir!t third o- thi! inter"retation ha!* !ince Brod* beco4e the
co44on "ro"erty o- Ka-3a critici!4. Bernhard Rang
$.(
Ill*minati+n)
write! in a !i4iar )ein@ DTo the eGtent that one 4ay regard the Ca!te a! the
!eat o- grace* "reci!ey the!e )ain e--ort! and atte4"t! 4ean* theoogicay
!"ea3ing* that 5odK! grace cannot be attained or -orced by 4an at wi and
deiberatey. 2nre!t and i4"atience ony i4"ede and con-ound the eGated
!tine!! o- the di)ine.E Thi! inter"retation i! a con)enient oneN but the -urther it
i! carried* the cearer it beco4e! that it i! untenabe. Thi! i! "erha"! !een 4o!t
ceary in a !tate4ent by Wiy Haa!. DKa-3a goe! bac3 ... to Kier3egaard a! we
a! to ,a!caN one 4ay ca hi4 the ony egiti4ate heir o- the!e two. +n a three
there i! an eGcruciatingy har!h ba!ic reigiou! the4e@ 4an i! away! in the wrong
be-ore 5od... . Ka-3aK! u""er word* hi! !o=caed Ca!te* with it! i44en!e*
co4"eG !ta-- o- "etty and rather echerou! o--icia!* hi! !trange hea)en "ay! a
horribe ga4e with "eo"e ... and yet 4an i! )ery 4uch in the wrong e)en be-ore
thi! god.E Thi! theoogy -a! -ar behind the doctrine o- Cu!ti-ication o- St*
An!e4 o- Canterbury into barbaric !"ecuation! which do not e)en !ee4
con!i!tent with the teGt o- Ka-3aK! wor3!. DCan an indi)idua o--icia -orgi)eJE
we read in The Castle4 RThi! coud ony be a 4atter -or the o)er=a authoritie!*
but e)en they can "robaby not -orgi)e but ony Cudge.E Thi! road ha! !oon ed
into a bind aey. DA thi!*E !ay! Deni! de Rouge4ont* Di! not the wretched
!ituation o- 4an without a god* but the wretched !tate o- a 4an who i! bound to
a god he doe! not 3now* becau!e he doe! not 3now Chri!t.E
+t i! ea!ier to draw !"ecuati)e concu!ion! -ro4 Ka-3aK! "o!thu4ou!
coection o- note! than to eG"ore e)en one o- the 4oti-! that a""ear in hi!
!torie! and no)e!. Yet ony the!e gi)e !o4e cue to the "rehi!toric -orce! that
do4inated Ka-3aK! crea=ti)ene!!* -orce! which* to be !ure* 4ay Cu!ti-iaby be
regarded a! beonging to our word a! we. Who can !ay under what na4e! they
a""eared to Ka-3a hi4!e-J Ony thi! 4uch i! certain@ he did not 3now the4 and
-aied to get hi! bearing! a4ong the4. +n the 4irror which the "rehi!toric word
hed be-ore hi4 in the -or4 o- guit he 4erey !aw the -uture e4erging in the
-or4 o- Cudg4ent. Ka-3a* howe)er* did not !ay what it wa! i3e. Wa! it not the
1a!t (udg4entJ Doe! it not turn the Cudge into the
$.'
RranE ?a(ka
de-endantJ +! the tria not the "uni!h4entJ Ka-3a ga)e no an!wer. Did he
eG"ect anything o- thi! "uni!h4entJ Or wa! he not rather concerned to "o!t"one
itJ +n the !torie! which Ka-3a e-t u!* narrati)e art regain! the !igni-icance it had
in the 4outh o- ScheheraAade@ to "o!t"one the -uture. +n The Trial "o!t"one4ent
i! the ho"e o- the accu!ed 4an ony i- the "roceeding! do not graduay turn into
the Cudg4ent. The "atriarch hi4!e- i! to bene-it by "o!t"one4ent* e)en though
he 4ay ha)e to trade hi! "ace in tradition -or it. D+ coud concei)e o- another
Abraha4Fto be !ure* he woud ne)er get to be a "atriarch or e)en an od=cothe!
deaerF* an Abraha4 who woud be "re"ared to !ati!-y the de4and -or a
!acri-ice i44ediatey* with the "ro4"tne!! o- a waiter* but woud be unabe to
bring it o-- becau!e he cannot get away* being indi!"en!abeN the hou!ehod need!
hi4* there i! away! !o4ething or other to ta3e care o-* the hou!e i! ne)er readyN
but without ha)ing hi! hou!e ready* without ha)ing !o4ething to -a bac3 on* he
cannot ea)eFthi! the Bibe a!o reaiAed* -or it !ay!@ RHe !et hi! hou!e in order.K
^
Thi! Abraha4 a""ear! Dwith the "ro4"tne!! o- a waiter.E Ka-3a coud
under!tand thing! ony in the -or4 o- a #est!s, and thi! #est!s which he did not
under!tand con!titute! the coudy "art o- the "arabe!. Ka-3aK! writing! e4anate
-ro4 it. The way he withhed the4 i! we 3nown. Hi! te!ta4ent order! their de=
!truction. Thi! docu4ent* which no one intere!ted in Ka-3a can di!regard* !ay!
that the writing! did not !ati!-y their author* that he regarded hi! e--ort! a!
-aiure!* that he counted hi4!e- a4ong tho!e who were bound to -ai. He did -ai
in hi! grandio!e atte4"t to con)ert "oetry into doctrine* to turn it into a "arabe
and re!tore to it that !tabiity and un"retentiou!ne!! which* in the -ace o- rea!on*
!ee4ed to hi4 to be the ony a""ro"riate thing -or it. No other writer ha! obeyed
the co44and4ent DThou !hat not 4a3e unto thee * gra)eWi4ageQ !o -aith-uy.
D+t wa! a! i- the !ha4e o- it wa! to outi)e hi4.E With the!e word! The Trial
end!. Corre!"onding a! it doe! to hi! Dee4enta "urity o- -eeing*E !ha4e i!
Ka-3aK! !tronge!t ge!ture. +t ha! a dua a!"ect* howe)er. Sha4e i! an inti4ate
hu4an reaction* but at the !a4e ti4e it ha! !ocia "reten!ion!. Sha4e i! not ony
!ha4e
$.%
&ll!minations
in the "re!ence o- other!* but can a!o be !ha4e one -ee! -or the4. Ka-3aK!
!ha4e* then* i! no 4ore "er!ona than the i-e and thought which go)ern it and
which he .ha! de!cribed thu!@ DHe doe! not i)e -or the !a3e o- hi! own i-e* he
doe! not thin3 -or the !a3e o- hi! own thought. He -ee! a! though he were i)ing
and thin3ing under the con!traint o- a -a4iy. . . . Becau!e o- thi! un3nown
-a4iy ... he cannot be reea!ed.E We do not 3now the 4a3e=u" o- thi! un3nown
-a4iy* which i! co4"o!ed o- hu4an being! and ani4a!. But thi! 4uch i! cear@
it i! thi! -a4iy that -orce! Ka-3a to 4o)e co!4ic age! in hi! writing!. Doing thi!
-a4iyK! bidding* he 4o)e! the 4a!! o- hi!torica ha""ening! a! Si!y"hu! roed
the !tone. A! he doe! !o* it! nether !ide co4e! to ightN it i! not a "ea!ant !ight*
but Ka-3a i! ca"abe o- bearing it. DTo beie)e in "rogre!! i! not to beie)e that
"rogre!! ha! aready ta3en "aceQ That woud be no beie-.E Ka-3a did not
con!ider the age in which he i)ed a! an ad)ance o)er the beginning! o- ti4e. Hi!
no)e! are !et in a !wa4" word. +n hi! wor3!* created thing! a""ear at the !tage
which Bacho-en ha! ter4ed the hetaeric !tage. The -act that it i! now -orgotten
doe! not 4ean that it doe! not eGtend into the "re!ent. On the contrary@ it i!
actua by )irtue o- thi! )ery obi)ion. An eG"erience dee"er than that o- an
a)erage "er!on can 4a3e contact with it. D+ ha)e eG"erience*E we read in one o-
Ka-3aK! earie!t note!* Dand + a4 not Co3ing when + !ay that it i! a !ea!ic3ne!! on
dry and.E +t i! no accident that the -ir!t D8editationE wa! 4ade on a !wing. And
Ka-3a doe! not tire o- eG"re!!ing hi4!e- on the -uctuating nature o- eG"erience!.
Each gi)e! way and 4inge! with it! o""o!ite. D+t wa! !u44er* a hot day*E !o
begin! DThe Knoc3 at the 8anor 5ate.E DWith 4y !i!ter + wa! "a!!ing the gate
o- a great hou!e on our way ho4e. + donKt re4e4ber whether !he 3noc3ed on
the gate out o- 4i!chie- or in a -it o- ab!ent=4indedne!!* or 4erey !hoo3 her -i!t
at it and did not 3noc3 at a.E The )ery "o!!ibiity o- the third aternati)e "ut!
the other two* which at -ir!t !ee4ed har4e!!* in a di--erent ight. +t i! -ro4 the
!wa4"y !oi o- !uch eG"erience! that Ka-3aK! -e4ae character! ri!e. They are
!wa4" creature! i3e 1eni* Dwho !tretche! out the 4idde and ring -inger! o- her
right hand between which the connecting
$B/
RranE ?a(ka
web o- !3in reached a4o!t to the to" Coint* !hort a! the -inger! were.E D7ine
ti4e!WK !o the a4bi)aent 7rieda re4ini!ce! about her earier i-eN Dyou ne)er
a!3ed 4e about 4y "a!t.E Thi! "a!t ta3e! u! bac3 to the dar3* dee" wo4b* the
!cene o- the 4ating Dwho!e untra44eed )ou"tuou!ne!!*E to ?uote Bacho-en*
Di! hate-u to the "ure -orce! o- hea)eny ight and which Cu!ti-ie! the ter4 u!ed
by Arnobiu!* l!teae vol!:tates Hdirty )ou"tuou!ne!!I.E
Ony -ro4 thi! )antage "oint can the techni?ue o- Ka-3a the !toryteer be
co4"rehended. Whene)er -igure! in the no)e! ha)e anything to !ay to K.* no
4atter how i4"ortant or !ur"ri!ing it 4ay be* they do !o ca!uay and with the
i4"ication that he 4u!t reay ha)e 3nown it a aong. +t i! a! though nothing
new wa! being i4"arted* a! though the hero wa! Cu!t being !ubty in)ited to reca
to 4ind !o4ething that he had -orgotten. Thi! i! how Wiy Haa! ha! inter"reted
the cour!e o- e)ent! in The Trials and Cu!ti-iaby !o. DThe obCect o- the tria*E he
write!* Dindeed* the rea hero o- thi! incredibe boo3 i! -orgetting* who!e 4ain
characteri!tic i! the -orgetting o- it!e-. . . . Here it ha! actuay beco4e a 4ute
-igure in the !ha"e o- the accu!ed 4an* a -igure o- the 4o!t !tri3ing inten!ity.E +t
"robaby cannot be denied that Dthi! 4y!teriou! center . * . deri)e! -ro4 the
(ewi!h reigion.E D8e4ory "ay! a )ery 4y!teriou! roe a! "iou!ne!!. +t i! not an
ordinary* but... the 4o!t "ro-ound ?uaity o- (eho)ah that he re4e4ber!* that he
retain! an in-aibe 4e4ory Rto the third and -ourth* e)en to the hundredth
generation.K The 4o!t !acred ... act o- the . . . ritua i! the era!ing o- !in! -ro4 the
boo3 o- 4e4ory.E
What ha! been -orgottenFand thi! in!ight a--ord! u! yet another a)enue o-
acce!! to Ka-3aK! wor3Fi! ne)er !o4ething "urey indi)idua. E)erything
-orgotten 4inge! with what ha! been -orgotten o- the "rehi!toric word* -or4!
counte!!* uncertain* changing co4"ound!* yieding a con!tant -ow o- new*
!trange "roduct!. Obi)ion i! the container -ro4 which the ineGhau!tibe
inter4ediate word in Ka-3aK! !torie! "re!!e! toward the ight. DHere the )ery
-une!! o- the word i! con!idered a! the ony reaity. A !"irit 4u!t be concrete*
"articuariAed in order
Fran6 'af7a
to ha)e it! "ace and raison '6etre4 The !"iritua* i- it "ay! a roe at a* turn!
into !"irit!. The!e !"irit! beco4e de-inite indi)idua!* with na4e! and a )ery
!"ecia connection with the na4e o- the wor!hi"er. . . . Without any !cru"e!
their -une!! i! cra44ed into the -une!! o- the word.... The crowd o- !"irit! i!
!weed without any concern . . . new one! are con!tanty added to the od one!*
and a are di!tingui!hed -ro4 the other! by their own na4e!.E A thi! doe! not
re-er to Ka-3a* but toFChina. Thi! i! how 7ranA Ro!enAweig de!cribe! the
Chine!e ance!tor cut in hi! Dtar o( *e'em:tion4 To Ka-3a* the word o- hi!
ance!tor! wa! a! un-atho4abe a! the word o- reaitie! wa! i4"ortant -or hi4*
and* we 4ay be !ure that* i3e the tote4 "oe! o- "ri4iti)e "eo"e!* the word o-
ance!tor! too3 hi4 down to the ani4a!. +ncidentay* Ka-3a i! not the ony
writer -or who4 ani4a! are the rece"tace! o- the -orgotten. +n Tiee3K!
"ro-ound !tory D7air Ec3bert*E the -orgotten na4e o- a itte dog* Stroh4i* !tand!
-or a 4y!teriou! guit. One can under!tand* then* that Ka-3a did not tire o-
"ic3ing u" the -orgotten -ro4 ani4a!. They are not the goa* to be !ure* but one
cannot do without the4. A ca!e in "oint i! the Dhunger arti!tKQ who* D!tricty
!"ea3ing* wa! ony an i4"edi4ent on the way to the 4enagerie.E Can one not
!ee the ani4a! in DThe BurrowE or DThe 5iant 8oeE "onder a! they dig inJ
And yet thi! thin3ing i! eGtre4ey -ighty. +rre!outey it -it! -ro4 one worry to
the neGt* it nibbe! at e)ery anGiety with the -ic3ene!! o- de!"air. Thu! there are
butter-ie! in Ka-3a* too. The guit=ridden DHunter 5racchu!*E who re-u!e! to ac=
3nowedge hi! guit* Dha! turned into a butter-y.E DDonKt augh*E !ay! the hunter
5racchu!. Thi! 4uch i! certain@ o- a o- Ka-3aK! creature!* the ani4a! ha)e the
greate!t o""ortunity -or re-ec=tion. What corru"tion i! in the aw* anGiety i! in
their thin3ing. +t 4e!!e! a !ituation u"* yet it i! the ony ho"e-u thing about it.
Howe)er* becau!e the 4o!t -orgotten aien and i! oneK! own body* one can
under!tand why Ka-3a caed the cough that eru"ted -ro4 within hi4 Dthe
ani4a.E +t wa! the 4o!t ad)anced out"o!t o- the great herd.
The !trange!t ba!tard which the "rehi!toric word ha! begotten with guit in
Ka-3a i! Odrade3 Hin DThe Care! o- a 7a4iy
$B.
RranE ?a(ka
8anEI. DAt -ir!t !ight it oo3! i3e a -at* !tar=!ha"ed !"oo -or thread* and it
reay !ee4! to ha)e thread wound around itN to be !ure* they "robaby are ony
od* bro3en=o-- bit! o- thread that are 3notted and tanged together* o- a !ort!
and coor!. But it i! not Cu!t a !"oo* -or a !4a wooden cro!!=bar !tic3! out o-
the 4idde o- the !tar* and another !4a rod i! Coined to it at a right ange. With
the aid o- thi! atter rod on one !ide and one o- the eGten!ion! o- the !tar on the
other* the whoe thing can !tand u"right a! i- on two eg!.E Odrade3 D!tay!
aternatey in the attic* on the !tairca!e* in the corridor!* and in the ha.E So it
"re-er! the !a4e "ace! a! the court o- aw which in)e!tigate! guit. Attic! are the
"ace! o- di!carded* -orgotten obCect!. ,erha"! the nece!!ity to a""ear be-ore a
court o- Cu!tice gi)e! ri!e to a -eeing !i4iar to that with which one a""roache!
trun3! in the attic which ha)e been oc3ed u" -or year!. One woud i3e to "ut o--
thi! chore ti the end o- ti4e* Cu!t a! K. regard! hi! written de-en!e a! !uitabe
D-or occu"ying oneK! !enie 4ind !o4e day during retire4ent.E
Odrade3 i! the -or4 which thing! a!!u4e in obi)ion. They are di!torted. The
Dcare! o- a -a4iy 4an*E which no one can identi-y* are di!tortedN the bug* o-
which we 3now a too we that it re"re!ent! 5regor Sa4!a* i! di!tortedN the big
ani4a* ha- a4b* ha- 3itten* -or which Dthe butcherK! 3ni-eE 4ight be Da
reea!e*E i! di!torted. The!e Ka-3a -igure! are connected by a ong !erie! o-
-igure! with the "rototy"e o- di!tortion* the hunchbac3. A4ong the i4age! in
Ka-3aK! !torie!* none i! 4ore -re?uent than that o- the 4an who bow! hi! head -ar
down on hi! che!t@ the -atigue o- the court o--icia!* the noi!e a--ecting the
door4en in the hote* the ow ceiing -acing the )i!itor! in the gaery. +n the
5enal Colon. tho!e in "ower u!e an archaic a""aratu! which engra)e! etter! with
curicue! on the bac3! o- guity 4en* 4uti"ying the !tab! and "iing u" the
orna4ent! to the "oint where the bac3 o- the guity 4an beco4e! cair)oyant and
i! abe to deci"her the writing -ro4 which he 4u!t deri)e the nature o- hi!
un3nown guit. +t i! the bac3 on which thi! i! incu4bent. +t wa! away! thi! way
with Ka-3a. Co4"are thi! eary diary entry@ ^+n order to be a! hea)y a! "o!!ibe*
which + beie)e to be an aid
4
+u4ination!
to -aing a!ee"* + had cro!!ed 4y ar4! and "ut 4y hand! on 4y !houder!* !o
that + ay there i3e a !odier with hi! "ac3.E _uite "a"aby* being oaded down
i! here e?uated with -orgetting* the -orgetting o- a !ee"ing 4an. The !a4e
!y4bo occur! in the -o3!ong DThe 1itte Hunchbac3.E Thi! itte 4an i! at
ho4e in di!torted i-eN he wi di!a""ear with the co4ing o- the 8e!!iah* o-
who4 a great rabbi once !aid that he did not wi!h to change the word by -orce*
but woud ony 4a3e a !ight adCu!t4ent in it.
When i co4e into 4y roo4* 8y itte bed to 4a3e* A itde hunchbac3 i! in there*
With aughter doe! he !ha3e.
Thi! i! the aughter o- Odrade3* which i! de!cribed a! !ounding D!o4ething
i3e the ru!ting in -aing ea)e!.E
When + 3nee u"on 4y !too
And + want to "ray*
A hunchbac3ed 4an i! in the roo4
And he !tart! to !ay@
8y dear chid* + beg o- you*
,ray -or the itte hunchbac3 too.
So end! the -o3!ong. +n hi! de"th Ka-3a touche! the ground which neither
D4ythica di)inationE nor DeGi!tentia theoogyE !u""ied hi4 with. +t i! the core
o- -o3 tradition* the 5er4an a! we a! the (ewi!h. E)en i- Ka-3a did not "rayF
and thi! we do not 3nowFhe !ti "o!!e!!ed in the highe!t degree what 8ae=
branche caed Dthe natura "rayer o- the !ouE@ attenti)ene!!. And in thi!
attenti)ene!! he incuded a i)ing creature!* a! !aint! incude the4 in their
"rayer!.
SANCHO ,AN[A
+n a Ha!idic )iage* !o the !tory goe!* (ew! were !itting together in a !habby
inn one Sabbath e)ening. They were a oca "eo"e* with the eGce"tion o- one
"er!on no one 3new* a )ery "oor* ragged 4an who wa! !?uatting in a dar3
corner at the bac3
$B<
7ranA Ka-3a
o- the roo4. A !ort! o- thing! were di!cu!!ed* and then it wa! !ugge!ted that
e)eryone !houd te what wi!h he woud 4a3e i- one were granted hi4. One
4an wanted 4oneyN another wi!hed -or a !on=in=awN a third drea4ed o- a new
car"enterK! benchN and !o e)eryone !"o3e in turn. A-ter they had -ini!hed* ony
the beggar in hi! dar3 corner wa! e-t. Reuctanty and he!itanty he an!wered the
?ue!tion. D+ wi!h + were a "ower-u 3ing reigning o)er a big country. Then* !o4e
night whie + wa! a!ee" in 4y "aace* an ene4y woud in)ade 4y country* and
by dawn hi! hor!e4en woud "enetrate to 4y ca!te and 4eet with no re!i!tance.
Rou!ed -ro4 4y !ee"* + woudnKt ha)e ti4e e)en to dre!! and + woud ha)e to
-ee in 4y !hirt. Ru!hing o)er hi and dae and through -ore!t! day and night* +
woud -nay arri)e !a-ey right here at the bench in thi! corner. Thi! i! 4y wi!h.E
The other! eGchanged unco4"rehending gance!. DAnd what good woud thi!
wi!h ha)e done youJE !o4eone a!3ed. D+Kd ha)e a !hirt*E wa! the an!wer.
Thi! !tory ta3e! u! right into the 4iieu o- Ka-3aK! word. No one !ay! that the
di!tortion! which it wi be the 8e!!iahK! 4i!!ion to !et right !o4eday a--ect
ony our !"aceN !urey they are di!tortion! o- our ti4e a! we. Ka-3a 4u!t ha)e
had thi! in 4ind* and in thi! certainty he 4ade the grand-ather in DThe NeGt 6i=
ageE !ayN D1i-e i! a!toni!hingy !hort. A! + oo3 bac3 o)er it* i-e !ee4! !o
-ore!hortened to 4e that + can hardy under!tand* -or in!tance* how a young 4an
can decide to ride o)er to the neGt )iage without being a-raid that* ?uite a"art
-ro4 accident!* e)en the !"an o- a nor4a i-e that "a!!e! ha""iy 4ay be totay
in!u--icient -or !uch a ride.E Thi! od 4anK! brother i! the beggar who!e Dnor4aE
i-e that D"a!!e! ha""iyE doe! not e)en ea)e hi4 ti4e -or a wi!h* but who i!
eGe4"ted -ro4 thi! wi!h in the abnor4a* unha""y i-e* that i!* the -ight which he
atte4"t! in hi! !tory* and eGchange! the wi!h -or it! -u-i4ent.
A4ong Ka-3aK! creature! there i! a can which rec3on! with the bre)ity o- i-e
in a "ecuiar way. +t co4e! -ro4 the Dcity in the !outh ... o- which it wa! !aid@
R,eo"e i)e there whoF i4agineMFdonKt !ee"MKFRAnd why notJKFRBecau!e
they donKt get tired.KFRWhy donKt theyJPFRBecau!e they are -oo!.KFRDonKt
-oo!
$BZ
&ll!minations
get tiredJKFRHow coud -oo! get tiredJKE One can !ee that the -oo! are a3in
to the inde-atigabe a!!i!tant!. But there i! 4ore to thi! can. +t i! ca!uay
re4ar3ed o- the -ace! o- the a!!i!tant! that they !ee4 to be tho!e o- Dgrown=u"!*
"erha"! e)en !tudent!.E Actuay* the !tudent! who a""ear in the !trange!t "ace!
in Ka-3aK! wor3! are the !"o3e!4en -or and eader! o- thi! can. ^ RBut when do
you !ee"JK a!3ed Kar* oo3ing at the !tudent in !ur"ri!e. Oh* !ee"MK !aid the
!tudent. Ti get !o4e !ee" when +K4 -ini!hed with 4y !tudie!.KQ Thi! re4ind!
one o- the reuctance with which chidren go to bedN a-ter a* whie they are
a!ee"* !o4ething 4ight ha""en that concern! the4. DDonKt -orget the be!tME We
are -a4iiar with thi! re4ar3 -ro4 a nebuou! bunch o- od !torie!* athough it
4ay not occur in any o- the4. But -orgetting away! in)o)e! the be!t* -or it
in)o)e! the "o!!ibiity o- rede4"tion. DThe idea o- he"ing 4e i! an ine!! and
re?uire! bed re!t -or a cure*E ironicay !ay! the re!te!!y wandering gho!t o- the
hunter 5racchu!. Whie they !tudy* the !tudent! are awa3e* and "erha"! their
being 3e"t awa3e i! the be!t thing about the!e !tudie!. The hunger arti!t -a!t!*
the door3ee"er i! !ient* and the !tudent! are awa3e. Thi! i! the )eied way in
which the great rue! o- a!cetici!4 o"erate in Ka-3a.
Their crowning achie)e4ent i! !tudying. Re)erenty Ka-3a unearth! it -ro4
ong=o!t boyhood. DNot )ery uni3e thi!Fa ong ti4e agoFKar had !at at
ho4e at hi! "arent!K tabe writing hi! ho4ewor3* whie hi! -ather read the
new!"a"er or did boo33ee"ing and corre!"ondence -or !o4e organiAation and
hi! 4other wa! bu!y !ewing* drawing the thread high out o- the 4ateria in her
hand. To a)oid di!turbing hi! -ather* Kar u!ed to "ut ony hi! eGerci!e boo3 and
hi! writing 4ateria! on the tabe* whie he arranged the boo3! he needed on
chair! to the right and e-t o- hi4. How ?uiet it had been thereM How !edo4
!tranger! had entered that roo4ME ,erha"! the!e !tudie! had a4ounted to
nothing. But they are )ery co!e to that nothing which aone 4a3e! it "o!!ibe
-or !o4ething to be u!e-uFthat i!* to the Tao. Thi! i! what Ka-3a wa! a-ter
with hi! de!ire Dto ha44er a tabe together with "ain!ta3ing cra-t!4an!hi" and*
at the !a4e ti4e* to do nothingFnot in !uch a way that !o4eone coud !ay
RHa4=
$B&
RranE ?a(ka
4ering i! nothing to hi4*K but RTo hi4* ha44ering i! rea ha44ering and at
the !a4e ti4e nothing*K which woud ha)e 4ade the ha44ering e)en boder*
4ore deter4ined* 4ore rea* and* i- you i3e* 4ore in!ane.E Thi! i! the re!oute*
-anatica 4ien which !tudent! ha)e when they !tudyN it i! the !trange!t 4ien
i4aginabe. The !cribe!* the !tudent!* are out o- breathN they -airy race aong.
DO-ten the o--icia dictate! in !uch a ow )oice that the !cribe cannot e)en hear it
!itting downN then he ha! to Cu4" u"* catch the dictation* ?uic3y !it down again
and write it down* then Cu4" u" again and !o -orth. How !trange that i!M +t i!
a4o!t inco4"rehen!ibeME +t 4ay be ea!ier to under!tand thi! i- one thin3! o-
the actor! in the Nature Theater. Actor! ha)e to catch their cue! in a -a!h* and
they re!e4be tho!e a!!iduou! "eo"e in other way! a! we. Truy* -or the4
Dha44ering i! rea ha44ering and at the !a4e ti4e nothingEF"ro)ided that
thi! i! "art o- their roe. They !tudy thi! roe* and ony a bad actor woud -orget a
word or a 4o)e4ent. 7or the 4e4ber! o- the O3aho4a trou"e* howe)er* the
roe i! their earier i-eN hence the DnatureE in thi! Nature Theater. +t! actor! ha)e
been redee4ed* but not !o the !tudent who4 Kar watche! !ienty on the
bacony a! he read! hi! boo3* Dturning the "age!* occa!ionay oo3ing !o4ething
u" in another boo3 which he away! !natched u" ?uic3 a! a -a!h* and -re?uenty
4a3ing note! in a noteboo3* which he away! did with hi! -ace !ur"ri!ingy co!e
to the "a"er.E
Ka-3a doe! not grow tired o- re"re!enting the #est!s in thi! -a!hion* but he
in)ariaby doe! !o with a!toni!h4ent. K. ha! righty been co4"ared with the
5ood Sodier Schwei3N the one i! a!toni!hed at e)erything* the other at nothing.
The in)ention o- the -i4 and the "honogra"h ca4e in an age o- 4aGi4u4
aienation o- 4en -ro4 one another* o- un"redictaby inter)ening reation!hi"!
which ha)e beco4e their ony one!. EG"eri4ent! ha)e "ro)ed that a 4an doe!
not recogniAe hi! own wa3 on the !creen or hi! own )oice on the "honogra"h.
The !ituation o- the !ubCect in !uch eG"eri4ent! i! Ka-3aK! !ituationN thi! i! what
direct! hi4 to earning* where he 4ay encounter -rag4ent! o- hi! own eGi!tence*
-rag4ent! that are !ti within the conteGt o- the roe. He 4ight catch hod o- the
o!t #est!s the way ,eter
RB0
+u4ination!
Sche4ih caught hod o- the !hadow he had !od. He 4ight under!tand hi4!e-*
but what an enor4ou! e--ort woud be re?uiredM +t i! a te4"e!t that bow! -ro4
the and o- obi)ion* and earning i! a ca)ary attac3 again!t it. Thu! the beggar
on the corner bench ride! toward hi! "a!t in order to catch hod o- hi4!e- in the
-igure o- the -eeing 3ing. Thi! ride* which i! ong enough -or a i-e* corre!"ond!
to i-e* which i! too !hort -or a rideFD. . . unti one !hed oneK! !"ur!* -or there
were no !"ur!* threw away the rein!* -or there were no rein!* and barey !aw the
and be-ore one a! a !4oothy 4own heath* with the hor!eK! nec3 and head
aready gone.E Thi! i! the -u-i4ent o- the -anta!y about the be!!ed hor!e4an
who ru!he! toward the "a!t on an untra44eied* ha""y Courney* no onger a
burden on hi! race hor!e. But accur!ed i! the rider who i! chained to hi! nag be=
cau!e he ha! !et hi4!e- a goa -or the -uture* e)en though it i! a! co!e a! the
coa cearFaccur!ed hi! ani4a* accur!ed both o- the4. DSeated on the buc3et*
4y hand! u" on the hande* with the !i4"e!t 3ind o- bride* + "ro"e 4y!e- with
di--icuty down the !tair!N but once down beow* 4y buc3et a!cend!* !u"erby*
!u"erbyY ca4e! ying -at on the ground do not ri!e any 4ore hand!o4ey a!
they !ha3e the4!e)e! under the !tic3! o- their dri)er!.E There i! no 4ore
ho"ee!! )i!ta than that o- Dthe region! o- the 3e 4ountain!E in which the buc3et
rider dro"! out o- !ight -ore)er. 7ro4 the Dnether4o!t region! o- deathE bow!
the wind that i! -a)orabe to hi4* the !a4e wind which !o o-ten bow! -ro4 the
"rehi!toric word in Ka-3aK! wor3!* and which a!o "ro"e! the boat o- the hunter
5racchu!. DAt 4y!terie! and !acri-ice!* a4ong 5ree3! a! we a! barbarian!*E
write! ,utarch* Dit i! taught that there 4u!t be two "ri4ary e!!ence! and two
o""o!ing -orce!* one o- which "oint! to the right and !traight ahead* wherea! the
other turn! around and dri)e! bac3.E Re)er!a i! the direction o- earning which
tran!-or4! eGi!tence into writing. +t! teacher i! Buce"hau!* Dthe new attorney*E
who ta3e! the road bac3 without the "ower-u AeGanderFwhich 4ean!* rid o-
the onru!hing con?ueror. DHi! -an3! -ree and unha4"ered by the thigh! o- a
rider* under a ?uiet a4" -ar -ro4 the din o-
`B'
7ranA Ka-3a
AeGanderK! batte!* he read! and turn! the "age! o- our od boo3!.E
Werner Kra-t once wrote an inter"retation o- thi! !tory* A-ter gi)ing care-u
attention to e)ery detai o- the teGt* Kra-t note!@ DNowhere e!e in iterature i!
there !uch a "ower-u and "enetrating critici!4 o- the 4yth in it! -u !co"e.E
According to Kra-t* Ka-3a doe! not u!e the word DCu!tice*E yet it i! Cu!tice which
!er)e! a! the "oint o- de"arture -or hi! criti?ue o- the 4yth. But once we ha)e
reached thi! "oint* we are in danger o- 4i!!ing Ka-3a by !to""ing here. +! it reay
the aw which coud thu! be in)o3ed again!t the 4yth in the na4e o- Cu!ticeJ No*
a! a ega !choar Buce"hau! re4ain! true to hi! origin!* eGce"t that he doe! not
!ee4 to be "racticing awFand thi! i! "robaby !o4ething new* in Ka-3aK! !en!e*
-or both Buce"hau! and the bar. The aw which i! !tudied and not "racticed any
onger i! the gate to Cu!tice.
The gate to Cu!tice i! earning. And yet Ka-3a doe! not dare attach to thi!
earning the "ro4i!e! which tradition ha! attached to the !tudy o- the Torah. Hi!
a!!i!tant! are !eGton! who ha)e o!t their hou!e o- "rayer* hi! !tudent! are "u"i!
who ha)e o!t the Hoy Writ. Now there i! nothing to !u""ort the4 on their
Duntra44eed* ha""y Courney.E Ka-3a* howe)er* ha! -ound the aw o- hi!
Courney=at ea!tKon one occa!ion he !ucceeded in bringing it! breath=ta3ing !"eed
in ine with the !ow narrati)e "ace that he "re!u4aby !ought a hi! i-e. He
eG"re!!ed thi! in a itte "ro!e "iece which i! hi! 4o!t "er-ect creation not ony
becau!e it i! an inter"retation.
DWithout e)er boa!ting o- it* Sancho ,anAa !ucceeded in the cour!e o- year!* by
!u""ying a ot o- ro4ance! o- chi)ary and ad)enture -or the e)ening and night
hour!* in !o di)erting -ro4 hi4 hi! de4on* who4 he ater caed Don _uiGote* that
hi! de4on thereu"on -reey "er-or4ed the 4adde!t eG"oit!* which* howe)er*
ac3ing a "reordained obCect* which Sancho ,anAa hi4!e- wa! !u""o!ed to ha)e
been* did no one any har4. A -ree 4an* Sancho ,anAa "hio!o"hicay -oowed
Don _uiGote on hi! cru!ade!* "erha"! out o- a !en!e o- re!"on!ibiity* and thu!
enCoyed a great and "ro-itabe entertain4ent to the end o- hi! day!.E
$B%
&ll!minations
Sancho ,anAa* a !edate -oo and cu4!y a!!i!tant* !ent hi! rider on aheadN
Buce"hau! outi)ed hi!. Whether it i! a 4an or a hor!e i! no onger !o
i4"ortant* i- ony the burden i! re4o)ed -ro4 the bac3.
$</
ome Reflections on !afka"
Ka-3aK! wor3 i! an ei"!e with -oci that are -ar a"art and are deter4ined* on the
one hand* by 4y!tica eG"erience :in "articuar* the eG"erience o- tradition; and*
on the otherP by the eG"erience o- the 4odern big=city dweer* +n !"ea3ing o-
the eG"erience o- the big=city dweer* + ha)e a )ariety o- thing! in 4ind. On the
one hand* + thin3 o- the 4odern citiAen who 3now! that he i! at the 4ercy o- a
)a!t 4achinery o- o--iciado4 who!e -unctioning i! directed by authoritie! that
re4ain nebuou! to the eGecuti)e organ!* et aone to the "eo"e they dea with.
:+t i! 3nown that one e)e o- 4eaning in the no)e!* "articuary in The Trial, i!
enco4"a!!ed by thi!.; When + re-er to the 4odern big=city dweer* + a4
!"ea3ing a!o o- the conte4"orary o- todayK! "hy!ici!t!. +- one read! the
-oowing "a!!age -ro4 Edding=tonK! The Nat!re o( the 5h.si"al Worl', one can
)irtuay hear Ka-3a !"ea3.
+ a4 !tanding on the thre!hod about to enter a roo4. +t i! a co4=
P Thi! teGt i! contained in a etter to 5erhard Schoe4* dated (une $.* $%B'.
$<$
&ll!minations
"icated bu!ine!!. +n the -ir!t "ace $ 4u!t !ho)e again!t an at4o!"here "re!!ing
with a -orce o- -ourteen "ound! on e)ery !?uare inch o- 4y body. + 4u!t 4a3e
!ure o- anding on a "an3 tra)eing at twenty 4ie! a !econd round the !unFa
-raction o- a !econd too eary or too ate* the "an3 woud be 4ie! away. + 4u!t
do thi! whi!t hanging -ro4 a round "anet head outward into !"ace* and with a
wind o- aether bowing at no one 3now! how 4any 4ie! a !econd through e)ery
inter!tice o- 4y body. The "an3 ha! no !oidity o- !ub!tance. To !te" on it i! i3e
!te""ing on a !war4 o- -ie!. Sha + not !i" throughJ No* i- + 4a3e the )enture
one o- the -ie! hit! 4e and gi)e! a boo!t u" againN + -a again and a4 3noc3ed
u"ward! by another -yN and !o on. + 4ay ho"e that the net re!ut wi be that +
re4ain about !teadyN but i- un-ortunatey + !houd !i" through the -oor or be
boo!ted too )ioenty u" to the ceiing* the occurrence woud be* not a )ioation
o- the aw! o- Nature* but a rare coincidence. . . .
6eriy* it i! ea!ier -or a ca4e to "a!! through the eye o- a neede than -or a
!cienti-ic 4an to "a!! through a door. And whether the door be barn door or
church door it 4ight be wi!er that he !houd con!ent to be an ordinary 4an and
wa3 in rather than wait ti a the di--icutie! in)o)ed in a reay !cienti-ic
ingre!! are re!o)ed.P
+n a o- iterature + 3now no "a!!age which ha! the Ka-3a !ta4" to the !a4e
eGtent. Without any e--ort one coud 4atch a4o!t e)ery "a!!age o- thi! "hy!ica
"er"eGity with !entence! -ro4 Ka-3aK! "ro!e "iece!* and there i! 4uch to
indicate that in !o doing 4any o- the 4o!t Dinco4"rehen!ibeE "a!!age! woud
be acco44odated. There-ore* i- one !ay!Fa! + ha)e Cu!t !aidF that there wa! a
tre4endou! ten!ion between tho!e o- Ka-3aK! eG"erience! that corre!"ond to
"re!ent=day "hy!ic! and hi! 4y!tica one!* ony a ha-=truth i! !tated. What i!
actuay and in a )ery itera !en!e widy incredibe in Ka-3a i! that thi! 4o!t
recent word o- eG"erience wa! con)eyed to hi4 "reci!ey by thi! 4y!tica
tradition. Thi!* o- cour!e* coud not ha)e ha""ened without de)a!tating "roce!!e!
:to be di!cu!!ed "re!enty; within thi! tradition. The ong and the !hort o- it i!
that a""arenty an a""ea had to be 4ade to the -orce! o- thi! tradition i- an
indi)idua :by the na4e o- 7ranA Ka-3a; wa! to be con-ronted with that reaity o-
our! which reaiAe! it!e- theoreticay* -or eGa4"e* in 4odern
Arthur Staney Eddington* The Nat!re o( the 5h.si"al Worl', New
Yor3=Ca4bridge* $%.%* ". B<.. _uoted by BenCa4in in 5er4an tran!ation.
$<.
Dome *e(le"tions on ?a(ka
"hy!ic!* and "racticay in the technoogy o- 4odern war-are. What + 4ean to
!ay i! that thi! reaity can )irtuay no onger be eG"erienced by an in'ivi'!al,
and that Ka-3aK! word* -re?uenty o- !uch "ay-une!! and interaced with
ange!* i! the eGact co4"e4ent o- hi! era which i! "re"aring to do away with the
inhabitant! o- thi! "anet on a con!iderabe !cae. The eG"erience which
corre!"ond! to that o- Ka-3a* the "ri)ate indi)idua* wi "robaby not beco4e
acce!!ibe to the 4a!!e! unti !uch ti4e a! they are being done away with.
Ka-3a i)e! in a "om:lementar. word. :+n thi! he i! co!ey reated to Kee*
who!e wor3 in "ainting i! Cu!t a! e!!entiay so-li-ter. a! Ka-3aK! wor3 i! in
iterature.; Ka-3a o--ered the co4"e4ent without being aware o- what
!urrounded hi4. +- one !ay! that he "ercei)ed what wa! to co4e without
"ercei)ing what eGi!t! in the "re!ent* one !houd add that he "ercei)ed it e!!en=
tiay a! an in'ivi'!al a--ected by it. Hi! ge!ture! o- terror are gi)en !co"e by the
4ar)eou! mar#in which the cata!tro"he wi not grant u!. But hi! eG"erience
wa! ba!ed !oey on the tradition to which Ka-3a !urrenderedN there wa! no -ar=
!ightedne!! or D"ro"hetic )i!ion.E Ka-3a i!tened to tradition* and he who i!ten!
hard doe! not !ee.
The 4ain rea!on why thi! i!tening de4and! !uch e--ort i! that ony the 4o!t
indi!tinct !ound! reach the i!tener. There i! no doctrine that one coud ab!orb* no
3nowedge that one coud "re!er)e. The thing! that want to be caught a! they
ru!h by are not 4eant -or anyoneK! ear!. Thi! i4"ie! a !tate o- a--air! which
negati)ey characteriAe! Ka-3aK! wor3! with great "reci!ion. :Here a negati)e
characteriAation "robaby i! atogether 4ore -ruit-u than a "o!iti)e one.; Ka-3aK!
wor3 "re!ent! a !ic3ne!! o- tradition. Wi!do4 ha! !o4eti4e! been de-ined a! the
e"ic !ide o- truth. Such a de-inition !ta4"! wi!do4 a! inherent in traditionN it i!
truth in it! haggadic con!i!tency.
+t i! thi! con!i!tency o- truth that ha! been o!t* Ka-3a wa! -ar -ro4 being the
-ir!t to -ace thi! !ituation. 8any had acco44odated the4!e)e! to it* cinging to
truth or whate)er they ha""ened to regard a! truth and* with a 4ore or e!! hea)y
heart* -orgoing it! tran!4i!!ibiity. Ka-3aK! rea geniu! wa! that he tried
R<B
&ll!minations
!o4ething entirey new@ he !acri-iced truth -or the !a3e o- cinging to it!
tran!4i!!ibiity* it! haggadic ee4ent. Ka-3aK! writing! are by their nature
"arabe!. But it i! their 4i!ery and their beauty that they had to beco4e more
than "arabe!. They do not 4ode!ty ie at the -eet o- the doctrine* a! the
Haggadah ie! at the -eet o- the Haa3ah. Though a""arenty reduced to !ub=
4i!!ion* they uneG"ectedy rai!e a 4ighty "aw again!t it.
Thi! i! why* in regard to Ka-3a* we can no onger !"ea3 o- wi!do4. Ony the
"roduct! o- it! decay re4ain. There are two@ one i! the ru4or about the true
thing! :a !ort o- theoogica whi!"ered inteigence deaing with 4atter!
di!credited and ob!oete;N the other "roduct o- thi! diathe!i! i! -oyFwhich* to be
!ure* ha! uttery !?uandered the !ub!tance o- wi!do4* but "re!er)e! it! at=
tracti)ene!! and a!!urance* which ru4or in)ariaby ac3!. 7oy ie! at the heart
o- Ka-3aK! -a)orite!=-ro4 Don _uiGote )ia the a!!i!tant! to the ani4a!. :Being
an ani4a "re!u4aby 4eant to hi4 ony to ha)e gi)en u" hu4an -or4 and
hu4an wi!do4 -ro4 a 3ind o- !ha4eFa! !ha4e 4ay 3ee" a gente4an who -ind!
hi4!e- in a di!re"utabe ta)ern -ro4 wi"ing hi! ga!! cean.; Thi! 4uch Ka-3a
wa! ab!outey !ure o-@ -ir!t* that !o4eone 4u!t be a -oo i- he i! to he"N !econd*
that ony a -ooK! he" i! rea he". The ony uncertain thing i! whether !uch he"
can !ti do a hu4an being any good. +t i! 4ore i3ey to he" the ange! :co4=
"are the "a!!age about the ange! who get !o4ething to do; who coud do without
he". Thu!* a! Ka-3a "ut! it* there i! an in-inite a4ount o- ho"e* but not -or u!.
Thi! !tate4ent reay contain! Ka-3aK! ho"eN it i! the !ource o- hi! radiant
!erenity.
+ tran!4it to you thi! !o4ewhat dangerou!y co4"re!!ed i4ageFin the 4anner
o- "er!"ecti)e reductionFwith a the 4ore ea!e a! you 4ay !har"en it by 4ean!
o- the )iew! + ha)e de)eo"ed -ro4 di--erent a!"ect! in 4y Ka-3a e!!ay in the
2v'is"he *!n's"ha!61. 4ain critici!4 o- that !tudy today i! it! a"oogetic
character. To do Cu!tice to the -igure o- Ka-3a in it! "urity and it! "ecuiar beauty
one 4u!t ne)er o!e !ight o- one thing@
See the "receding e!!ay. 144
S+me Reflecti+n) +n 'af7a
it i! the "urity and beauty o- a -aiure. The circu4!tance! o- thi! -aiure are
4ani-od. One i! te4"ted to !ay@ once he wa! certain o- e)entua -aiure*
e)erything wor3ed out -or hi4 en ro!te a! in a drea4. There i! nothing 4ore
4e4orabe than the -er)or with which Ka-3a e4"ha!iAed hi! -aiure.
n<S
8W(at 1) E0ic &(eater9
T%E RELA:E; A&;IENCE
DThere i! nothing 4ore "ea!ant than to ie on a !o-a and read a no)e*E wrote a
nineteenth=century narrator* indicating the great eGtent to which a wor3 o- -iction
can reaG the reader who i! enCoying it. The co44on i4age o- a 4an attending a
theatrica "er-or4ance i! the o""o!ite@ one "icture! a 4an who -oow! the action
with e)ery -iber o- hi! being at ra"t attention. The conce"t o- the e"ic theater*
originated by Brecht a! the theoretician o- hi! "oetic "racticeQ indicate! abo)e a
that thi! theater de!ire! an audience that i! reaGed and -oow! the action without
!train. Thi! audience* to be !ure* away! a""ear! a! a coecti)e* and thi!
di--erentiate! it -ro4 the reader* who i! aone with hi! teGt. A!o* thi! audience*
being a coecti)e* wi u!uay -ee i4"eed to react "ro4"ty. Thi! reaction*
according to Brecht* ought to be a we=con!idered and there-ore a reaGed oneF
in !hort* the reaction o- "eo"e who ha)e an intere!t in the 4atter. Two obCect!
are "ro)ided -or thi! intere!t. The -ir!t i! the actionN it ha! to be !uch that the
audience can 3ee" a chec3 on it at crucia "ace! on the ba!i! o- it! own
eG"erience. The !econd i! the "er-or4anceN it !houd be 4ounted arti!ticay in a
"eucid 4anner. :Thi! 4an=
R<0
&ll!minations
ner o- "re!entation i! anything but arte!!N actuay* it "re!u""o!e! arti!tic
!o"hi!tication and acu4en on the "art o- the director.; E"ic theater a""ea! to an
intere!t grou" who Ddo not thin3 without rea!on.E Brecht doe! not o!e !ight o- the
4a!!e!* who!e i4ited "ractice o- thin3ing i! "robaby de!cribed by thi! "hra!e.
+n the endea)or to intere!t the audience in the theater eG"erty* but de-initey not
by way o- 4ere cutura in)o)e4ent* a "oitica wi ha! "re)aied.
THE ,1OT
The e"ic theater "ur"o!e! to Dde"ri)e the !tage o- it! !en!ation deri)ed -ro4
!ubCect 4atter.E Thu! an od !tory wi o-ten do 4ore -or it than a new one.
Brecht ha! con!idered the ?ue!tion o- whether the incident! that are "re!ented by
the e"ic theater !houd not aready be -a4iiar. The theater woud ha)e the !a4e
reation!hi" to the "ot a! a baet teacher ha! to hi! "u"i@ hi! -ir!t ta!3 woud be
to oo!en her Coint! to the greate!t "o!!ibe eGtent. Thi! i! how the Chine!e theater
actuay "roceed!. +n hi! e!!ay DThe 7ourth Wa o- ChinaE B+i(e an' +etters
To'a., 6o. L6* No. &* $%B&;* Brecht !tate! what he owe! to thi! theater. +- the
theater i! to ca!t about -or -a4iiar e)ent!* Dhi!torica incident! woud be the
4o!t !uitabe.E Their e"ic eGten!ion through the !tye o- acting* the "acard! and
ca"tion!* i! intended to "urge the4 o- the !en!ationa.
+n thi! )ein Brecht ta3e! the i-e o- 5aieo a! the !ubCect o- hi! ate!t "ay.
Brecht "re!ent! 5aieo "ri4ariy a! a great teacher who not ony teache! a new
"hy!ic!* but doe! !o in a new way. +n hi! hand!* eG"eri4ent! are not ony an
achie)e4ent o- !cience* but a too o- "edagogy a! we The 4ain e4"ha!i! o-
thi! "ay i! not on 5a(ieoK! recantationN rather* the truy e"ic "roce!! 4u!t be
!ought in what i! e)ident -ro4 the abeing o- the "enuti4ate !cene@ ^$&BB
t/

&
<
.
]
A!
a
"ri!oner o- the +n?ui!ition* 5aieo continue! hi! !cienti-ic wor3 unti hi!
death. He !ucceed! in !4ug=ging hi! 4ain wor3! out o- +tay.E
E"ic theater i! in eague with the cour!e o- ti4e in an entirey di--erent way
-ro4 that o- the tragic theater. Becau!e !u!"en!e
$<'
What &s 9:i" TheaterT
beong! e!! to the outco4e than to the indi)idua e)ent!* thi! theater can co)er
the greate!t !"an! o- ri4e. :The !a4e i! true o- the earier 4y!tery "ay!. The
dra4aturgy o- -e'i:!s or The Wil' 0!"k con!titute! the counter"oe o- e"ic
dra4aturgy.;
THE 2NTRA5+C HERO
The 7rench ca!!ica theater 4ade roo4 in the 4id!t o- the "ayer! -or "er!on!
o- ran3* who had their ar4chair! on the o"en !tage. To u! thi! !ee4!
ina""ro"riate. According to the conce"t o- the Ddra4atic ee4entE with which
we are -a4iiar* it !ee4ed ina""ro"riate to attach to the action on the !tage a
non"artici"at=ing third "arty a! a di!"a!!ionate ob!er)er or Dthin3er.E Yet Brecht
o-ten had !o4ething i3e that in 4ind. One can go e)en -urther and !ay that
Brecht 4ade an atte4"t to 4a3e the thin3er* or e)ert the wi!e 4an* the hero o-
the dra4a. 7ro4 thi! )ery "oint o- )iew one can de-ine hi! theater a! e"ic
theater. Thi! atte4"t i! ta3en -urthe!t in the character o- 5ay 5ay* the "ac3er.
5ay 5ay* the "rotagoni!t o- the "ay A 1an)s a 1an, i! nothing but an eGhibit
o- the contradiction! which 4a3e u" our !ociety. +t 4ay not be too bod to regard
the wi!e 4an in the Brechtian !en!e a! the "er-ect !howca!e o- it! diaectic!. +n
any ca!e* 5ay 5ay i! a wi!e 4an. ,ato aready recogniAed the undra4atic
?uaity o- that 4o!t eGceent 4an* the !age. +n hi! Diaogue! he too3 hi4 to the
thre!hod o- the dra4aN in hi! 5hai'on, to the thre!hod o- the "a!!ion "ay. The
4edie)a Chri!t* who a!o re"re!ented the wi!e 4an :we -ind thi! in the Eary
7ather!;* i! the untragic hero :ar e="ellen"e4 But in the !ecuar dra4a o- the
We!t* too* the !earch -or the untragic hero ha! ne)er cea!ed. +n away! new
way!* and -re?uenty in con-ict with it! theoretician!* thi! dra4a ha! di--ered
-ro4 the authenticFthat i!* the 5ree3F-or4 o- tragedy. Thi! i4"ortant but
"oory 4ar3ed road* which 4ay here !er)e a! the i4age o- a tradition* went )ia
Ro!=witha and the 4y!tery "ay! in the 8idde Age!* )ia 5ry"hiu! and Caderon
in the Baro?ue ageN ater we 4ay trace it in 1enA and 5rabbe* and -inay in
Strindberg. Scene! in Sha3e!"eare are it! road!ide 4onu4ent!* and 5oethe
cro!!e! it in the !econd "art
$<%
&ll!minations
o- Ra!st4 +t i! a Euro"ean road* but a 5er4an one a! weF"ro)ided that we
4ay !"ea3 o- a road and not o- a !ecret !4ugger!K "ath by which the egacy o-
the 4edie)a and the Baro?ue dra4a ha! reached u!. +t i! thi! 4ue trac3*
negected and o)ergrown* which co4e! to ight today in the dra4a! o- Brecht.
THE +NTERR2,T+ON
Brecht di--erentiate! hi! e"ic theater -ro4 the dra4atic theater in the narrower
!en!e* who!e theory wa! -or4uated by Ari!tote. A""ro"riatey* Brecht
introduce! hi! art o- the dra4a a! non=Ari!toteian* Cu!t a! Rie4ann introduced a
non=Eucidian geo4etry. Thi! anaogy 4ay bring out the -act that it i! not a
4atter o- co4"etition between the theatrica -or4! in ?ue!tion. Rie4ann
ei4inated the "arae "o!tuateN BrechtK! dra4a ei4inated the Ari!toteian
cathar!i!* the "urging o- the e4otion! through e4"athy with the !tirring -ate o-
the hero.
The !"ecia character o- the reaGed intere!t o- the audience -or which the
"er-or4ance! o- the e"ic theater are intended i! the -act that hardy any a""ea i!
4ade to the e4"athy o- the !"ectator!. +n!tead* the art o- the e"ic theater con!i!t!
in "roducing a!toni!h4ent rather than e4"athy. To "ut it !uccinctyN in!tead o-
identi-ying with the character!* the audience !houd be educated to be a!toni!hed
at the circu4!tance! under which they -unction.
The ta!3 o- the e"ic theater* according to Brecht* i! not !o 4uch the
de)eo"4ent o- action! a! the re"re!entation o- condition!. Thi! "re!entation doe!
not 4ean re"roduction a! the theoretician! o- Naturai!4 under!tood it. Rather*
the truy i4"ortant thing i! to di!co)er the condition! o- i-e. :One 4ight !ay Cu!t
a! we@ to aienate Kver(rem'en^ the4.; Thi! di!co)ery :aienation; o- condition!
ta3e! "ace through the interru"tion o- ha""ening!. The 4o!t "ri4iti)e eGa4"e
woud be a -a4iy !cene. Suddeny a !tranger enter!. The 4other wa! Cu!t about
to !eiAe a bronAe bu!t and hur it at her daughterN the -ather wa! in the act o-
o"ening the window in order to ca a "oice4an. At that 4o4ent the !tranger
a""ear! in the doorway. Thi! 4ean!
What &s 9:i" TheaterT
that the !tranger i! con-ronted with the !ituation a! with a !tarting "icture@
troubed -ace!* an o"en window* the -urniture in di!array. But there are eye! to
which e)en 4ore ordinary !cene! o- 4idde=ca!! i-e oo3 a4o!t e?uay
!tarting.
THE _2OTAB1E 5EST2RE
+n one o- hi! didactic "oe4! on dra4atic art Brecht !ay!@ DThe e--ect o- e)ery
!entence wa! waited -or and aid bare. And the waiting a!ted unti the crowd had
care-uy weighed our !entence.E +n !hort* the "ay wa! interru"ted. One can go
e)en -urther and re4e4ber that interru"tion i! one o- the -unda4enta de)ice! o-
a !tructuring. +t goe! -ar beyond the !"here o- art. To gi)e ony one eGa4"e* it
i! the ba!i! o- ?uotation. To ?uote a teGt in)o)e! the interru"tion o- it! conteGt.
+t i! there-ore under!tandabe that the e"ic theater* being ba!ed on interru"tion*
i!* in a !"eci-ic !en!e* a ?uotabe one. There i! nothing !"ecia about the
?uotabiity o- it! teGt!. +t i! di--erent with the ge!ture! which -it into the cour!e o-
the "ay.
D8a3ing ge!ture! ?uotabeE i! one o- the !ub!tantia achie)e4ent! o- the e"ic
theater. An actor 4u!t be abe to !"ace hi! ge!ture! the way a ty"e!etter "roduce!
!"aced ty"e. Thi! e--ect 4ay be achie)ed* -or in!tance* by an actorK! ?uoting hi!
own ge!ture on the !tage. Thu! we !aw in /a::. 9n' how Caroa Neher* acting
a !ergeant in the Sa)ation Ar4y* !ang* by way o- "ro!eytiAing* a !ong in a
!aior!K ta)ern that wa! 4ore a""ro"riate there than it woud ha)e been in a
church* and then had to ?uote thi! !ong and act out the ge!ture! be-ore a counci
o- the Sa)ation Ar4y. Si4iary* in The 1eas!re Taken the "arty tribuna i!
gi)en not ony the re"ort o- the co4rade!* but a!o the acting out o- !o4e o- the
ge!ture! o- the co4rade they are accu!ing. What i! a de)ice o- the !ubte!t 3ind in
the e"ic theater generay beco4e! an i44ediate "ur"o!e in the !"eci-ic ca!e o-
the didactic "ay. E"ic theater i! by de-inition a ge!tic theater. 7or the 4ore
-re?uenty we interru"t !o4eone in the act o- acting* the 4ore ge!ture! re!ut.
Ill*minati+n)
THE D+DACT+C ,1AY
+n e)ery in!tance* the e"ic theater i! 4eant -or the actor! a! 4uch a! -or the
!"ectator!. The didactic "ay i! a !"ecia ca!e argey becau!e it -aciitate! and
!ugge!t! the interchange between audience and actor! and )ice )er!a through the
eGtre4e "aucity o- the 4echanica e?ui"4ent. E)ery !"ectator i! enabed to
beco4e a "artici"ant. And it i! indeed ea!ier to "ay the DteacherE than the
Dhero.E
+n the -ir!t )er!ion o- +in'er#h(l!# :1indberghK! 7ight;* which a""eared in a
"eriodica* the -ier wa! !ti "re!ented a! a hero. That )er!ion wa! intended a! hi!
gori-ication. The !econd )er!ionFand thi! i! re)eaingFowe! it! origin to the
-act that Brecht re)i!ed hi4!e-. What enthu!ia!4 there wa! on both continent! on
the day! -oowing thi! -ightM But thi! enthu!ia!4 "etered out a! a 4ere
!en!ation. +n The Rli#ht o( the +in'er#hs Brecht endea)or! to re-ract the
!"ectru4 o- the DthriE B9r-lenis@ in order to deri)e -ro4 it the hue! o-
DeG"erienceE B9r(ahr!n#@ =the eG"erience that coud be obtained ony -ro4
1indberghK! e--ort* not -ro4 the eGcite4ent o- the "ubic* and which wa! to be
con)eyed to Dthe 1indbergh!.E
T. E. 1awrence* the author o- The Deven 5illars o( Wis'om, wrote to Robert
5ra)e! when he Coined the air -orce that !uch a !te" wa! -or 4odern 4an what
entering a 4ona!tery wa! -or 4edie)a 4an. +n thi! re4ar3 we "ercei)e the !a4e
ten!ion that we -ind in The Rli#ht o( the +in'er#hs and the ater didactic "ay!.
A cerica !ternne!! i! a""ied to in!truction in a 4odern techni?ueFhereQ that o-
a)iationN ater* that o- the ca!! !trugge. Thi! !econd a""ication 4ay be !een 4o!t
-uy in 1other4 +t wa! a "articuary daring underta3ing to 3ee" a !ocia dra4a
-ree o- the e--ect! which e4"athy "roduce! and which the audience wa!
accu!to4ed to. Brecht 3new thi! and eG"re!!ed it in an e"i!toary "oe4 that he
!ent to a New Yor3 wor3ing4enK! theater when 1other wa! "roduced there.
DWe ha)e been a!3ed@ Wi a wor3er under!tand thi!J Wi he be abe to do
without hi! accu!to4ed o"iate* hi! 4enta "artici"ation in !o4eone e!eK! u"ri!ing*
the ri!e o- other!N the iu!ion which whi"! hi4 u" -or a
Z.
What +! E"ic TheaterJ
-ew hour! and ea)e! hi4 a the 4ore eGhau!ted* -ied with )ague 4e4orie!
and e)en )aguer ho"e!JE
the actor
1i3e the "icture! in a -i4* e"ic theater 4o)e! in !"urt!. +t! ba!ic -or4 i! that o-
the !hoc3 with which the !inge* we=de-ined !ituation! o- the "ay coide. The
!ong!* the ca"tion!* the i-ee!! con)ention! !et o-- one !ituation -ro4 another.
Thi! bring! about inter)a! which* i- anything* i4"air the iu!ion o- the audience
and "arayAe it! readine!! -or e4"athy. The!e inter)a! are re!er)ed -or the
!"ectator!K critica reactionFto the action! o- the "ayer! and to the way in which
they are "re!ented. A! to the 4anner o- "re!entation* the actorK! ta!3 in the e"ic
theater i! to de4on!trate through hi! acting that he i! coo and reaGed. He too
ha! hardy any u!e -or e4"athy. 7or thi! 3ind o- acting the D"ayerE o- the
dra4atic theater i! not away! -uy "re"ared. ,erha"! the 4o!t o"en=4inded
a""roach to e"ic theater* i! to thin3 o- it in ter4! o- D"utting on a !how.E
Brecht wrote@ DThe actor 4u!t !how hi! !ubCect* and he 4u!t !how hi4!e-. O-
cour!e* he !how! hi! !ubCect by !howing hi4!e-* and he !how! hi4!e- by
!howing hi! !ubCect. Athough the two coincide* they 4u!t not coincide in !uch a
way that the di--erence between the two ta!3! di!a""ear!.E +n other word!@ an
actor !houd re!er)e -or hi4!e- the "o!!ibiity o- !te""ing out o- character
arti!ticay. At the "ro"er 4o4ent he !houd in!i!t on "ortraying a 4an who
re-ect! about hi! "art. +t woud be erroneou! to thin3 at !uch a 4o4ent o-
Ro4antic +rony* a! e4"oyed by Tiec3 in hi! 5!ss in Boots4 Thi! irony ha! no
didactic ai4. Ba!icay* it de4on!trate! ony the "hio!o"hic !o"hi!tication o- the
author who* in writing hi! "ay!* away! re4e4ber! that in the end the word
4ay turn out to be a theater.
To what eGtent arti!tic and "oitica intere!t! coincide on the !cene o- e"ic
theater wi beco4e 4ani-e!t in the !tye o- acting a""ro"riate to thi! genre. A
ca!e in "oint i! BrechtK! cyce The 5rivate +i(e o( the 1aster *a"e4 +t i! ea!y to
!ee that i- a 5er4an actor in eGie were a!!igned the "art o- an SS 4an or a
4e4ber
bD,
Ill*minati+n)
o- the ,eo"eK! Court* hi! -eeing! about it woud be ?uite di--erent -ro4 tho!e
o- a de)oted -ather and hu!band a!3ed to "ortray 8oiereK! Don (uan. 7or the
-or4er* e4"athy can hardy be regarded a! an a""ro"riate 4ethod* !ince he
"re!u4aby cannot identi-y with the 4urderer! o- hi! -eow -ighter!. Another
4ode o- "er-or4ance* which ca! -or detach4ent* woud in !uch ca!e! be right
and -itting and "articuary !ucce!!-u Thi! i! the e"ic !tagecra-t.
THEATER ON A DA+S
The ai4! o- the e"ic theater can be de-ined 4ore ea!iy in ter4! o- the !tage
than o- a new dra4a. E"ic theater aow! -or a circu4!tance which ha! been too
itte noticed. +t 4ay be caed the -iing in o- the orche!tra "it. The aby!! which
!e"a=rate! the "ayer! -ro4 the audience a! it doe! the dead -ro4 the i)ing] the
aby!! who!e !ience in a "ay heighten! the !ubi4ity* who!e re!onance in an
o"era heighten! the intoGicationFthi! aby!!* o- a ee4ent! o- the theater the one
that bear! the 4o!t indeibe trace! o- it! ritua origin* ha! !teadiy decrea!ed in !ig=
ni-icance. The !tage i! !ti rai!ed* but it no onger ri!e! -ro4 an un-atho4abe
de"th! it ha! beco4e a dai!. The didactic "ay and the e"ic theater + atte4"t! to
!it down on a dai!.
iZ<
On S+me <4+tif) in Ba*,elaira
. Baudeaire en)i!aged reader! to who4 the reading o- yric "oetry woud
"re!ent di--icutie!. The introductory "oe4 o- the Rle!rs '! mal i! addre!!ed to
the!e reader!. Wi "ower and the abiity to concentrate are not their !trong
"oint!N what they "re-er i! !en!ua "ea!ure!N they are -a4iiar with the D!"eenE
which 3i! intere!t and rece"ti)ene!!. +t i! !trange to co4e acro!! a yric "oet
who addre!!e! hi4!e- to thi!* the ea!t rewarding ty"e o- audience. There i! o-
cour!e a ready eG"anation -or it. Baudeaire wa! anGiou! to be under!toodN he
dedicate! hi! boo3 to 3indred !"irit!. The "oe4 addre!!ed to the reader end! with
the !autationN ;/.:o"rite le"!!r^8mon semlale,8mon (rere(6 +t 4ight be
4ore -ruit-u to "ut it another way and !ay@ Baudeaire wrote a boo3 which -ro4
the )ery beginning had itte "ro!"ect o- beco4ing an i44ediate "o"uar
!ucce!!. The 3ind o- reader he en)i!aged i! de!cribed in the introductory "oe4*
and thi! turned out to ha)e been a -ar=!ighted Cudg4ent. He wa! e)entuay to
-ind the reader at who4 hi! wor3 wa! ai4ed. Thi! !ituation* the -act* in other
word!* that the ci4ate -or yric "oetry ha! beco4e increa!ingy inho!"itabe* i!
atte!ted to* a4ong other
RSS
Ill*minati+n)
thing!* by three -actor!. +n the -ir!t "ace* the yric "oet ha! cea!ed to re"re!ent
the "oet :er se4 He no onger i! a D4in!tre*E a! 1a4artine !ti wa!N he ha!
beco4e a re"re!entati)e o- a genre. :6eraine i! a concrete eGa4"e o- thi!
!"eciaiAationN Ri4baud 4u!t aready be regarded a! an e!oteric -igure* a "oet
who 4aintained an e= o((i"io di!tance between hi! "ubic and hi! wor3.;
Secondy* there ha! been no !ucce!! on a 4a!! !cae in yric "oetry !ince
Baudeaire. :The yric "oetry o- 6ictor Hugo wa! !ti abe to !et o-- "ower-u
re)erberation! when it -ir!t a""eared. +n 5er4any* HeineK! B!"h 'er +ie'er
4ar3! a water!hed.; A! a re!ut* a third -actor wa! the greater coone!! o- the
"ubic e)en toward the yric "oetry that had been handed down a! "art o- it! own
cutura heritage. The "eriod in ?ue!tion date! bac3 roughy to the 4idde o- the
a!t century. Throughout it the -a4e o- the Rle!rs '! mal ha! con!tanty !"read.
Thi! boo3* which wa! eG"ected to be read by the ea!t indugent o- reader! and
which wa! at -ir!t read by -ew indugent one!* ha!* o)er the decade!* ac?uired the
!tature o- a ca!!ic and beco4e one o- the 4o!t widey "rinted one! a! we.
+- condition! -or a "o!iti)e rece"tion o- yric "oetry ha)e beco4e e!!
-a)orabe* it i! rea!onabe to a!!u4e that ony in rare in!tance! i! yric "oetry in
ra""ort with the eG"erience o- it! reader!. Thi! 4ay be due to a change in the
!tructure o- their eG"erience. E)en though one 4ay a""ro)e o- thi! de)eo"4ent*
one 4ay be a the 4ore hard "ut to it to !ay "reci!ey in what re!"ect there 4ay
ha)e been a change. Thu! one turn! to "hio!o"hy -or an an!wer* which bring!
one u" again!t a !trange !ituation. Since the end o- the a!t century* "hio!o"hy
ha! 4ade a !erie! o- atte4"t! to ay hod o- the DtrueE eG"erience a! o""o!ed to
the 3ind that 4ani-e!t! it!e- in the !tandardiAed* denatured i-e o- the ci)iiAed
4a!!e!. +t i! cu!to4ary to ca!!i-y the!e e--ort! under the heading o- a "hio!o"hy
o- i-e. Their "oint o- de"arture* under!tandaby enough* wa! not 4anK! i-e in
!ociety. What they in)o3ed wa! "oetry* "re-eraby nature* and* 4o!t recenty*
the age o- 4yth!. DitheyK! boo3 0as 9rlenis !n' 'ie 0i"ht!n# re"re!ent! one o-
the earie!t o- the!e e--ort! which end with Kage! and (ungN both 4ade co44on
cau!e with 7a!ci!4.
i
S
&
-n Dome 1oti(s in Ba!'elaire
Towering abo)e thi! iterature i! Berg!onK! eary 4onu4enta wor3* 1atiere et
mDmoire4 8ore than the other!* it "re!er)e! in3! with e4"irica re!earch. +t i!
oriented toward bioogy* The tite !ugge!t! that it regard! the !tructure o-
4e4ory a! deci!i)e -or the "hio!o"hica "attern o- eG"erience. EG"erience i!
indeed a 4atter o- tradition* in coecti)e eGi!tence a! we a! "ri)ate i-e. +t i! e!!
the "roduct o- -act! -ir4y anchored in 4e4ory than o- a con)ergence in
4e4ory o- accu4uated and -re?uenty uncon!ciou! data. +t i!* howe)er* not at
a Berg!onK! intention to attach any !"eci-ic hi!torica abe to 4e4ory. On the
contrary* he reCect! any hi!torica deter4ination o- 4e4ory. He thu! 4anage!
abo)e a to !tay cear o- that eG"erience -ro4 which hi! own "hio!o"hy e)o)ed
or* rather* in reaction to which it aro!e. +t wa! the inho!"itabe* binding age o-
big=!cae indu!triai!4. +n !hutting out thi! eG"erience the eye "ercei)e! an
eG"erience o- a co4"e4entary nature in the -or4 o- it! !"ontaneou! a-teri4age*
a! it were. Berg!onK! "hio!o"hy re"re!ent! an atte4"t to gi)e the detai! o- thi!
a-teri4age and to -iG it a! a "er4anent record. Hi! "hio!o"hy thu! indirecty
-urni!he! a cue to the eG"erience which "re!ented it!e- to BaudeaireK! eye! in
it! un=di!torted )er!ion in the -igure o- hi! reader.
&&
1atiere et memoire de-ine! the nature o- eG"erience in the '!ree in !uch a way
that the reader i! bound to concude that ony a "oet can be the ade?uate !ubCect
o- !uch an eG"erience. And it wa! indeed a "oet who "ut Berg!onK! theory o-
eG"erience to the te!t. ,rou!tK! wor3 A la *e"her"he '! tem:s :er'! 4ay be
regarded a! an atte4"t to "roduce eG"erience !yntheticay* a! Berg!on i4agine!
it* under todayK! condition!* -or there i! e!! and e!! ho"e that it wi co4e into
being naturay* ,rou!t* incidentay* doe! not e)ade the ?ue!tion in hi! wor3. He
e)en introduce! a new -actor* one that in)o)e! an i44anent criti?ue o- Berg!on.
Berg!on e4"ha!iAed the antagoni!4 between the vita a"tiva and the !"eci-ic vita
"ontem:lativa which ari!e! -ro4 4e4ory. But he ead! u! to beie)e that turning
to the conte4=
IJ"
Ill*minati+n)
"ati)e actuaiAation o- the !trea4 o- i-e i! a 4atter o- -ree choice. 7ro4 the
!tart ,rou!t indicate! hi! di)ergent )iew ter4i=noogicay. To hi4* the memoire
:!re o- Berg!onK! theory beco4e! a memoire involontaire4 ,rou!t i44ediatey
con-ront! thi! in)ountary 4e4ory with a )ountary 4e4ory* one that i! in the
!er)ice o- the inteect. The -ir!t "age! o- hi! great wor3 are charged with 4a3ing
thi! reation!hi" cear. +n the re-ection which introduce! the ter4 ,rou!t te! u!
how "oory* -or 4any year!* he re4e4bered the town o- Co4bray in which*
a-ter a* he !"ent "art o- hi! chidhood. One a-ternoon the ta!te o- a 3ind o-
"a!try caed ma'eleine :which he ater 4ention! o-ten; tran!"orted hi4 bac3 to
the "a!t* wherea! be-ore then he had been i4ited to the "ro4"ting! o- a 4e4ory
which obeyed the ca o- attenti)ene!!. Thi! he ca! the memoire volontaire, and
it i! it! characteri!tic that the in-or4ation which it gi)e! about the "a!t retain! no
trace o- it. D+t i! the !a4e with our own "a!t. +n )ain we try to conCure it u"
againN the e--ort! o- our inteect are -utie.E There-ore ,rou!t* !u44ing u"* !ay!
that the "a!t i! D!o4ewhere beyond the reach o- the inteect* and un4i!ta3aby
"re!ent in !o4e 4ateria obCect :or in the !en!ation which !uch an obCect arou!e!
in u!;* though we ha)e no idea which one it i!. A! -or that obCect* it de"end!
entirey on chance whether we co4e u"on it be-ore we die or whether we ne)er
encounter it.E According to ,rou!t* it i! a 4atter o- chance whether an indi)idua
-or4! an i4age o- hi4!e-* whether he can ta3e hod o- hi! eG"erience. +t i! by no
4ean! ine)itabe to be de"endent on chance in thi! 4atter. 8anK! inner concern!
do not ha)e their i!!uee!! "ri)ate character by nature. They do !o ony when he
i! increa!ingy unabe to a!!i4iate the data o- the word around hi4 by way o-
eG"erience. New!"a"er! con!titute one o- 4any e)idence! o- !uch an inabiity. +-
it were the intention o- the "re!! to ha)e the reader a!!i4iate the in-or4ation it
!u""ie! a! "art oo hi! own eG"erience* it woud not achie)e it! "ur"o!e. But it!
intention i! Cu!t the o""o!ite* and it i! achie)ed@ to i!oate what ha""en! -ro4 the
rea4 in which it coud a--ect the eG"erience o- the reader. The "rinci"e! o-
Cournai!tic in-or4ation :-re!hne!! o- the new!* bre)ity* co4"rehen!ibiity* and*
abo)e
*
S
'
-n Dome 1oti(s in Ba!'elaire
a* ac3 o- connection between the indi)idua new! ite4!; contribute a! 4uch to
thi! a! doe! the 4a3e=u" o- the "age! and the "a"erK! !tye. :Kar Krau! ne)er
tired o- de4on!trating the great eGtent to which the ingui!tic u!age o-
new!"a"er! "arayAed the i4agination o- their reader!.; Another rea!on -or the
i!oation o- in-or4ation -ro4 eG"erience i! that the -or4er doe! not enter
Dtradition.E New!"a"er! a""ear in arge edition!. 7ew reader! can boa!t o- any
in-or4ation which another reader 4ay re?uire o- hi4.
Hi!toricay* the )ariou! 4ode! o- co44unication ha)e co4"eted with one
another. The re"ace4ent o- the oder narration by in-or4ation* o- in-or4ation by
!en!ation* re-ect! the increa!ing atro"hy o- eG"erience. +n turn* there i! a contra!t
between a the!e -or4! and the !tory* which i! one o- the ode!t -or4! o-
co44unication. +t i! not the obCect o- the !tory to con)ey a ha""ening :er seY
which i! the "ur"o!e o- in-or4ationN rather* it e4bed! it in the i-e o- the
!toryteer in order to "a!! it on a! eG"erience to tho!e i!tening. +t thu! bear! the
4ar3! o- the !toryteer 4uch a! the earthen )e!!e bear! the 4ar3! o- the "otterK!
hand.
,rou!tK! eight=)ou4e wor3 con)ey! an idea o- the e--ort! it too3 to re!tore the
-igure o- the !toryteer to the "re!ent generation. ,rou!t undertoo3 thi!
a!!ign4ent with 4agni-icent con!i!tency. 7ro4 the out!et thi! in)o)ed hi4 in
the "ri4ary ta!3 o- re!urrecting hi! own chidhood. +n !aying that it wa! a 4atter
o- chance whether the "robe4 coud be !o)ed at a* he ga)e the -u 4ea!ure o-
it! di--icuty. +n connection with the!e re-ection! he coined the "hra!e memoire
invohntaire4 Thi! conce"t bear! the 4ar3! o- the !ituation which ga)e ri!e to itN it
i! "art o- the in)entory o- the indi)idua who i! i!oated in 4any way!. Where
there i! eG"erience in the !trict !en!e o- the word* certain content! o- the
indi)idua "a!t co4bine with 4ateria o- the coecti)e "a!t. The ritua! with their
cere4onie!* their -e!ti)a! :?uite "robaby nowhere recaed in ,rou!tK! wor3;
3e"t "roducing the a4aga4ation o- the!e two ee4ent! o- 4e4ory o)er and o)er
again. They triggered recoection at certain ti4e! and re4ained hande! o-
4e4ory -or a i-eti4e. +n thi! way*
bD%
Ill*minati+n)
)ountary and in)ountary recoection o!e their 4utua eGeu=!i)ene!!Q
+
+n !ee3ing a 4ore !ub!tantia de-inition o- what a""ear! in ,rou!tK! mimoire 'e
Gintelli#en"e a! a by="roduct o- Berg!onK! theory* it i! we to go bac3 to 7reud.
+n $%.$ 7reud "ubi!hed hi! e!!ay Be.on' the 5leas!re 5rin"i:le, which "re!ent!
a correation between 4e4ory :in the !en!e o- the memoire involon-taire@ and
con!ciou!ne!! in the -or4 o- a hy"othe!i!. The -oowing re4ar3! ba!ed on it are
not intended to con-ir4 itN we !ha ha)e to content our!e)e! with in)e!tigating
the -ruit-une!! o- thi! hy"othe!i! in !ituation! -ar re4o)ed -ro4 tho!e which
7reud had in 4ind when he wrote
3
7reudK! "u"i! are 4ore i3ey to ha)e
encountered !uch !ituation!. So4e o- Rei3K! writing! on hi! own theory o-
4e4ory are in ine with ,rou!tK! di!tinction between in)ountary and )ountary
recoection. DThe -unction o- re4e4brance KFe'a"htnis^< Rei3 write!* Di! the
"rotection o- i4"re!!ion!N 4e4ory K9rinner!n#^ ai4! at their di!integration.
Re4e4brance i! e!!entiay con!er)ati)e* 4e4ory i! de!tructi)e.E 7reudK!
-unda4enta thought* on which the!e re4ar3! are ba!ed* i! -or4uated by the
a!!u4"tion that Dcon!ciou!ne!! co4e! into being at the !ite o- a 4e4ory trace*E
:7or our "ur"o!e!* there i! no !ub!tantia di--erence between the conce"t!
9rinner!n# and Fe'a"htnis, a! u!ed in 7reudK! e!!ay.; There-ore* Dit woud be
the !"ecia characteri!tic o- con!ciou!ne!! that* uni3e what ha""en! in a other
"!ychica !y!te4!* the eGcitatory "roce!! doe! not ea)e behind a "er4anent
change in it! ee4ent!* but eG"ire!* a! it were* in the "heno4enon o- beco4ing
con!ciou!.E The ba!ic -or4ua o- thi! hy"othe!i! i! that Dbeco4ing con!ciou! and
ea)ing behind a 4e4ory trace are "roce!!e! inco4"atibe with each other
within one and the !a4e !y!te4.E Rather* 4e4ory -rag4ent! are Do-ten 4o!t
"ower-u and 4o!t enduring when the incident which e-t the4 behind wa! one
that ne)er entered con!ciou!ne!!.E ,ut in ,rou!tian ter4!* thi! 4ean! that ony
what ha! not been eG"erienced eG"icity and con!ciou!y* what ha!
$&/
-n Dome 1oti(s in Ba!'eimre
not ha""ened to the !ubCect a! an eG"erience* can beco4e a co4"onent o- the
memoire involontaire4 According to 7reud* the attribution o- D"er4anent trace!
a! the ba!i! o- 4e4oryE to "roce!!e! o- !ti4uation i! re!er)ed -or Dother
!y!te4!*E which 4u!t be thought o- a! di--erent -ro4 con!ciou!ne!!. +n 7reudK!
)iew* con!ciou!ne!! a! !uch recei)e! no 4e4ory trace! whate)er* but ha!
another i4"ortant -unctionN "rotection again!t !ti4ui. D7or a i)ing organi!4*
"rotection again!t !ti4ui i! an a4o!t 4ore i4"ortant -unction than the rece"tion
o- !ti4uiN the "rotecti)e !hied i! e?ui""ed with it! own !tore o- energy and 4u!t
abo)e a !tri)e to "re!er)e the !"ecia -or4! o- con)er!ion o- energy o"erating in
it again!t the e--ect! o- the eGce!!i)e energie! at wor3 in the eGterna word*
e--ect! which tend toward an e?uaiAation o- "otentia and hence toward
de!truction.E The threat -ro4 the!e energie! i! one o- !hoc3!. The 4ore readiy
con!ciou!ne!! regi!ter! the!e !hoc3!* the e!! i3ey are they to ha)e a trau4atic
e--ect. ,!ychoanaytic theory !tri)e! to under!tand the nature o- the!e trau4atic
!hoc3! Don the ba!i! o- their brea3ing through the "rotecti)e !hied again!t
!ti4ui.E According to thi! theory* -right ha! D!igni-icanceE in the Dab!ence o-
any "re"aredne!! -or anGiety.E
7reudK! in)e!tigation wa! occa!ioned by a drea4 characteri!tic o- accident
neuro!e! which re"roduce the cata!tro"he in which the "atient wa! in)o)ed.
Drea4! o- thi! 3ind* according to 7reud* Dendea)or to 4a!ter the !ti4uu!
retroacti)ey* by de)eo"ing the anGiety who!e o4i!!ion wa! the cau!e o- the
trau4atic neuro!i!.E 6aery !ee4! to ha)e had !o4ething !i4iar in 4ind. The
coincidence i! worth noting* -or 6aery wa! a4ong tho!e intere!ted in the !"ecia
-unctioning o- "!ychic 4echani!4! under "re!ent=day condition!. :8oreo)er*
6aery wa! abe to reconcie thi! intere!t with hi! "oetic "roduction* which re=
4ained eGcu!i)ey yric. He thu! e4erge! a! the ony author who goe! bac3
directy to Baudeaire.; DThe i4"re!!ion! and !en!e "erce"tion! o- 4an*E 6aery
write!* Dactuay beong in the category o- !ur"ri!e!N they are e)idence o- an
in!u--iciency in 4an. . . . Recoection i! ... an ee4enta "heno4enon which ai4!
at gi)ing u! the ti4e -or organiAing the rece"tion o- !ti4ui which
/i
Ill*minati+n)
we initiay ac3ed.E The acce"tance o- !hoc3! i! -aciitated by training in
co"ing with !ti4ui* and* i- need be* drea4! a! we a! recoection 4ay be
eni!ted. A! a rue* howe)erF!o 7reud a!!u4e!Fthi! training de)o)e! u"on the
wa3e-u con!ciou!ne!!* ocated in a "art o- the corteG which i! D!o bown out by
the e--ect o- the !ti4uu!E that it o--er! the 4o!t -a)orabe !ituation -or the
rece"tion o- !ti4ui. That the !hoc3 i! thu! cu!hioned* "arried by con!ciou!ne!!*
woud end the incident that occa!ion! it the character o- ha)ing been i)ed in the
!trict !en!e. +- it were incor"orated directy in the regi!try o- con!ciou! 4e4ory*
it woud !teriiAe thi! incident -or "oetic eG"erience*
The ?ue!tion !ugge!t! it!e- how yric "oetry can ha)e a! it! ba!i! an
eG"erience -or which the !hoc3 eG"erience ha! beco4e the nor4. One woud
eG"ect !uch "oetry to ha)e a arge 4ea!ure o- con!ciou!ne!!N it woud !ugge!t
that a "an wa! at wor3 in it! co4"o!ition. Thi! i! indeed true o- BaudeaireK!
"oetryN it e!tabi!he! a connection between hi4 and ,oe* a4ong hi! "redece!=
!or!* and with 6aery* a4ong hi! !ucce!!or!. ,rou!tK! and 6a=eryK! re-ection!
concerning Baudeaire co4"e4ent each other "ro)identiay. ,rou!t wrote an
e!!ay about Baudeaire the !igni-icance o- which i! e)en eGceeded by certain
re-ection! in hi! no)e!. +n hi! DSituation de BaudeaireE 6aery !u""ie! the ca!=
!ica introduction to the Rle!rs '! mal4 There he !ay!@ DThe "robe4 -or
Baudeaire wa! bound to be thi!@ to beco4e a great "oet* yet neither 1a4artine
nor Hugo nor 8u!!et. + do not cai4 that thi! a4bition wa! a con!ciou! one in
BaudeaireN but it wa! bound to be "re!ent in hi4* it wa! hi! rea!on o- !tate.E
There i! !o4ething odd about !"ea3ing o- a rea!on o- !tate in the ca!e o- a "oetN
there i! !o4ething re4ar3abe about it@ the e4anci"ation -ro4 eG"erience!.
BaudeaireK! "oetic out"ut i! a!!igned a 4i!!ion. He en)i!ioned ban3 !"ace!
which he -ied in with hi! "oe4!. Hi! wor3 cannot 4erey be categoriAed a!
hi!torica* i3e anyone e!eK!* but it intended to be !o and under!tood it!e- a!
!uch.
$&.
On So4e 8oti-! in Baudeaire I=
The greater the !hare o- the !hoc3 -actor in "articuar i4"re!!ion!* the 4ore
con!tanty con!ciou!ne!! ha! to be aert a! a !creen again!t !ti4uiN the 4ore
e--icienty it doe! !o* the e!! do the!e i4"re!!ion! enter eG"erience B9r(ahr!n#@,
tending to re4ain in the !"here o- a certain hour in oneK! i-e B9rlenis@4 ,erha"!
the !"ecia achie)e4ent o- !hoc3 de-en!e 4ay be !een in it! -unction o-
a!!igning to an incident a "reci!e "oint in ti4e in con!ciou!ne!! at the co!t o- the
integrity o- it! content!. Thi! woud be a "ea3 achie)e4ent o- the inteectN it
woud turn the incident into a 4o4ent that ha! been i)ed B9rlenis@4 Without
re-ection there woud be nothing but the !udden !tart* u!uay the !en!ation o-
-right which* according to 7reud* con-ir4! the -aiure o- the !hoc3 de-en!e.
Baudeaire ha! "ortrayed thi! condition in a har!h i4age. He !"ea3! o- a due in
which the arti!t* Cu!t be-ore being beaten* !crea4! in -right. Thi! due i! the
creati)e "roce!! it!e-. Thu! Baudeaire "aced the !hoc3 eG"erience at the )ery
center o- hi! arti!tic wor3. Thi! !e-="ortrait* which i! corroborated by e)idence
-ro4 !e)era conte4"orarie!* i! o- great !igni-icance. Since he i! hi4!e-
eG"o!ed to -right* it i! not unu!ua -or Baudeaire to occa!ion -right. 6ae! te!
u! about hi! eccentric gri4ace!N on the ba!i! o- a "ortrait by Nargeot* ,ont=
4artin e!tabi!he! BaudeaireK! aar4ing a""earanceN Caude !tre!!e! the cutting
?uaity he coud gi)e to hi! !"eechN 5autier !"ea3! o- the itaiciAing Baudeaire
induged in when reciting "oetryN Nadar de!cribe! hi! Cer3y gait.
,!ychiatry 3now! trau4ato"hie ty"e!. Baudeaire 4ade it hi! bu!ine!! to "arry
the !hoc3!* no 4atter where they 4ight co4e -ro4* with hi! !"iritua and hi!
"hy!ica !e-. Thi! !hoc3 de-en!e i! de"icted gra"hicay in an attitude o- co4bat.
Baudeaire de!cribe! hi! -riend Con!tantin 5uy!* who4 he )i!it! when ,ari! i!
a!ee"@ ^. . . how he !tand! there* bent o)er hi! tabe* !crutiniAing the !heet o-
"a"er Cu!t a! intenty a! he doe! the obCect! around hi4 by dayN how he stas
a3a. with hi! "enci* hi! "en* hi! bru!hN how he !"urt! water -ro4 hi! ga!! to
the ceiing and trie! hi! "en on hi! !hirtN how he "ur!ue! hi! wor3 !wi-ty and
i&C
+u4ination!
inten!ey* a! though he were a-raid that hi! i4age! 4ight e!ca"e hi4N thu! he i!
co4bati)e* e)en when aone* and "arrie! hi! own bow!.E +n the o"ening !tanAa
o- hi! "oe4 D1e SoeiE Baudeaire ha! "ictured hi4!e- engaged in !uch a
-anta!tic co4batN thi! i! "robaby the ony "ace in +es Rle!rs '! rnal that !how!
the "oet at wor3.
1e ong du )ieuG -aubourg* ou "endent auG 4a!ure! 1e! "er!ienne!* abri de!
!ecrete! uGure!* _uand e !oei crue -ra""e a trait! redoube! Sur a )ie et e!
cha4"!* !ur e! toit! et e! be!* (e )ai! 4KeGercer !eu a 4a -anta!?ue e!cri4e*
7airant dan! tou! e! coin! e! ha!ard! de a ri4e* Trebuchant !ur e! 4ot!
co44e !ur e! "a)e!* Heurtant "ar-oi! de! )er! de"ui! ongte4"! re)e!.P
Shoc3 i! a4ong tho!e eG"erience! that ha)e a!!u4ed deci!i)e i4"ortance -or
BaudeaireK! "er!onaity. 5ide ha! deat with the inter!tice! between i4age and
idea* word and thing* which are the rea !ite o- BaudeaireK! "oetic eGcitation.
Ri)-ce ha! "ointed to the !ubterranean !hoc3! by which BaudeaireK! "oetry i!
!ha3enN it i! a! though they cau!ed word! to coa"!e. Ri)iere ha! indi=cated
!uch coa"!ing word!.
Et ?ui !ait !i e! -eur! nou)ee! ?ue Ce re)e Trou)eront dan! ce !o a)e
co44e une gr)e 1e 4y!ti?ue ai4ent ?ui jerait eur )igueur.-
Or@
Cybee* ?ui e! ai4e* aug4ente !e! )erdure!.T
Aong the od -aubourg where the 4a!onry i! tented by Shutter!*
!hetering !ecret "ea!ure!* When the crue !unK! redoubed bea4! Are a!hing
city and -ied* roo-! and grain* + go* aone* to "ractice 4y curiou! -encing* +n
e)ery corner !4eing out the dodge! o- rhy4e* Stu4bing o)er word! a! o)er
cobbe!tone!* Coiding now and then with ong=drea4ed=o- )er!e!.
t And who 3now! whether 4y drea4!K new -ower! Wi -ind within thi! !oi*
wa!hed i3e a !hore* The 4y!tic nouri!h4ent that woud gi)e the4 !trengthJ
t Cybee* who o)e! the4* aug4ent! her )erdure.
$&<
-n Dome 1oti(s in Ba!'elaire
Another eGa4"e i! thi! -a4ou! -ir!t ine@
+a servante a! #ran' "oe!r 'ont vo!s etieE jalo!se6
To gi)e the!e co)ert aw! their due out!ide hi! )er!e! a! we wa! BaudeaireK!
intention in hi! D:leen 'e 5aris, hi! "ro!e "oe4!. +n the dedication o- hi!
coection to the editor=in=chie- o- +a 5resse, Ar!ene Hou!!aye* Baudeaire
wrote@ DWho a4ong u! ha! not drea4t* in hi! a4bitiou! day!* o- the 4irace o- a
"oetic "ro!eJ +t woud ha)e to be 4u!ica without rhyth4 and rhy4e* !u""e and
re!i!tant enough to ada"t it!e- to the yrica !tirring! o- the !ou* the wa)e
4otion! o- drea4ing* the !hoc3! o- con!ciou!ne!!. Thi! idea* which can turn into
an i'ee (i=e, wi gri" e!"eciay tho!e who are at ho4e in the giant citie! and the
web o- their nu4bere!! interconnecting reation!hi"!.E
Thi! "a!!age !ugge!t! lo in!ighY7or one thing* it tei! u! about the co!e
connection in Baudeaire between the -igure o- !hoc3 and contact with the
4etro"oitan 4a!!e!. 7or another* it te! u! what i! reay 4eant by the!e
4a!!e!. They do not !tand -or ca!!e! or any !ort o- coecti)eN rather* they are
nothing but the a4or"hou! crowd o- "a!!er!=by* the "eo"e in the !treet.
$
Thi!
crowd* o- who!e eGi!tence Baudeaire i! away! aware* ha! not !er)ed a! the
4ode -or any o- hi! wor3!* but it i! i4"rinted on hi! creati)ity a! a hidden -igure*
Cu!t a! it con!titute! the -igure conceaed in the -rag4ent ?uoted be-ore. We 4ay
di!cern the i4age o- the -encer in itN the bow! he dea! are de!igned to o"en a
"ath through the crowd -or hi4. To be !ure* the (a!o!r#s through which the
"oet o- D1e SoeiE 4a3e! hi! way are de!erted. But the 4eaning o- the hidden
con-iguration :which re)ea! the beauty o- that !tanAa to it! )ery de"th; "robaby
i! thi!@ it i! the "hanto4 crowd o- the word!* the -rag4ent!* the beginning! o-
ine! -ro4 which the "oet* in the de!erted !treet!* wre!t! the "oetic booty.
That 4agnani4ou! !er)ant o- who4 you were Ceaou!.
$&9
+u4ination!
V
The crowd=no !ubCect wa! 4ore entited to the attention o- nineteenth=century
writer!. +t wa! getting ready to ta3e !ha"e a! a "ubic in broad !trata who had
ac?uired -aciity in reading. +t beca4e a cu!to4erN it wi!hed to -ind it!e-
"ortrayed in the conte4"orary no)e* a! the "atron! did in the "ainting! o- the
8idde Age!. The 4o!t !ucce!!-u author o- the century 4et thi! de4and out o-
inner nece!!ity. To hi4* crowd 4eant=a4o!t in the ancient !en!eFthe crowd o-
the cient!* the "ubic. 6ictor Hugo wa! the -ir!t to addre!! the crowd in hi!
tite!@ +es 1ise-rales, +es Travaille!rs 'e la mer4 +n 7rance* Hugo wa! the ony
writer abe to co4"ete with the !eria no)e. A! i! generay 3nown* Eugene Sue
wa! the 4a!ter o- thi! genre* which began to be the !ource o- re)eation -or the
4an in the !treet. +n $'9/ an o)erwhe4ing 4aCority eected hi4 to ,aria4ent a!
re"re!entati)e o- the city o- ,ari!. +t i! no accident that the young 8arG cho!e
SueK! +es 1.stires 'e 5aris -or an attac3. He eary recogniAed it a! hi! ta!3 to
-orge the a4or"hou! 4a!!* which wa! then being wooed by an ae!thetic
!ociai!4* into the iron o- the "roetariat. Enge!K de!cri"tion o- the!e 4a!!e! in hi!
eary writing! 4ay be regarded a! a "reude* howe)er 4ode!t* to one o- 8arGK!
the4e!. +n hi! boo3 The Con'ition o( the Workin# Class in 9n#lan', Enge!
write!@ DA city i3e 1ondon* where one can roa4 about -or hour! without
reaching the beginning o- an end* without !eeing the !ighte!t indication that
o"en country i! nearby* i! reay !o4ething )ery !"ecia. Thi! coo!!a cen=
traiAation* thi! aggo4eration o- three and a ha- 4iion "eo"e on a !inge !"ot
ha! 4uti"ied the !trength o- the!e three and a ha- 4iion inhabitant! a
hundred-od. . . . But the "rice that ha! been "aid i! not di!co)ered unti ater.
Ony when one ha! tra4"ed the "a)e4ent! o- the 4ain !treet! -or a -ew day!
doe! one notice that the!e 1ondoner! ha)e had to !acri-ice what i! be!t in hu4an
nature in order to create a the wonder! o- ci)iiAation with which their city
tee4!* that a hundred creati)e -acutie! that ay dor4ant in the4 re4ained
inacti)e and were !u""re!!ed. . . . There i! !o4ething di!ta!te-u about the )ery
bu!te
$&&
Sp` So4e 8oti-! in Baudeaire
o- the !treet!* !o4ething that i! abhorrent to hu4an nature it!e-. Hundred! o-
thou!and! o- "eo"e o- a ca!!e! and ran3! o- !ociety Co!te "a!t one anotherN
are they not a hu4an being! with the !a4e characteri!tic! and "otentiaitie!*
e?uay intere!ted in the "ur!uit o- ha""ine!!J . . . And yet they ru!h "a!t one an=
other a! i- they had nothing in co44on or were in no way a!!ociated with one
another. Their ony agree4ent i! a tacit one@ that e)eryone !houd 3ee" to the
right o- the "a)e4ent* !o a! not to i4"ede the !trea4 o- "eo"e 4o)ing in the
o""o!ite direction. No one e)en bother! to !"are a gance -or the other!. The
greater the nu4ber o- "eo"e that are "ac3ed into a tiny !"ace* the 4ore re"u!i)e
and o--en!i)e beco4e! the bruta indi--erence* the un-eeing concentration o- each
"er!on on hi! "ri)ate a--air!.E
Thi! de!cri"tion di--er! 4ar3edy -ro4 tho!e to be -ound in 4inor 7rench
4a!ter!* !uch a! 5oAan* De)au* or 1urine. +t ac3! the !3i and ea!e with which
the (lane!r 4o)e! a4ong the crowd and which the Cournai!t eagery earn! -ro4
hi4. Enge! i! di!4ayed by the crowdN he re!"ond! with a 4ora reaction* and an
ae!thetic one a! weN the !"eed with which "eo"e ru!h "a!t one another
un!ette! hi4. The char4 o- hi! de!cri"tion ie! in the inter!ecting o- un!ha3abe
critica integrity with an od=-a!hioned attitude. The writer ca4e -ro4 a
5er4any that wa! !ti "ro)inciaN he 4ay ne)er ha)e -aced the te4"tation to
o!e hi4!e- in a !trea4 o- "eo"e. When Hege went to ,ari! -or the -ir!t ti4e
not ong be-ore hi! death* he wrote to hi! wi-e@ DWhen + wa3 through the !treet!*
"eo"e oo3 Cu!t a! they do in BerinN they wear the !a4e cothe! and the -ace! are
about the !a4e=the !a4e a!"ect* but in a arge crowd.E To 4o)e in thi! crowd
wa! natura -or a ,ari!ian. No 4atter how great the di!tance which an indi)idua
cared to 3ee" -ro4 it* he !ti wa! coored by it and* uni3e Enge!* wa! not abe
to )iew it -ro4 without. A! regard! Baudeaire* the 4a!!e! were anything but eG=
terna to hi4N indeed* it i! ea!y to trace in hi! wor3! hi! de-en!i)e reaction to
their attraction and aure.
The 4a!!e! had beco4e !o 4uch a "art o- Baudeaire that it i! rare to -ind a
de!cri"tion o- the4 in hi! wor3!. Hi! 4o!t i4"ortant !ubCect! are hardy e)er
encountered in de!cri"ti)e -or4.
$&
a
+u4ination!
A! DuCardin !o a"ty "ut it* he wa! D4ore concerned with i4"anting the i4age
in the 4e4ory than with adorning and eaborating it.E +t i! -utie to !earch in +es
Rle!rs '! mal or in D:leen 'e 5aris -or any counter"art to the "ortraya! o- the
city which 6ictor Hugo did with !uch 4a!tery. Baudeaire de!cribe! neither the
,ari!ian! nor their city. 7orgoing !uch de!cri"tion! enabe! hi4 to in)o3e the
one! in the -or4 o- the other. Hi! crowd i! away! the crowd o- a big city* hi!
,ari! i! in)ariaby o)er"o"u=ated. +t i! thi! that 4a3e! hi4 !o !u"erior to Barbier*
who!e de!cri"ti)e 4ethod cau!ed a ri-t between the 4a!!e! and the city.
.
+n
Talea!= :arinens the !ecret "re!ence o- a crowd i! de4on!trabe a4o!t
e)erywhere. When Baudeaire ta3e! the dawn a! hi! the4e* the de!erted !treet!
e4anate !o4ething o- that D!ience o- a throngE which Hugo !en!e! in nocturna
,ari!. A! Baudeaire oo3! at the "ate! in the anato4ica wor3! -or !ae on the
du!ty ban3! o- the Seine* the 4a!! o- the de"arted ta3e! the "ace o- the !inguar
!3eeton! on the!e "age!. +n the -igure! o- the 'ame ma"are^ he !ee! a co4"act
4a!! on the 4o)e. The heroi!4 o- the wiAened od wo4en who4 the cyce D1e!
"etite! )ieie!E -oow! on their round!* con!i!t! in their !tanding a"art -ro4 the
crowd* unabe to 3ee" it! "ace* no onger "artici"ating with their thought! in the
"re!ent. The 4a!! wa! the agitated )eiN through it Baudeaire !aw ,ari!. The
"re!ence o- the 4a!! deter4ine! one o- the 4o!t -a4ou! co4"onent! o- +es
Rle!rs '! mak
+n the !onnet DA une "a!!anteE the crowd i! nowhere na4ed in either word or
"hra!e. And yet the whoe ha""ening hinge! on it* Cu!t a! the "rogre!! o- a
!aiboat de"end! on the wind.
1a rue a!!ourdi!!ante autour de 4oi hurait. 1ongue* 4ince* en grand deui*
doueur 4aCe!tueu!e* 2ne -e44e "a!!a* dKune 4ain -a!tueu!e Souie)ant*
baancant e -e!ton et KouretN
Agie et nobe* a)ee !a Ca4be de !tatue. 8oi* ie bu)ai!* cri!"e co44e un
eGtra)agant* Dan! 6Q oei* cie 1de ou ger4e Toucan* 1a douceur ?ui -a!cine et
e "ai!ir ?ui tue.
$&'
-n Dome 1oti(s in Ba!'elaire
2n ecair . . . "ui! a nuitMF7ugiti)e beaute Dont e regard 4Ka -ait
!oudaineroent renaitre* Nete)errai=Ce "u! ?ue dan! 8te4iteJ
Aieur!* bien oin dKiciM Tro" tardM 2amais "eut=etreM Car CKignore ou to -ui!* to
ne !ai! ou Ce )ai!* S toi ?ue CKeu!!e ai4ee* & coi ?ui e !a)ai!M P
+n a widowK! )ei* 4y!teriou!y and 4utey borne aong by the crowd* an
un3nown wo4an co4e! into the "oetK! -ied o- )i!ion. What thi! !onnet
co44unicate! i! !i4"y thi!@ 7ar -ro4 eG"eriencing the crowd a! an o""o!ed*
antagoni!tic ee4ent* thi! )ery crowd bring! to the city dweer the -igure that
-a!cinate!. The deight o- the urban "oet i! o)eFnot at -ir!t !ight* but at a!t
!ight. +t i! a -arewe -ore)er which coincide! in the "oe4 with the 4o4ent o-
enchant4ent. Thu! the !onnet !u""ie! the -igure o- !hoc3* indeed o- cata!tro"he.
But the nature o- the "oetK! e4otion! ha! been a--ected a! we. What 4a3e! hi!
body contract in a tre4orF"ris:o "omrne !n e=trava#ant^ Baudeaire !ay!Fi!
not the ra"ture o- a 4an who!e e)ery -iber i! !u--u!ed with eros)
A
it i!* rather*
i3e the 3ind o- !eGua !hoc3 that can be!et a oney 4an. The -act that Dthe!e
)er!e! coud ony ha)e been written in a big city*E a! Thiboudet "ut it* i! not )ery
4ean=ing-u. They re)ea the !tig4ata which i-e in a 4etro"oi! in-ict! u"on
o)e. ,rou!t read the !onnet in thi! ight* and that i! why he ga)e hi! ater echo o-
the wo4an in 4ourning* which
The dea-ening !treet wa! !crea4ing a around 4e. Tai* !ender*
in dee" 4ourning=4aCe!tic grie-=A wo4an 4ade her way* with -a!tidiou! hand
Rai!ing and !waying -e!toon and he4N
Agie and nobe* with her !tatueK! i4b!. And there wa! +* who dran3* contorted
i3e a 4ad4an* Within her eye!=that iwd !3y where hurricane i! born=
5entene!! that -a!cinate!* "ea!ure that 3i!.
A ightning=-a!h . . . then nightMFS -eeting beauty Who!e gance a o- a
!udden ga)e 4e new birth* Sha + !ee you again ony in eternityJ
7ar* -ar -ro4 hereM Too ateM or 4aybe* neverT
7or + 3now not where you -ee* you 3now not where + go*
S you + woud ha)e o)ed :o you who 3new it tooM;
i&
%
+u4ination!
a""eared to hi4 one day in the.-or4 o- Abertine* the e)ocati)e ca"tion D1a
,ari!ienne.E DWhen Abertine ca4e into 4y roo4 again* !he wore a bac3 !atin
dre!!. +t 4ade her "ae* and !he re!e4bed the ty"e o- the -iery and yet "ae
,ari!ian wo4an* the wo4an who i! not u!ed to -re!h air and ha! been a--ected by
i)ing a4ong 4a!!e! and "o!!iby in an at4o!"here o- )ice* the 3ind that can be
recogniAed by a certain gance which !ee4! un!teady i- there i! no rouge on her
chee3!.E Thi! i! the oo3Fe)en a! ate a! ,rou!tFo- the obCect o- a o)e which
ony a city dweer eG"erience!* which Baudeaire ca"tured -or "oetry* and o-
which one 4ight not in-re?uenty !ay that it wa! !"ared* rather than denied*
-u-i4ent.
'
VI
A !tory by ,oe which Baudeaire tran!ated 4ay be regarded a! the ca!!ic
eGa4"e a4ong the oder )er!ion! o- the 4oti- o- the crowd. +t i! 4ar3ed by
certain "ecuiaritie! which* u"on co!er in!"ection* re)ea a!"ect! o- !ocia -orce!
o- !uch "ower and hidden de"th that we 4ay count the4 a4ong tho!e which
aone are ca"abe o- eGerting both a !ubte and a "ro-ound e--ect u"on arti!tic
"roduction. The !tory i! entited DThe 8an o- the Crowd.E Set in 1ondon* it!
narrator i! a 4an who* a-ter a ong ine!!* )enture! out again -or the -ir!t ti4e
into the hu!te and bu!te o- the city. +n the ate a-ternoon hour! o- an autu4n day
he in!ta! hi4!e- behind a window in a big 1ondon co--eehou!e. He oo3! o)er
the other gue!t!* "ore! o)er ad)erti!e4ent! in the "a"er* but hi! 4ain -ocu! o-
intere!t i! the throng o- "eo"e !urging "a!t hi! window in the !treet. DThe atter
i! one o- the "rinci"a thorough-are! o- the city* and had been )ery 4uch crowded
during the whoe day. But* a! the dar3ne!! ca4e on* the throng 4o4enty
increa!edN and by the ti4e the a4"! were we ighted* two den!e and continuou!
tide! o- "o"uation were ru!hing "a!t the door. At thi! "articuar "eriod o- the
e)ening i had ne)er be-ore been in a !i4iar !ituation* and the tu4utuou! !ea o-
hu4an head! -ied 4e* there-ore* with a deiciou! no)ety o- e4otion. + ga)e u"*
at ength* a care o- thing! within the
$0/
-n Dome 1oti(s in Ba!'elaire
hote* and beca4e ab!orbed in conte4"ation o- the !cene without.E +4"ortant
a! it i!* et u! di!regard the narrati)e to which thi! i! the "reude and eGa4ine the
!etting.
The a""earance o- the 1ondon crowd a! ,oe de!cribe! it i! a! goo4y and -it-u
a! the ight o- the ga! a4"! o)erhead. Thi! a""ie! not ony to the ri--ra-- that i!
Dbrought -orth -ro4 it! denE a! night -a!. The e4"oyee! o- higher ran3* Dthe
u""er cer3! o- !taunch -ir4!*E ,oe de!cribe! a! -oow!@ DThey had a !ighty
bad head!* -ro4 which the right ear!* ong u!ed to "en=hoding* had an odd habit
o- !tanding o-- on end. + ob!er)ed that they away! re4o)ed or !etted their hat!
with both hand!* and wore watche!* with !hort god chain! o- a !ub!tantia and
ancient "attern.E E)en 4ore !tri3ing i! hi! de!cri"tion o- the crowdK!
4o)e4ent!. DBy -ar the greater nu4ber o- tho!e who went by had a !ati!-ied
bu!ine!!=i3e de4eanour* and !ee4ed to be thin3ing ony o- 4a3ing their way
through the "re!!. Their brow! were 3nit* and their eye! roed ?uic3yN when
"u!hed again!t by -eow=way-arer! they e)inced no !y4"to4 o- i4"atience* but
adCu!ted their cothe! and hurried on. Other!* !ti a nu4erou! ca!!* were re!te!!
in their 4o)e4ent!* had -u!hed -ace!* and ta3ed and ge!ticuated to the4!e)e!*
a! i- -eeing in !oitude on account o- the )ery den!ene!! o- the co4"any around.
When i4"eded in their "rogre!!* the!e "eo"e !uddeny cea!ed 4uttering* but
redoubed their ge!ticuation!* and awaited* with an ab!ent and o)erdone !4ie
u"on the i"!* the cour!e o- the "er!on! i4"eding the4. +- Co!ted* they bowed
"ro-u!ey to the Co!ter!* and a""eared o)erwhe4ed with con-u!ion.E
<
One
4ight thin3 he wa! !"ea3ing o- ha-=drun3en wretche!. Actuay* they were
Dnobe4en* 4erchant!* attorney!* trade!4en* !toc3=Cobber!.E
&
,oeK! 4anner o- "re!entation cannot be caed reai!4. +t !how! a "ur"o!ey
di!torting i4agination at wor3* one that re4o)e! the teGt -ar -ro4 what i!
co44ony ad)ocated a! the 4ode o- !ocia reai!4. Barbier* "erha"! one o- the
be!t eGa4"e! o- thi! ty"e o- reai!4 that eo4e to 4ind* de!cribe! thing! in a e!!
eccentric way. 8oreo)er* he cho!e a 4ore tran!"arent !ubCect@ the o""re!!ed
4a!!e!. ,oe i! not concerned with the!eN he dea! with D"eo"e*E "ure and
!i4"e. 7or hi4* a! -or Enge!*
`a`
&ll!minations
there wa! !o4ething 4enacing in the !"ectace they "re!ented. +t i! "reci!ey
thi! i4age o- big=city crowd! that beca4e deci!i)e -or Baudeaire. +- he
!uccu4bed to the -orce by which he wa! drawn to the4 and* a! a (lane!r, wa!
4ade one o- the4* he wa! ne)erthee!! unabe to rid hi4!e- o- a !en!e o- their
e!!entiay inhu4an 4a3e=u". He beco4e! their acco4"ice e)en a! he di!!ociate!
hi4!e- -ro4 the4. He beco4e! dee"y in)o)ed with the4* ony to reegate
the4 to obi)ion with a !inge gance o- conte4"t. There i! !o4ething co4"eing
about thi! a4bi)aence where he cautiou!y ad4it! to it. ,erha"! the char4 o- hi!
DCre"u!cue du !oir*E !o di--icut to account -or* i! bound u" with thi!.
6++
Baudeaire !aw -it to e?uate the 4an o- the crowd* who4 ,oeK! narrator
-oow! throughout the ength and breadth o- nocturna 1ondon* with the (lane!r4
+t i! hard to acce"t thi! )iew. The 4an o- the crowd i! no (lane!r4 +n hi4*
co4"o!ure ha! gi)en way to 4anic beha)ior. Hence he eGe4"i-ie!* rather* what
had to beco4e o- the (lane!r once he wa! de"ri)ed o- the 4iieu to which he
beonged. +- 1ondon e)er "ro)ided it -or hi4* it wa! certainy not the !etting
de!cribed by ,oe. +n co4"ari!on* BaudeaireK! ,ari! "re!er)ed !o4e -eature! that
dated bac3 to the ha""y od day!. 7errie! were !ti cro!!ing the Seine at "oint!
that woud ater be !"anned by the arch o- a bridge. +n the year o- BaudeaireK!
death it wa! !ti "o!!ibe -or !o4e entre"reneur to cater to the co4-ort o- the
we=to=do with a -eet o- -i)e hundred !edan chair! circuating about the city.
Arcade! where the (lane!r woud not be eG"o!ed to the !ight o- carriage! that did
not recogniAe "ede!trian! a! ri)a! were enCoying undi4ini!hed "o"uarity.
&

There wa! the "ede!trian who woud et hi4!e- be Co!ted by the crowd* but
there wa! a!o the (lane!r who de4anded ebow roo4 and wa! unwiing to
-orgo the i-e o- a gente4an o- ei!ure. 1et the 4any attend to their daiy
a--air!P* the 4an o- ei!ure can induge in the "era4buation! o- the (lane!r ony
i- a! !uch he i! aready out o- "ace. He i! a! 4uch
$$.
-n Dome 1oti(s in Ba!'elaire
out o- "ace in an at4o!"here o- co4"ete ei!ure a! in the -e)eri!h tur4oi o-
the city. 1ondon ha! it! 4an o- the crowd. Hi! counter"art* a! it were* i! the boy
Nante H7erdinandI* o- the !treet corner* a "o"uar -igure in Berin be-ore the
8arch Re)oution o- $'<'N the ,ari!ian (lane!r 4ight be !aid to !tand 4idway
between the4.
0
How the 4an o- ei!ure oo3! u"on the crowd i! re)eaed in a !hort "iece by q.
r. A. Ho--4ann* the a!t that he wrote* entited DThe Cou!inK! Corner Window.E
+t antedate! ,oeK! !tory by -i-teen year! and "robaby i! one o- the earie!t
atte4"t! to ca"ture the !treet !cene o- a arge city. The di--erence! between the
two "iece! are worth noting. ,oeP! narrator ob!er)e! -ro4 behind the window o-
a "ubic co--eehou!e* wherea! the cou!in i! in!taed at ho4e. ,oeK! ob!er)er
!uccu4b! to the -a!cination o- the !cene* which -inay ure! hi4 out!ide into the
whir o- the crowd. Ho--4annK! cou!in* oo3ing out -ro4 hi! corner window* i!
i44obiiAed a! a "arayticN he woud not be abe to -oow the crowd e)en i- he
were in the 4id!t o- it. Hi! attitude toward the crowd i!* rather* one o-
!u"eriority* in!"ired a! it i! by hi! ob!er)ation "o!t at the window o- an
a"art4ent buiding. 7ro4 thi! )antage "oint he !crutiniAe! the throngN it i!
4ar3et day* and they a -ee in their ee4ent. Hi! o"era ga!!e! enabe hi4 to
"ic3 out indi)idua genre !cene!. The e4"oy4ent o- thi! in!tru4ent i!
thoroughy in 3ee"ing with the inner di!"o!ition o- it! u!er. He woud i3e* a! he
ad4it!* to initiate hi! )i!itor into the D"rinci"e! o- the art o- !eeing*E
'
Thi!
con!i!t! o- an abiity to enCoy talea!= vivants8E -a)orite "ur!uit o- the
Bieder4eier "eriod. Edi-ying !aying! "ro)ide the inter"retation.
%
One can oo3
u"on the narrati)e a! an atte4"t which wa! then due to be 4ade. But it i!
ob)iou! that the condition! under which it wa! 4ade in Berin "re)ented it -ro4
being a co4"ete !ucce!!. +- Ho--4ann had e)er !et -oot in ,ari! or 1ondon* or i-
he had been intent u"on de"icting the 4a!!e! a! !uch* he woud not ha)e -ocu!ed
on a 4ar3et "aceN he woud not ha)e "ortrayed the !cene a! being do4inated by
wo4enN he woud "erha"! ha)e !eiAed on the 4oti-! that ,oe deri)e! -ro4 the
!war4ing crowd! under the ga! a4"!. Actuay* there woud ha)e been no need
XB
Ill*minati+n)
-or the!e 4oti-! in order to bring out the uncanny ee4ent! that other !tudent!
o- the "hy!iogno4y o- the big city ha)e -et. A thought-u ob!er)ation by Heine
i! ree)ant here@ DHeineK! eye!ight*E wrote a corre!"ondent in a etter to
6arnhagen in $'B'* Dcau!ed hi4 acute troube in the !"ring. On the a!t !uch
occa!ion + wa! wa3ing down one o- the boue)ard! with hi4. The 4agni-icence*
the i-e o- thi! in it! way uni?ue thorough-are rou!ed 4e to bounde!!
ad4iration* !o4ething that "ro4"ted Heine thi! ti4e to 4a3e a !igni-icant "oint
in !tre!!ing the horror with which thi! center o- the word wa! tinged.E
VIII
7ear* re)u!ion* and horror were the e4otion! which the big=city crowd arou!ed
in tho!e who -ir!t ob!er)ed it. 7or ,oe it ha! !o4ething barbaricN di!ci"ine Cu!t
barey 4anage! to ta4e it. 1ater* (a4e! En!or tiree!!y con-ronted it! di!ci"ine
with it! widne!!N he i3ed to "ut 4iitary grou"! in hi! carni)a 4ob!* and both
got aong !"endidyFa! the "rototy"e o- totaitarian !tate!* in which the "oice
4a3e co44on cau!e with the ooter!. 6aery* who had a -ine eye -or the cu!ter
o- !y4"to4! caed Dci)iiAation*E ha! characteriAed one o- the "ertinent -act!.
DThe inhabitant o- the great urban center!*E he write!* Dre)ert! to a !tate o-
!a)ageryFthat i!* o- i!oation. The -eeing o- being de"endent on other!* which
u!ed to be 3e"t ai)e by need* i! graduay bunted in the !4ooth -unctioning o-
the !ocia 4echani!4. Any i4"ro)e4ent o- thi! 4echani!4 ei4inate! certain
4ode! o- beha)ior and e4otion!.E Co4-ort i!oate!N on the other hand* it bring!
tho!e enCoying it co!er to 4echaniAation. The in)ention o- the 4atch around the
4idde o- the nineteenth century brought -orth a nu4ber o- inno)ation! which
ha)e one thing in co44on@ one abru"t 4o)e4ent o- the hand trigger! a "roce!!
o- 4any !te"!. Thi! de)eo"4ent i! ta3ing "ace in 4any area!. One ca!e in "oint
i! the tee"hone* where the i-ting o- a recei)er ha! ta3en the "ace o- the !teady
4o)e4ent that u!ed to be re?uired to cran3 the oder 4ode!. O- the counte!!
4o)e4ent! o- !witching* in!erting* "re!!ing* and the i3e* the D!na"=
4
-n Dome 1oti(s in Ba!'elaire
"ingE o- the "hotogra"her ha! had the greate!t con!e?uence!. A touch o- the
-inger now !u--iced to -iG an e)ent -or an uni4ited "eriod o- ti4e. The ca4era
ga)e the 4o4ent a "o!thu4ou! !hoc3* a! it were. Ha"tic eG"erience! o- thi!
3ind were Coined by o"tic one!* !uch a! are !u""ied by the ad)erti!ing "age! o- a
new!"a"er or the tra--ic o- a big city. 8o)ing through thi! tra--ic in)o)e! the
indi)idua in a !erie! o- !hoc3! and coi!ion!. At dangerou! inter!ection!* ner)ou!
i4"u!e! -ow through hi4 in ra"id !ucce!!ion* i3e the energy -ro4 a battery.
Baudeaire !"ea3! o- a 4an who "unge! into the crowd a! into a re!er)oir o-
eectric energy. Circu4!cribing the eG"erience o- the !hoc3* he ca! thi! 4an Da
kalei'os"o:e e?ui""ed with con!ciou!ne!!.E Wherea! ,oeK! "a!!er!=by ca!t
gance! in a direction! which !ti a""eared to be ai4e!!* todayK! "ede!trian!
are obiged to do !o in order to 3ee" abrea!t o- tra--ic !igna!. Thu! technoogy
ha! !ubCected the hu4an !en!oriu4 to a co4"eG 3ind o- training. There ca4e a
day when a new and urgent need -or !ti4ui wa! 4et by the -i4. +n a -i4*
"erce"tion in the -or4 o- !hoc3! wa! e!tabi!hed a! a -or4a "rinci"e. That
which deter4ine! the rhyth4 o- "roduction on a con)eyor bet i! the ba!i! o- the
rhyth4 o- rece"tion in the -i4.
8arG had good rea!on to !tre!! the great -uidity o- the connection between
!eg4ent! in 4anua abor. Thi! connection a""ear! to the -actory wor3er on an
a!!e4by ine in an inde"endent* obCecti-ied -or4. +nde"endenty o- the wor3erK!
)oition* the artice being wor3ed on co4e! within hi! range o- action and 4o)e!
away -ro4 hi4 Cu!t a! arbitrariy. D+t i! a co44on characteri!tic o- a ca"itai!t
"roduction . . . c wrote 8arG* Dthat the wor3er doe! not 4a3e u!e o- the wor3ing
condition!. The wor3ing condition! 4a3e u!e o- the wor3erN but it ta3e! 4achin=
ery to gi)e thi! re)er!a a technicay concrete -or4.E +n wor3ing with 4achine!*
wor3er! earn to co=ordinate Dtheir own 4o)e4ent! with the uni-or4y con!tant
4o)e4ent! o- an auto4aton.E The!e word! !hed a "ecuiar ight on the ab!urd
3ind o- uni-or4ity with which ,oe want! to !adde the crowdFuni-or4itie! o-
attire and beha)ior* but a!o a uni-or4ity o- -acia eG"re!!ion. Tho!e !4ie!
"ro)ide -ood -or thought. They are "robaby the
X9
Ill*minati+n)
-a4iiar 3ind* a! eG"re!!ed in the "hra!e D3ee" !4iingEN in that conteGt they
-unction a! a 4i4etic !hoc3 ab!orber. DAH 4achine wor3*E it i! !aid in the
abo)e conteGt* Dre?uire! eary driing o- the wor3er.E Thi! dri 4u!t be
di--erentiated -ro4 "ractice. ,ractice* which wa! the !oe deter4inant in
cra-t!4an!hi"* !ti had a -unction in 4anu-acturing. With it a! the ba!i!* Deach
"articuar area o- "roduction -ind! it! a""ro"riate technica -or4 in e=:erien"e
and slo3l. "er-ect! it.E To be !ure* it ?uic3y cry!taiAe! it* Da! !oon a! a certain
degree o- 4aturity ha! been attained.E On the other hand* thi! !a4e
4anu-acturing "roduce! Din e)ery handicra-t it !eiAe! a ca!! o- !o=caed
un!3ied aborer! which the handicra-t !y!te4 !tricty eGcuded. +n de)eo"ing
the greaty !i4"i-ied !"eciaty to the "oint o- )irtuo!ity at the co!t o- the wor3
ca"acity a! a whoe* it !tart! turning the ac3 o- any de)eo"4ent into a !"eciaty.
+n addition to ran3! we get the !i4"e di)i!ion o- wor3er! into the !3ied and the
un!3ied.E The un!3ied wor3er i! the one 4o!t dee"y degraded by the dri o-
the 4achine!. Hi! wor3 ha! been !eaed o-- -ro4 eG"erienceN "ractice count! -or
nothing there.
$/
What the 7un 7air achie)e! with it! Dodge4 car! and other
!i4iar a4u!e4ent! i! nothing but a ta!te o- the dri to which the un!3ied
aborer i! !ubCected in the -actoryFa !a4"e which at ti4e! wa! -or hi4 the
entire 4enuN -or the art o- being o-- center* in which the itte 4an coud ac?uire
training in "ace! 83e the 7un 7air* -ouri!hed conco4itanty with
une4"oy4ent. ,oeK! teGt 4a3e! u! under!tand the true connection between
widne!! and di!ci"ine. Hi! "ede!trian! act a! i- they had ada"ted the4!e)e! to
the 4achine! and coud eG"re!! the4!e)e! ony auto4aticay. Their beha)ior i! a
reaction to !hoc3!. D+- Co!ted* they bowed "ro-u!ey to the Co!ter!.E
IX
The !hoc3 eG"erience which the "a!!er=by ha! in the crowd corre!"ond! to
what the wor3er DeG"erience!E at hi! 4achine. Thi! doe! not entite u! to the
a!!u4"tion that ,oe 3new anything about indu!tria wor3 "roce!!e!. Baudeaire*
at any rate*
`a>
-n Dome 1oti(s in Ba!'elaire
did not ha)e the -ainte!t notion o- the4. He wa!Q howe)er* ca"ti)ated by a
"roce!! whereby the re-ecting 4echani!4 which the 4achine !et! o-- in the
wor34an can be !tudied co!ey* a! in a 4irror* in the ider. +- we !ay that thi!
"roce!! i! the ga4e o- chance* the !tate4ent 4ay a""ear to be "aradoGica.
Where woud one -ind a 4ore e)ident contra!t than the one between wor3 and
ga4bingJ Aain "ut! it con)incingy when he write!@ D+t i! inherent in the
conce"t o- ga4bing * . . that no ga4e i! de"endent on the "receding one.
5a4bing care! about no a!!ured "o!ition. . . . Winning! !ecured earier are not
ta3en into account* and in thi! it di--er! -ro4 wor3. 5a4bing gi)e! !hort !hri-t
to the weighty "a!t on which wor3 ba!e! it!e-.E The wor3 which Aain ha! in
4ind here i! the highy !"eciaiAed 3ind :which* i3e inteectua e--ort* "robaby
retain! certain -eature! o- handicra-t; N it i! not that o- 4o!t -actory wor3er!* ea!t
o- a the wor3 o- the un!3ied. The atter* to be !ure* ac3! any touch o-
ad)enture* o- the 4irage that ure! the ga4ber. But it certainy doe! not ac3 the
-utiity* the e4"tine!!* the inabiity to co4"ete !o4ething which i! inherent in
the acti)ity o- a wage !a)e in a -actory. 5a4bing e)en contain! the wor34anK!
ge!ture that i! "roduced by the auto4atic o"eration* -or there can be no ga4e
without the ?uic3 4o)e4ent o- the hand by which the !ta3e i! "ut down or a
card i! "ic3ed u". The Cot in the 4o)e4ent o- a 4achine i! i3e the !o=caed
"o!: in a ga4e o- chance. The 4ani"uation o- the wor3er at the 4achine ha! no
connection with the "receding o"eration -or the )ery rea!on that it i! it! eGact
re"etition. Since each o"eration at the 4achine i! Cu!t a! !creened o-- -ro4 the
"receding o"eration a! a "o!: in a ga4e o- chance i! -ro4 the one that "receded
it* the drudgery o- the aborer i!* in it! own way* a counter"art to the drudgery o-
the ga4ber. The wor3 o- both i! e?uay de)oid o- !ub!tance. There i! a
ithogra"h by Sene-eder which re"re!ent! a ga4=bing cub. Not one o- tho!e
de"icted i! "ur!uing the ga4e in the cu!to4ary -a!hion. Each 4an i! do4inated
by an e4otion@ one !how! unre!trained CoyN another* di!tru!t o- hi! "artnerN a
third* du de!"airN a -ourth e)ince! beigerenceN another i! getting ready to
de"art -ro4 the word. A the!e 4ode! o- conduct
4
+u4ination!
!hare a conceaed characteri!tic@ the -igure! "re!ented !how u! how the
4echani!4 to which the "artici"ant! in a ga4e o- chance entru!t the4!e)e!
!eiAe! the4 body and !ou* !o that e)en in their "ri)ate !"here* and no 4atter
how agitated they 4ay be* they are ca"abe ony o- a re-eG action. They beha)e
i3e the "ede!trian! in ,oeK! !tory. They i)e their i)e! a! auto4aton! and
re!e4be Berg!onK! -ictitiou! character! who ha)e co4"etey i?uidated their
4e4orie!.
Baudeaire doe! not a""ear to ha)e been a de)otee o- ga4bing* athough he
had word! o- -riendy under!tanding* e)en ho4age* -or tho!e addicted to it. The
4oti- which he treated in hi! night "iece D1e (euE wa! "art o- hi! )iew o-
4odern ti4e!* and he con!idered it a! "art o- hi! 4i!!ion to write thi! "oe4. The
i4age o- the ga4ber beca4e in Baudeaire the characteri!ticay 4odern
co4"e4ent to the archaic i4age o- the -encerN both are heroic -igure! to hi4.
1udwig Borne oo3ed at thing! through BaudeaireK! eye! when he wrote@ D+- a
the energy and "a!!ion . . . that are eG"ended e)ery year at Euro"eK! ga4bing
tabe! . . . were !a)ed* they woud !u--ice to -a!hion a Ro4an "eo"e and a
Ro4an hi!tory -ro4 the4. But that i! Cu!t it. Becau!e e)ery 4an i! born a
Ro4an* bourgeoi! !ociety !ee3! to de=Ro4aniAe hi4* and that i! why there are
ga4e! o- chance and "aror ga4e!* no)e!* +taian o"era!* and -a!hionabe
new!"a"er!.E 5a4bing beca4e a !toc3 di)er!ion o- the bourgeoi!ie ony in the
nineteenth centuryN in the eighteenth* ony the ari!tocracy ga4bed. 5a4e! o-
chance were di!!e4inated by the Na"oeonic ar4ie!* and they now beca4e "art
o- D-a!hionabe i)ing and the thou!and! o- un!etted i)e! that are i)ed in the
ba!e4ent! o- a arge city*E "art o- the !"ectace in which Baudeaire cai4ed he
!aw the heroicFDa! it i! characteri!tic o- our e"och.E
+- one want! to eGa4ine ga4bing -ro4 the "!ychoogica a! we a! the
technica "oint o- )iew* BaudeaireK! conce"tion o- it a""ear! e)en 4ore
!igni-icant. +t i! ob)iou! that the ga4ber i! out to win. Yet one wi not want to
ca hi! de!ire to win and 4a3e 4oney a wi!h in the !trict !en!e o- the word. He
4ay be inwardy 4oti)ated by greed or by !o4e !ini!ter deter4ination. At any
rate* hi! -ra4e o- 4ind i! !uch that he cannot 4a3e 4uch
$0P
-n Dome 1oti(s in Ba!'elaire
u!e o- eG"erience.Q A wi!h* howe)er* i! a 3ind o- eG"erience. DWhat one
wi!he! -or in oneK! youth* one ha! in abundance in od age*E !aid 5oethe. The
earier in i-e one 4a3e! a wi!h* the greater oneK! chance! that it wi be -u-ied.
The -urther a wi!h reache! out in ti4e* the greater the ho"e! -or it! -u-i4ent.
But it i! eG"erience that acco4"anie! one to the -ar reache! o- ti4e* that -i! and
di)ide! ti4e. Thu! a wi!h -u-ied i! the crowning o- eG"erience. +n -o3
!y4boi!4* di!tance in !"ace can ta3e the "ace o- di!tance in ti4eN that i! why
the !hooting !tar* which "unge! into the in-inite di!tance o- !"ace* ha! beco4e
the !y4bo o- a -u-ied wi!h. The i)ory ba which ro! into the ne=t
co4"art4ent* the ne=t card which ie! on to" are the )ery antithe!i! o- a -aing
!tar. The "eriod o- ti4e enco4"a!!ed by the in!tant in which the ight o- a
!hooting !tar -a!he! -or a 4an i! o- the 3ind that (oubert ha! de!cribed with hi!
cu!to4ary a!!urance. DTi4e*E he !ay!* Di! -ound e)en in eternityN but it i! not
earthy* wordy ti4e. . . . That ti4e doe! not de!troyN it 4erey co4"ete!.E +t i!
the antithe!i! o- ti4e in he* the "ro)ince o- tho!e who are not aowed to
co4"ete anything they ha)e !tarted. The di!re"ute o- ga4e! o- chance i!
actuay ba!ed on the -act that the "ayer hi4!e- ha! a hand in it. :An
incorrigibe "atron o- a ottery wi not be "ro!cribed in the !a4e way a! the
ga4ber in a !tricter !en!e.;
Thi! !tarting a o)er again i! the reguati)e idea o- the ga4e* a! it i! o- wor3
-or wage!. Thu! it i! highy 4eaning-u i- in Baudeaire the !econd=handVEa
SecondeEFa""ear! a! "artner o- the ga4berN
Do!.iem-toi ?ue e Te4"! e!t un Coueur a)ide _ui gagne !an! tricher* a tout
cou"M eKe!t a oiM P
+n another "ace* Satan hi4!e- ta3e! the "ace o- thi! !econd. The taciturn corner
o- the ca)e to which the "oe4 D1e (euE reegate! tho!e who are addicted to
ga4bing undoubtedy i! "art o- hi! rea4.
Kee" in 4ind that Ti4eK! a rabid ga4ber Who win! away!
without cheatingFitK! the awM
d%
Illuminations
6oia e noir tabeau ?uKen un re)e nocturne (e.)i! !e derouer !ou! 4on oei
cair)oyant* 8oi=4e4e* dan! un coin de Kantre caciturne* (e 4e )i!accoude*
-roid* 4uet* en)iant* En)iant de ce! gen! a "a!!ion tenace.P
The "oet doe! not "artici"ate in the ga4e. He !tand! in hi! corner* no ha""ier
than tho!e who are "aying. He too ha! been cheated out o- hi! eG"erienceFa
4odern 4an. The ony di--erence i! that he reCect! the narcotic! with which the
ga4ber! !ee3 to !ub4erge the con!ciou!ne!! that ha! dei)ered the4 to the
4arch o- the !econd=hand.
$.
Et 4on coeur !Ke--raya dKen)ier 4aint "au)re ho44e .
Courant a)ec -er)eur a Tabi4e beant*
Et ?ui* !ou de !on !ang* "re-ererait en !o44e
1a doueur a a 4ore et Ten-er au neantM -
+n thi! a!t !tanAa Baudeaire "re!ent! i4"atience a! the !ub!tratu4 o- the
"a!!ion -or ga4bing. He -ound it in hi4!e- in it! "ure!t -or4. Hi! )ioent
te4"er had the eG"re!!i)ene!! o- 5iottoK! &ra-"!n'ia at ,adua.
+t i!Fi- one -oow! Berg!onFthe actuaiAation o- the '!ree which rid! 4anK!
!ou o- ob!e!!ion with ti4e. ,rou!t !hared thi! beie-* and -ro4 it he de)eo"ed
the i-eong eGerci!e! in which he !tro)e to bring to ight "a!t thing! !aturated
with a the re4ini!cence! that had wor3ed their way into hi! "ore! during hi!
!oCourn in the uncon!ciou!. ,rou!t wa! an inco4"arabe reader o- the Rle!rs '!
malY -or he !en!ed that it contained 3in=
Here you !ee the hei!h "icture that one night in a drea4 + !aw
un-oding be-ore 4y cair)oyant eye!N And* o)er in a corner o- thi! !ient ca)e*
8y!e- + !aw* hunched u"* cod* 4ute* and en)ying* En)ying the!e "eo"e their
tenaciou! "a!!ion.
t And 4y heart too3 -rightFto en)y !o4e "oor 4an Who ran in -renAy to the
!heer aby!!* Who* drun3 with the "u!ing o- hi! bood* "re-erred 5rie- to death*
and he to nothingne!!.
$'/
-n Dome 1oti(s in Ba!'elaire
dred ee4ent!. 7a4iiarity with Baudeaire 4u!t incude ,rou!tK! eG"erience
with hi4. ,rou!t write!@ DTi4e i! "ecuiary cho""ed u" in BaudeaireY ony a
)ery -ew day! o"en u"* they are !igni-icant one!. Thu! it i! under!tandabe why
turn! o- "hra!e! i3e One e)eningK occur -re?uendy in hi! wor3!.E The!e
!igni-icant day! are day! o- co4"eting ti4e* to "ara"hra!e (oubert. They are
day! o- recoection* not 4ar3ed by any eG"erience. They are not connected with
the other day!* but !tand out -ro4 ti4e. A! -or their !ub!tance* Baudeaire ha!
de-ined it in the notion o- the "orres:on'an"es, D+ conce"t that in Baudeaire
!tand! !ide by !ide and unconnected with the notion o- D4ode4 beauty.E
Di!regarding the !choary iterature on the "orres:on'an"es :the co44on
"ro"erty o- the 4y!tic!N Baudeaire encountered the4 in 7ourierK! writing!;*
,rou!t no onger -u!!e! about the arti!tic )ariation! on the !ituation which are
!u""ied by !ynae!the=!ia. The i4"ortant thing i! that the "orres:on'an"es record
a conce"t o- eG"erience which incude! ritua ee4ent!. Ony by a""ro"riating
the!e ee4ent! wa! Baudeaire abe to -atho4 the -u 4eaning o- the brea3down
which he* a 4odern 4an* wa! witne!!ing. Ony in thi! way wa! he abe to
recogniAe in it the chaenge 4eant -or hi4 aone* a chaenge which he
incor"orated in the Rle!rs '! mah +- there reay i! a !ecret architecture in thi!
boo3Fand 4any !"ecuation! ha)e been de)oted to itFthe cyce o- "oe4! that
o"en! the )ou4e "robaby i! de)oted to !o4ething irretrie)aby o!t. Thi! cyce
incude! two !onnet! who!e 4oti- i! the !a4e. The -ir!t* entited
DCorre!"ondance!*E begin! with the!e ine!@
1a Nature e!t un te4"e out de )i)ant! "iier! 1ai!!ent "ar-oi! !ortir de con-u!e!
"aroe!N 1Kho44e y "a!!e a tra)er! de! -oret! de !y4boe! _ui ,ob!er)ent a)ec
de! regard! -a4iier!.
Comme 'e lon#s e"hos 7!i 'e loin se "on(on'ent
Dan! une tenebreu!e et "ro-onde unite*
6a!te co44e a 4iit et co44e a carte*
1e! "ar-u4!* e! coueur! et e! !on! !e re"ondent.P
Nature i! a te4"e who!e i)ing "iar! So4eti4e! gi)e -orth a
babe o- word!P
Illuminations
What Baudeaire 4eant by "orres:on'en"es 4ay be de!cribed a! an eG"erience
which !ee3! to e!tabi!h it!e- in cri!i!="roo- -or4. Thi! i! "o!!ibe ony within
the rea4 o- the ritua. +- it tran!cend! thi! rea4* it "re!ent! it!e- a! the
beauti-u. +n the beauti-u the ritua )aue o- art a""ear!.
$'
The "orres:on'an"es are the data o- re4e4branceFnot hi!torica data* but data
o- "rehi!tory. What 4a3e! -e!ti)e day! great and !igni-icant i! the encounter with
an earier i-e. Baudeaire recorded thi! in a !onnet entited D1a 6ie antirieure.E
The i4age! o- ca)e! and )egetation* o- coud! and wa)e! which are e)o3ed at the
beginning o- thi! !econd !onnet ri!e -ro4 the war4 )a"or o- tear!* tear! o-
ho4e!ic3ne!!. DThe wanderer oo3! into the tear=)eied di!tance* and hy!terica
tear! Ksi"^ we u" in hi! eye!*E write! Baudeaire in hi! re)iew o- the "oe4! o-
8ar=ceine De!borde!=6a4ore. There are no !i4utaneou! corre!"ondence!*
!uch a! were cuti)ated by the !y4boi!t! ater. The 4ur4ur o- the "a!t 4ay be
heard in the corre!"ondence!* and the canonica eG"erience o- the4 ha! it! "ace
in a "re)iou! i-e@
1e! houe!* en rouant e! i4age! de! deuG* 8eaient dKune -aJon !oennee et
4y!ti?ue 1e! tout="ui!!ant! accord! de eur riche 4u!i?ue Aw coueur! du
couchant re-etM "ar 4e! yeuG.
CKe!t a ?ue CKai )ecu* . . .P The -act that ,rou!tK! re!torati)e wi re4ain!
within the i4it! o- earthy eGi!tence* wherea! BaudeaireK! tran!cend! it* 4ay be
regarded a! !y4"to4atic o- the inco4"araby 4ore ee4enta and "ower-u
counter-orce! that Baudeaire -aced. And "rob=
8an wend! hi! way through -ore!t! o- !y4bo! Which oo3 at hi4 with their
-a4iiar gance!.
A! ong=re!ounding echoe! -ro4 a-ar Are 4inging in a dee"* dar3 unity* 6a!t
a! the night or a! the orb o- day* ,er-u4e!* coor!* and !ound! co44inge.
The brea3er!* roing the i4age! o- the !3y* 8iGed* in a 4y!tica
and !oe4n way* The "ower-u chord! o- their rich 4u!ic With the coor! o- the
!un!et re-ected in 4y eye!.
There did + i)e. * . . 182
-n Dome 1oti(s in Ba!'elaire
aby he nowhere achie)ed greater "er-ection than when he !ee4! re!igned to
being o)erco4e by the4. DRecueie4entE trace! the aegorie! o- the od year!
again!t the dee" !3y@
. * . 6oi! !e "encher e! de-unte! Annee! Sur e! bacon! du de* en robe!
!urannee!.P
+n the!e )er!e! Baudeaire re!ign! hi4!e- to "aying ho4age to ti4e! out o-
4ind that e!ca"ed hi4 in the gui!e o- the outdated. When ,rou!t in the a!t
)ou4e o- hi! wor3 re)ert! to the !en!ation that !u--u!ed hi4 at the ta!te o- a
ma'eleine, he i4agine! the year! which a""ear on the bacony a! being o)ing
!i!ter! o- the year! o- Co4bray. D+n Baudeaire . . . the!e re4ini!cence! are e)en
4ore nu4erou!. +t i! a""arent that they are not occa!ioned by chance* and thi!*
to 4y 4ind* i! what gi)e! the4 crucia i4"ortance. There i! no one e!e who
"ur!ue! the interconnected "orres:on'an"es with !uch ei!urey care* -a!tidiou!y
and yet nonchaantyFin a wo4anK! !4e* -or in!tance* in the -ragrance o- her
hair or her brea!t!F"orres:on'an"es which then yied hi4 ine! i3e Rthe aAure
o- the )a!t* )auted !3yK or Ra har=bor -u o- -a4e! and 4a!t!.PQ The!e word!
are a con-e!!iona 4otto -or ,rou!tK! wor3. +t bear! a reation!hi" to BaudeaireK!
wor3* which ha! a!!e4bed the day! o- re4e4brance into a !"iritua year.
But the Rle!rs '! mal woud not be what it i! i- a it contained were thi!
!ucce!!. +t i! uni?ue becau!e it wa! abe to wre!t -ro4 the ine--icacy o- the !a4e
con!oation* the brea3down o- the !a4e -er)or* the -aiure o- the !a4e e--ort
"oe4! that are in no way in-erior to tho!e in which the "orres:on'an"es
ceebrate their triu4"h!. DS"een et ideaE i! the -ir!t o- the cyce! in +es Rle!rs
'! mak The i'eal !u""ie! the "ower o- re4e4branceN the s:leen 4u!ter! the
4utitude o- the !econd! again!t it +t i! their co44ander* Cu!t a! the de)i i! the
ord o- the -ie!. One o- the D:leen "oe4!* D1e 5out du neant*E !ay!@ D1e
5rintem:s a'orale a :er'! son o'e!r4
In
t +n thi! ine Baudeaire eG"re!!e!
... See the dead de"arted Year! in anti?uated Dre!! eaning o)er
hea)enK! baconie!.
t S"ring* the Beo)ed* ha! o!t it! !cent. i"#
&ll!minatioTis
!o4ething eGtre4e with eGtre4e di!cretionN thi! 4a3e! it un4i!ta3aby hi!. The
word ;:er'!< ac3nowedge! the "re!ent !tate o- coa"!e o- that eG"erience
which he once !hared. The !cent i! the inacce!!ibe re-uge o- the mimoire
involontaire4 +t i! uni3ey that it wi a!!ociate it!e- with a )i!ua i4ageN o- a
!en!ua i4"re!!ion! it wi ay it!e- ony with the !a4e !cent. +- the recognition
o- a !cent i! 4ore "ri)ieged to "ro)ide con!oation than any other recoection*
thi! 4ay be !o becau!e it dee"y drug! the !en!e o- ti4e. A !cent 4ay drown
year! in the odor it reca!. Thi! gi)e! a !en!e o- 4ea!uree!! de!oation to
BaudeaireK! )er!e. 7or !o4eone who i! "a!t eG"eriencing* there i! no
con!oation. Yet it i! thi! )ery inabiity to eG"erience that ie! at the heart o- rage.
An angry 4an DwonKt i!tenEN hi! "rototy"e Ti4on rage! again!t "eo"e
indi!cri4inateyN he i! no onger ca"abe o- teing hi! "ro)en -riend -ro4 hi!
4orta ene4y. DKAure=)iy )ery "erce"ti)ey recogniAed thi! condition in
Baudeaire* caing hi4 Da Ti4on with the geniu! o- Arehiochu!.E The outbrea3!
o- rage are ti4ed to the tic3ing o- the !econd! to which the 4eanchoy 4an i!
!a)e.
Et e Te4"! 4Kengoutit 4inute "ar 4inute* Co44e a neige i44en!e =m cor"!
"ri! de roideur.P
The!e )er!e! -oow i44ediatey a-ter tho!e ?uoted abo)e. +n the s:leen, ti4e
beco4e! "a"abeN the 4inute! co)er a 4an i3e !now-a3e!. Thi! ti4e i! out!ide
hi!tory* a! i! that o- the memoire involontaire4 But in the s:leen the "erce"tion o-
ti4e i! !u"er=naturay 3eenN e)ery !econd -ind! con!ciou!ne!! ready to interce"t
it! !hoc3.
$<
E)en though chronoogy "ace! reguarity abo)e "er4anence* it cannot "re)ent
heterogeneou!* con!"icuou! -rag4ent! -ro4 re4aining within it. To ha)e
co4bined recognition o- a ?uaity with the 4ea!ure4ent o- the ?uantity wa! the
wor3 o- the caendar! in which the "ace! o- recoection are e-t ban3* a! it
were* in the -or4 o- hoiday!. The 4an who o!e! hi! ca"acity -or eG"eriencing
-ee! a! though he i! dro""ed -ro4 the caendar. The
And* 4inute by 4inute* Ti4e engu-! 4e* A! the !nowK!
4ea!uree!! -a co)er! a 4otione!! body.
$'<
-n Dome 1oti(s in Ba!'elaire
big=city dweer 3now! thi! -eeing on Sunday!N Baudeaire ha! it avant la
lettre in one o- the D:leen "oe4!.
De! coche! tout a cou" !autent a)ec -urie Et ancent )er! e cie un a--reuG
hure4ent* Ain!i ?ue de! e!"rit! errant! et !an! "atrie _ui !e 4ettent a geindre
o"i4atre4ent.P
The be!* which once were "art o- hoiday!* ha)e been dro""ed -ro4 the
caendar* i3e the hu4an being!. They are i3e the "oor !ou! that wander
re!te!!y* but out!ide o- hi!tory. +- Baudeaire in DS"eenE and D6ie antirieureE
hod! in hi! hand! the !cattered -rag4ent! o- genuine hi!torica eG"erience*
Berg!on in hi! conce"tion o- the '!ree ha! beco4e -ar 4ore e!tranged -ro4
hi!tory. DBerg!on the 4eta"hy!ician !u""re!!e! death.E The -act that death i!
ei4inated -ro4 Berg!onK! '!ree i!oate! it e--ecti)ey -ro4 a hi!torica :a! we
a! "rehi!torica; order. Berg!onK! conce"t o- a"tion i! in 3ee"ing with thi!. The
D!ound co44on !en!eE which di!tingui!he! the D"ractica 4anE ha! been it! god=
-ather. The '!ree -ro4 which death ha! been ei4inated ha! the 4i!erabe
ende!!ne!! o- a !cro. Tradition i! eGcuded -ro4 it.
$B
+t i! the ?uinte!!ence o- a
"a!!ing 4o4ent K9rlenis^ that !trut! about in the borrowed garb o- eG"erience.
The s:leen, on the other hand* eG"o!e! the "a!!ing 4o4ent in a it! na3edne!!.
To hi! horror* the 4eanchoy 4an !ee! the earth re)ert to a 4ere !tate o- nature.
No breath o- "rehi!tory !urround! it@ there i! no aura. Thi! i! how the earth
e4erge! in the )er!e! o- D1e 5out du neantE which -oow the one! we. ha)e
?uoted.
(e conte4"e dKen ha4 e gobe en !a rondeur* Et Ce nKy cherche "u! Kabri
dKune cahute.-
h
Suddeny be! ea" -orth widi -ury* Huring a hideou! howing to the !3y 1i3e
wandering ho4ee!! !"irit! Who brea3 into !tubborn waiing.
t And -ro4 on high + conte4"ate the gobe in it! roundne!!N No onger do +
oo3 there -or the !heter o- a hut.
$'9
w4ination!
XI
+- we de!ignate a! aura the a!!ociation! which* at ho4e in the memoire
involontaire, tend to cu!ter around the obCect o- a "erce"tion* then it! anaogue
in the ca!e o- a utiitarian obCect i! the eG"erience which ha! e-t trace! o- the
"racticed hand. The techni?ue! ba!ed on the u!e o- the ca4era and o-
!ub!e?uent anaogou! 4echanica de)ice! eGtend the range o- the memotre volon-
taireM by 4ean! o- the!e de)ice! they 4a3e it "o!!ibe -or an e)ent at any ti4e to
be "er4anenty recorded in ter4! o- !ound and !ight. Thu! they re"re!ent
i4"ortant achie)e4ent! o- a !ociety in which "ractice i! in decine. To
Baudeaire there wa! !o4ething "ro-oundy unner)ing and terri-ying about
daguer=reoty"yN he !"ea3! o- the -a!cination it eGerted a! D!tarting and crue.E
Thu! he 4u!t ha)e !en!ed* though he certainy did not !ee through the4* the
connection! o- which we ha)e !"o3en. Hi! wiingne!! away! to grant the 4odern
it! "ace and* e!"eciay in art* to a!!ign it it! !"eci-ic -unction a!o deter4ined hi!
attitude toward "hotogra"hy. Whene)er he -et it a! a threat* he tried to "ut it
down to it! D4i!ta3en de)eo"4ent!EN yet he ad4itted that the!e were "ro4oted
by Dthe !tu"idity o- the broad 4a!!e!.E DThe!e 4a!!e! de4anded an idea that
woud con-or4 to their a!"iration! and the nature o- their te4"era4ent.... Their
"rayer! were granted by a )enge-u god* and Daguerre beca4e hi! "ro"het.E
Ne)erthee!!* Baudeaire tried to ta3e a 4ore conciiatory )iew. ,hotogra"hy
!houd be -ree to !ta3e out a cai4 -or e"he4era thing!* tho!e that ha)e a right
Dto a "ace in the archi)e! o- our 4e4ory*E a! ong a! it !to"! !hort o- the Dregion
o- the intangibe* i4aginati)eE@ that o- art in which ony that i! aotted a "ace
Don which 4an ha! be!towed the i4"rint o- hi! !ou.E Thi! i! !carcey a
Soo4onian Cudg4ent. The "er"etua readine!! o- )oitiona* di!cur!i)e 4e4ory*
encouraged by the techni?ue o- 4echanica re"roductionQ reduce! the !co"e -or
the "ay o- the i4agination. The atter 4ay "erha"! be de-ined a! an abiity to gi)e
eG"re!!ion to de!ire! o- a !"ecia 3ind* with D!o4e=thing beauti-uE thought o- a!
their -u-i4ent. 6aery ha! !et -ori the condition! + thi! -u-i4ent@ DWe
recogniWe a wor3
$'&
-n Dome 1oti(s in Ba!'elaire
o- art by the -act that no idea it in!"ire! in u!Q no 4ode o- beha)ior that it
!ugge!t! we ado"t coud eGhau!t it or di!"o!e o- it. We 4ay inhae the !4e o- a
-ower who!e -ragrance i! agreeabe to u! -or a! ong a! we i3eN it i! i4"o!!ibe
-or u! to rid our!e)e! o- the -ragrance by which our !en!e! ha)e been arou!ed*
and no recoection* no thought* no 4ode o- beha)ior can obiterate it! e--ect or
reea!e u! -ro4 the hod it ha! on u!. He who ha! !et hi4!e- the ta!3 o- creating a
wor3 o- art ai4! at the !a4e e--ect.E According to thi! )iew* the "ainting we oo3
at re-ect! bac3 at u! that o- which our eye! wi ne)er ha)e their -i. What it
contain! that -u-i! the origina de!ire woud be the )ery !a4e !tu-- on which the
de!ire continuou!y -eed!. What di!tingui!he! "hotogra"hy -ro4 "ainting i!
there-ore cear* and why there can be no enco4"a!!ing "rinci"e o- DcreationE
a""icabe to both@ to the eye! that wi ne)er ha)e their -i o- a "ainting*
"hotogra"hy i! rather i3e -ood -or the hungry or drin3 -or the thir!ty.
The cri!i! o- arti!tic re"roduction which 4ani-e!t! it!e- in thi! way can be !een
a! an integra "art o- a cri!i! in "erce"tion it!e-. What "re)ent! our deight in the
beauti-u -ro4 e)er being !ati!-ied i! the i4age o- the "a!t* which Baudeaire
regard! a! )eied by the tear! o- no!tagia. ;A"h, '! 3arst in a#eleten Oeiten
meine D"h3ester o'er meine RranV< PFthi! decaration o- o)e i! the tribute
which the beauti-u a! !uch i! entited to cai4. +n!o-ar a! art ai4! at the beauti-u
and* on howe)er 4ode!t a !cae* Dre"roduce!E it* it conCure! it u" :a! 7au!t doe!
Heen; out o- the wo4b o- ti4e.
$&
Thi! no onger ha""en! in the ca!e o- technica
re"roduction. :The beauti-u ha! no "ace in it.; ,rou!t* co4"aining o- the
barrenne!! and ac3 o- de"th in the i4age! o- 6enice that hi! mDmoire volontaire
"re!ented to hi4* note! that the )ery word D6eniceE 4ade that weath o- i4age!
!ee4 to hi4 a! )a"id a! an eGhibition o- "hotogra"h!. +- the di!tincti)e -eature o-
the i4age! that ri!e -ro4 the memoire involontaire i! !een in their aura* then
"hotogra"hy i! deci!i)ey i4"icated in the "heno4enon o- the Ddecine o- the
aura.E What wa! ine)i=
DOh* you were in ti4e gone by 4y !i!ter or 4y wi-e.KP :5oethe.;
i'
0
&ll!minations
taby -et to be inhu4an* one 4ight e)en !ay deady* in daguer=reoty"y wa! the
:"roonged; oo3ing into the ca4era* !ince the ca4era record! our i3ene!!
without returning our gaAe. But oo3ing at !o4eone carrie! the i4"icit
eG"ectation that our oo3 wi be returned by the obCect o- our gaAe. Where thi!
eG"ectation i! 4et :which* in the ca!e o- thought "roce!!e!* can a""y e?uay to
the oo3 o- the eye o- the 4ind and to a gance "ure and !i4"e;* there i! an
eG"erience o- the aura to the -ue!t eGtent. D,erce"tibiity*E a! No)ai! "ut! it*
Di! a 3ind o- attenti)e=ne!!.E The "erce"tibiity he ha! in 4ind i! none other than
that o- the aura. EG"erience o- the aura thu! re!t! on the tran!"o!ition o- a
re!"on!e co44on in hu4an reation!hi"! to the reation!hi" between the
inani4ate or natura obCect and 4an. The "er!on we oo3 at* or who -ee! he i!
being oo3ed at* oo3! at u! in turn. To "ercei)e the aura o- an obCect we oo3 at
4ean! to in)e!t it with the abiity to oo3 at u! in return.
$0
Thi! eG"erience corre=
!"ond! to the data o- the memoire involontaire4 :The!e data* incidentay* are
uni?ue@ they are o!t to the 4e4ory that !ee3! to retain the4. Thu! they end
!u""ort to a conce"t o- the aura that co4"ri!e! the Duni?ue 4ani-e!tation o- a
di!tance.E Thi! de!ignation ha! the ad)antage o- cari-ying the cere4onia char=
acter o- the "heno4enon. The e!!entiay di!tant i! the ina""roachabe@
ina""roachabiity i! in -act a "ri4ary ?uaity o- the cere4onia i4age.; ,rou!tK!
great -a4iiarity with the "robe4 o- the aura re?uire! no e4"ha!i!. Ne)erthee!!*
it i! notabe that he aude! to it at ti4e! in ter4! which co4"rehend it! theory@
DSo4e "eo"e who are -ond o- !ecret! -atter the4!e)e! that obCect! retain
!o4ething o- the gaAe that ha! re!ted on the4WP :The abiity* it woud !ee4* o-
returning the gaAe.; DThey beie)e that 4onu4ent! and "icture! "re!ent
the4!e)e! ony beneath the deicate )ei which centurie! o- o)e and re)erence
on the "art o- !o 4any ad4irer! ha)e wo)en about the4. Thi! chi4era*E ,rou!t
concude! e)a!i)ey* Dwoud change into truth i- they reated it to the ony
reaity that i! )aid -or the indi)idua* na4ey* the word o- hi! e4otion!.E
6aeryK! characteriAation o- "erce"tion in drea4! a! aura i! a3in to thi! and* by
)irtue o- it! obCecti)e orientation* reache! -urther. DTo !ay* RHere + !ee !uch
$'%
-n Dome 1oti(s in Ba!'elaire
and !uch an obCectK doe! not e!tabi!h an e?uation between 4e
and the obCect +n drea4!* howe)er* there i! an e?uation. The
thing! + !ee* !ee 4e Cu!t a! 4uch a! + !ee the4.E On a e)e with "erce"tion in
drea4! i! the nature o- te4"e!* o- which Baude=a3e !aidN
1Kho44e y "a!!e a tra)er! de! -oret! de !y4boe! _ui 7ob!er)ent a)ec de!
regard! -a4iier!.P
The greater BaudeaireK! in!ight into thi! "heno4enon* the 4ore un4i!ta3aby
did the di!integration o- the aura 4a3e it!e- -et in hi! yrica "oetry. Thi! occur!
in the -or4 o- a !y4bo which we encounter in the Gie3s '! mal a4o!t
in)ariaby whene)er the oo3 o- the hu4an eye i! in)o3ed. :That Baudeaire did
not -oow !o4e "reconcei)ed !che4e goe! without !aying.; What i! in)o)ed
here i! that the eG"ectation rou!ed by the oo3 o- the hu4an eye i! not -u-ied.
Baudeaire de!cribe! eye! o- which one i! incined to !ay that they ha)e o!t their
abiity to oo3. Yet thi! end! the4 a char4 which to a arge* "erha"! "re=
do4inant* eGtent !er)e! a! a 4ean! o- de-raying the co!t o- hi! in!tinctua de!ire!.
+t wa! under the !"e o- the!e eye! that se=!s in Baudeaire detached it!e- -ro4
eras4 +- in DSeige Sehn!uchtE the ine!
Keine 7e4e 4acht dich !chwierig* Ko44!t ge-ogen und gebannt-
4u!t be regarded a! the ca!!ic de!cri"tion o- that o)e which i! !ated with the
eG"erience o- the aura* then yric "oetry coud hardy o--er a greater chaenge to
tho!e ine! than BaudeaireK!
(e tKadore a $Kega de a )oi3e nocturne* S )a!e de tri!te!!e* b grande taeitu4e* Et
tKai4e dKautant "u!* bee* ?ue tu 4e -ui!* Et ?ue tu 4e "arai!* orne4ent de 4e!
nuit!*
8an wend! hi! way through -ore!t! o- !y4bo! . Which oo3 at
84 with their -a4iiar gance!.
tNo di!tance 4a3e! you di--icutN you co4e -ying* and !tay under a !"e.
:5oethe.;
$'%
+u4ination!
,u! ironi?ue4ent accu4uer e! ieue!
_ui !e"arent 4e! bra! de! i44en!ite! beue!.P
The dee"er the re4otene!! which a gance ha! to o)erco4e* the !tronger wi
be the !"e that i! a"t to.e4anate -ro4 the gaAe. +n eye! that oo3 at u! with a
4irrori3e ban3ne!! the re4otene!! re4ain! co4"ete. +t i! "reci!ey -or thi!
rea!on that !uch eye! 3now nothing o- di!tance. Baudeaire incor"orated the
!4oothne!! o- their !tare in a !ubte cou"et@
,onge te! yeuG dan! de! yeuG -iGe! De! Satyre!!e! ou de! NiGe!.-
7e4ae !atyr! and ny4"h! are no onger 4e4ber! o- the -a4iy o- 4an. Their!
i! a word a"art. Signi-icanty* Baudeaire inCected into hi! "oe4 the oo3 o- the
eye encu4bered by di!tance a! re#ar' (amilier4 The "oet who -aied to -ound a
-a4iy endowed the word (amilier with o)ertone! "er)aded by "ro4i!e and re=
nunciation. He ha! o!t hi4!e- to the !"e o- eye! which do not return hi!
gance and !ub4it! to their !way without iu!ion!.
Te! yeuG* iu4ine! ain!i ?ue de! bouti?ue! Et de! i-! -a4boyant! dan! e!
-ete! "ubi?ue!* 2!ent in!oe44ent dKun "ou)oir e4"runte<
DDune!!*E !ay! Baudeaire in one o- hi! earie!t "ubication!* Di! -re?uenty
an orna4ent o- beauty. +t i! to thi! that we owe it i- eye! are !ad and tran!ucent
i3e bac3i!h !wa4"! or i- their gaAe ha! the oiy inertne!! o- tro"ica !ea!.E
When !uch eye! co4e ai)e* it i! with the !e-="rotecti)e warine!! o- a wid ani=
No e!! than the nightK! )aut do + adore you* 6e!!e o- !orrow*
S dee"y !ient one* And e)en 4ore + o)e you* 4y o)ey one* Becau!e you -ee
-ro4 4e and* orna4ent o- 4y night!* +ronicay you !ee4 to 4uti"y the 4ie!
That !e"arate 4y ar4! -ro4 bue i44en!itie!.
t 1et your eye! oo3 dee"y into the -iGed !tare O- Satyre!!e! or o- Ny4"h!.
t Your eye!* it u" i3e !ho" window! And tree! iu4inated -or "ubic
ceebration!* With in!oence 4a3e u!e o- borrowed "ower.
i"o
-n Dome 1oti(s in Ba!'elaire
4a hunting -or "rey. :Thu! the eye o- the "ro!titute !crutiniAing the "a!!er!=by
i! at the !a4e ti4e on it! guard again!t the "oice. Baudeaire -ound the
"hy!iogno4ic ty"e bred by thi! 3ind o- i-e deineated in Con!tantin 5uy!K!
nu4erou! drawing! o- "ro!titute!. DHer eye!* i3e tho!e o- a wid ani4a* are
-iGed on the di!tant horiAonN they ha)e the re!te!!ne!! o- a wid ani4a . . . * but
!o4eti4e! a!o the ani4aK! !udden ten!e )igiance.E; That the eye o- the city
dweer i! o)erburdened with "rotecti)e -unction! i! ob)iou!. 5eorg Si44e
re-er! to !o4e e!! ob)iou! ta!3! with which it i! charged. DThe "er!on who i!
abe to !ee but unabe to hear i! 4uch 4ore . . . troubed than the "er!on who i!
abe to hear but unabe to !ee. Here i! !o4ething . . . characteri!tic o- the big
city. The inter"er!ona reation!hi"! o- "eo"e in big citie! are characteriAed by a
4ar3edy greater e4"ha!i! on the u!e o- the eye! than on that o- the ear!. Thi!
can be attributed chie-y to the in!titution o- "ubic con)eyance!. Be-ore bu!e!*
rairoad!* and !treetcar! beca4e -uy e!tabi!hed during the nineteenth century*
"eo"e were ne)er "ut in a "o!ition o- ha)ing to !tare at one another -or 4inute!
or e)en hour! on end without eGchanging a word.E
There i! no daydrea4ing !urrender to -araway thing! in the "rotecti)e eye. +t
4ay e)en cau!e one to -ee !o4ething i3e "ea!ure in the degradation o- !uch
abandon4ent. Thi! i! "robaby the !en!e in which the -oowing curiou!
!entence! !houd be read. +n hi! DSaon o- $'9%Q Baudeaire et! the and!ca"e!
"a!! in re)iew* concuding with thi! ad4i!!ion@ D+ ong -or the return o- the
diora4a! who!e enor4ou!* crude 4agic !ubCect! 4e to the !"e o- a u!e-u
iu!ion. + "re-er oo3ing at the bac3dro" "ainting! o- the !tage where + -ind 4y
-a)orite drea4! treated with con!u44ate !3i and tragic conci!ion. Tho!e
thing!* !o co4"etey -a!e* are -or that )ery rea!on 4uch co!er to the truth*
wherea! the 4aCority o- our and!ca"e "ainter! are iar!* "reci!ey becau!e they
-ai to ie.E One i! incined to attach e!! i4"ortance to the Du!e-u iu!ionE than
to the ;tra#i" conci!ion*E Baudeaire in!i!t! on the 4agic o- di!tanceN he goe! !o
-ar a! to Cudge and!ca"e! by the !tandard o- "ainting! in the booth! at -air!. Doe!
he 4ean the 4agic o- di!tance to be "ierced* a! 4u!t need!
$%$
&ll!minations
ha""en when the !"ectator !te"! too co!e to the de"icted !ceneJ Thi! i!
e4bodied in one o- the great )er!e! o- the Rle!rs '! mal:
1e ,ai!ir )a"oreuG -uira )er! rhoriAon Ain!i ?uKune !y"hide au -ond de a
coui!!e.P
X#
+es Rle!rs '! mal wa! the a!t yric wor3 that had a Euro"ean re"ercu!!ionN no
ater wor3 "enetrated beyond a 4ore or e!! i4ited ingui!tic area. Added to thi!
i! the -act that Baudeaire eG"ended hi! "roducti)e ca"acity a4o!t entirey on thi!
one wor3. And* -inay* it cannot be denied that !o4e o- hi! 4oti-!F and the
"re!ent !tudy ha! deat with the4Frender the "o!!ibiity o- yric "oetry
?ue!tionabe. The!e three -act! de-ine Baudeaire hi!toricay. They !how that he
i4"erturbaby !tuc3 to hi! cau!e and !inge=4indedy concentrated on hi!
4i!!ion. He went !o -ar a! to "rocai4 a! hi! goa Dthe creation o- a ciche.E +n
thi! he !aw the condition o- e)ery -uture "oetN he had a ow o"inion o- tho!e who
were not u" to it. DDo you drin3 bee- tea 4ade o- a4bro!iaJ Do you eat cutet!
-ro4 ,aro!J How 4uch do they gi)e in the "awn!ho" -or a yreJE To
Baudeaire* the yric "oet with a hao i! anti?uated. +n a "ro!e "iece which ca4e
to ight at a ate date* DA 1o!t Hao*E Baudeaire ha! !uch a "oet a""ear a! a
!u"ernu4erary. When BaudeaireK! iterary re4ain! were -ir!t eGa4ined* thi!
"iece wa! reCected a! Dun!uitabe -or "ubicationEN to thi! day it ha! been negected
by Baudeaire !choar!hi".
!
RWhat do + !ee* 4y dear -eowJ Yo!8hereT + -ind .o! in a "ace o- i re"ute
Fa 4an who !i"! ?uinte!!ence!* who con!u4e! a4bro!iaJ ReayM + coudnKt be
4ore !ur"ri!ed.K
^ RYou 3now* 4y dear -eow* how a-raid + a4 o- hor!e! and carriage!. A !hort
whie ago + wa! hurrying acro!! the boue)ard* and a4id!t thi! 4o)ing chao! in
which death co4e! gao"ing at you -ro4 a !ide! at once + 4u!t ha)e 4ade an
aw3ward 4o)e4ent* -or the hao !i""ed o-- 4y head and -e onto the 4uddy
a!"hat "a)e4ent. + didnKt ha)e the courage to "ic3 it u"* and
Nebuou! ,ea!ure horiAonward wi -ee* (u!t i3e a !y"h behind
the wing!.
$%.
-n Dome 1oti(s in Ba!'elaire
decided that it hurt! e!! to o!e oneK! in!ignia than to ha)e oneK! bone! bro3en.
And -urther4ore* + !aid to 4y!e-* e)ery coud ha! a !i)er ining. Now + can go
about incognito* do bad thing!* and induge in )ugar beha)ior i3e ordinary
4orta!. So here + a4* Cu!t i3e youMK
^ RBut you ought to re"ort the o!! o- your hao or in?uire at the o!t=and=-ound
o--ice.K
^ l woudnKt drea4 o- it. + i3e it here. You are the ony "er!on who ha!
recogniAed 4e. Be!ide!* dignity bore! 4e. And + enCoy the thought that !o4e bad
"oet wi "ic3 u" the hao and wonKt thin3 twice about adorning hi4!e- with it.
There i! nothing + i3e better than to 4a3e !o4eone ha""yFe!"eciay i- the
ha""y 4an i! one + can augh at. (u!t "icture L. wearing it* or Y( WonKt that be
-unnyJK ^
The !a4e 4oti- 4ay be -ound in the diarie!N ony the ending i! di--erent. The
"oet ?uic3y "ic3! the hao u"N but now he i! bothered by the -eeing that the
incident 4ay be a bad o4en.
$'
The 4an who wrote the!e "iece! wa! no (lane!r4 They e4body* in ironic -or4*
the !a4e eG"erience! which Baudeaire "ut into thi! !entence* without any
tri44ing! and in "a!!ing@ ;5er'! 'ans "e vilain mon'e, coudoye "ar e! -oue!* je
mis "onrme !n homme lasse 'on/ Goeil ne voit en arriere, 'ans les annees :ro-
(on'es, 7!e 'esa!sement et amert!me, et, 'evant l!i, 7!)!n ora#e o! rien 'e ne!(
t(est "onten!, ni ensei#nement ni 'o!le!r< P O- a the eG"erience! which 4ade
hi! i-e what it wa!* Baudeaire !inged out hi! ha)ing been Co!ted by the crowd
a! the deci!i)e* uni?ue eG"erience. The u!ter o- a crowd with a 4otion and a
!ou o- it! own* the gitter that had bedaAAed the (lane!r, had di44ed -or hi4.
To i4"re!! the crowdK! 4eanne!! u"on hi4!e-* he en)i!aged the day on which
e)en the o!t wo4en* the outca!t!* woud be ready to ad)ocate a we=ordered i-e*
conde4n ibertini!4* and reCect e)erything eGce"t 4oney. Ha)ing been betrayed
by the!e a!t aie! o- hi!* Baudeaire batted the
D1o!t in thi! 4ean word* Co!ted by the crowd* + a4 i3e a weary
4an who!e eye* oo3ing bac3ward!* into the de"th o- the year!* !ee! nothing but
di!iu!ion and bitterne!!* and be-ore hi4 nothing but a te4"e!t which contain!
nothing new* neither in!truction nor "ain.E
R%B
&ll!minations
crowdFwith the i4"otent rage o- !o4eone -ighting the rain or the wind. Thi!
i! the nature o- !o4ething i)ed through B9r-lenis@ to which Baudeaire ha!
gi)en the weight o- an eG"erience B9r(ahr!n#@, He indicated the "rice -or which
the !en!ation o- the 4odern age 4ay be had@ the di!integration o- the aura in the
eG"erience o- !hoc3. He "aid deary -or con!enting to thi! di!integrationFbut it
i! the aw o- hi! "oetry* which !hine! in the !3y o- the Second E4"ire a! Da !tar
without at4o!"here.E
$%<
%Aotes
t4 To endow thi! crowd with a !ou i! the )ery !"ecia "ur"o!e o- the (lane!r4
Hi! encounter! with it are the eG"erience that he doe! not tire o- teing about.
Certain re-eGe! o- thi! iu!ion are an integra "art o- BaudeaireK! wor3. +t ha!
continued to be an acti)e -orce to thi! day. (ue! Ro4ain!K! !nanimisme i! an
ad4ired ate -owering o- it*
.. Characteri!tic o- BarbierK! 4ethod i! hi! "oe4 D1ondre!E which in .< ine!
de!cribe! the city* aw3wardy co!ing with the -oowing )er!e!@
En-in* dan! un a4a! de cho!e!* !o4bre* i44en!e* 2n "eu"e noir* )i)ant et
4ourant en !ience. De! etre! "ar 4iier!* !ui)ant Kin!tinct -ata* Et courant
a"re! $Kor "ar e bien et e 4a1P
:Augu!te Barbier* &ames et :oemes, ,ari!* $'<$.; BarbierK! tendentiou!
"oe4!* "articuary the 1ondon cyce* +aEare, in-uenced Baudeaire 4ore
"ro-oundy than "eo"e ha)e been wiing to ad4it. BaudeaireK! DCre"u!cue du
!oirE concude! a! -oow!@
. . . 2! -ni!!ent
1eur de!ti4e et )ont )er! e gou--re co44unN
1Kho"ita !e re4"it de eur! !ou"ir!.F,u! dKun
Ne )iendra "u! chercher a !ou"e "ar-u4ee*
Au coin du -eu* e !oir* au"re! dKune a4e ai4ee.-
Co4"are thi! with the end o- the eighth !tanAa o- BarbierK! D8ineur! de
Newca!teE@
7inay* within a huge and !o4ber 4a!! o- thing!* A bac3ened
"eo"e* who i)e and die in !ience. Thou!and! o- being!* who -oow a -ata
in!tinct* ,ur!uing god with good and e)i 4ean!.
t ... their -ate
Acco4"i!hed* they a""roach the co44on "itN Their !ighing! -i the ward.F
8ore than one Wi co4e no 4ore to get hi! -ragrant !ou"* At night* by the
-ire!ide* neGt to a beo)ed one.
R%S
&ll!minations
Et "u! dKun ?ui r)ait dan! e -ond de !on a4e AuG douceur! du ogi!* a Koei
beu de !a -e44e* Trou)e au )entre du goui-re un eterne to4beau*P
With a itde 4a!ter-u retouching Baudeaire turn! a D4inerK! -ateE into the
co44on"ace end o- big=city dweer!.
B. The 4oti- o- o)e -or a wo4an "a!!ing by occur! in an eary "oe4 by
Ste-an 5eorge* The "oet ha! 4i!!ed the i4"ortant thing@ the !trea4 in which the
wo4an 4o)e! "a!t* borne aong by the crowd. The re!ut i! a !e-=con!ciou!
eegy. The "oetK! gance!F!o he 4u!t con-e!! to hi! adyFha)e D4o)ed away*
4oi!t with ongingW be-ore they dared 4inge with your!E :^. . . (e!"ht vor
sehnen (ort-#eEo#enIeh sie in 'eine si"h E! ta!"hen tra!ten4< Ste-an 5eorge*
/.mnen4 5il#er(ahrten4 Al#aal4 Berin* $%..;. Baudeaire ea)e! no doubt that
he oo3ed dee" into the eye! o- the "a!!er=by.
<. Thi! "a!!age ha! a "arae in D2n (our de "uie.E E)en though it
bear! another na4e* thi! "oe4 4u!t be a!cribed to Baudeaire. The a!t )er!e*
which gi)e! the "oe4 it! eGtraordinariy !o4ber ?uaity* ha! an eGact
counter"art in DThe 8an o- the Crowd.E ,oe write!@ DThe ray! o- the ga! a4"!*
-eebe at -ir!t in their !trugge with the dying day* had now at ength gained
a!cendancy* and threw o)er e)erything a -it-u and gari!h u!ter. A wa! dar3
yet !"endidFa! that ebony to which ha! been i3ened the !tye o- Tertuian.E
Thi! coincidence i! a the 4ore a!toni!hing here a! the -oowing )er!e! were
written in $'<B at the ate!t* a "eriod when Baudeaire did not 3now ,oe.
Chacun* nou! coudoyant !ur e trottoir gi!!ant*
EgoiK!te et bruta* "a!!e et nou! ecabou!!e*
Ou* "our courir "u! )ite* en !Keoignant nou! "ou!!e.
,artout -ange* deuge* ob!curite du cie.
Noir tabeau ?uKeut re)e e noir EAechie.-
9. There i! !o4ething de4onic about ,oeK! bu!ine!!4en. One i!
re4inded o- 8arG* who ba4ed the D-e)eri!hy youth-u "ace o- 4a=
And 4ore than one who in hi! heart o- heart! had drea4! O-
ho4e* !weet ho4e* and o- hi! wi-eK! bue eye!* 7ind!* within the bey o- the "it*
an e)era!ting to4b.
t Each one* ebowing u! u"on the !i""ery !idewa3* Se-i!h and !a)age goe!
by and !"a!he! u!* Or* to run the -a!ter* gi)e! u! a "u!h a! he 4a3e! o--* 8ud
e)erywhere* deuge* dar3ne!! in the !3y. A !o4ber !cene that EAe3ie the
!o4ber 4ight ha)e drea4ed.
$%&
On So4e 8oti-! in Baudeaire
teria "roductionE in the 2nited State! -or the ac3 o- Deither ti4e or
o""ortunity ... to aboi!h the od word o- the !"irit.E A! dar3ne!! de!cend!*
Baudeaire ha! Dthe har4-u de4on!E awa3en in the air D!uggi!h a! a bunch o-
bu!ine!!4en.E Thi! "a!!age in DCre"u!cue du !o3E 4ay ha)e been in!"ired by
,oeK! teGt.
&. A "ede!trian 3new how to di!"ay hi! nonchaance "ro)ocati)ey on
certain occa!ion!. Around $'</ it wa! brie-y -a!hionabe to ta3e turte! -or a
wa3 in the arcade!. The (lane!rs i3ed to ha)e the turte! !et the "ace -or the4.
+- they had had their way* "rogre!! woud ha)e been obiged to acco44odate
it!e- to thi! "ace. But thi! attitude did not "re)aiN Tayor* who "o"uariAed the
watchword DDown with dawdingM*E carried the day.
0. +n 5a!!brennerK! character the 4an o- ei!ure a""ear! a! a "atry
!cion o- the "ko.en4 Nante* BerinK! !treet=corner boy* ha! no rea!on to be!tir
hi4!e-. He 4a3e! hi4!e- at ho4e on the !treet* which naturay doe! not ead
hi4 anywhere* and i! a! co4-ortabe a! the "hii!tine i! in hi! -our wa!.
'. What ead! u" to thi! con-e!!ion i! re4ar3abe. The )i!itor !ay! that
the cou!in watche! the bu!te down beow ony becau!e he enCoy! the changing
"ay o- the coor!N in the ong run* he !ay!* thi! 4u!t be tiring. +n a !i4iar )ein*
and "robaby not 4uch ater* 5ogo wrote o- a -air in the 23raineN DSo 4any
"eo"e were on their way there that it 4ade oneK! eye! !wi4.E The daiy !ight o-
a i)ey crowd 4ay once ha)e con!tituted a !"ectace to which oneK! eye! had to
ada"t -ir!t. On the ba!i! o- thi! !u""o!ition* one 4ay a!!u4e that once the eye!
had 4a!tered thi! ta!3 they weco4ed o""ortunitie! to te!t their newy ac?uired
-acutie!. Thi! woud 4ean that the techni?ue o- +4"re!!ioni!t "ainting* whereby
the "icture i! garnered in a riot o- dab! o- coor* woud be a re-ection o-
eG"erience! with which the eye! o- a big=city dweer ha)e beco4e -a4iiar. A
"icture i3e 8onetK! DCathedra o- Chartre!*E which i! i3e an ant=hea" o- !tone*
woud be an iu!tration o- thi! hy"othe!i!.
%. +n hi! !tory q. r. A. Hoi-4ann de)ote! edi-ying re-ection!* -or
in!tance* to the bind 4an who i-t! hi! head toward the !3y. +n the a!t ine o-
D1e! A)euge!*E Baudeaire* who 3new thi! !tory* 4odi-ie! Ho--4annK!
re-ection! in !uch a way a! to di!"ro)e their edi-ying ?uaityN ;J!e "her"hent-ik
a! 'el, to!s "es ave!#lesT< HWhat are a tho!e bind "eo"e oo3ing -or in the
!3yJI
$/. The !horter the training "eriod o- an indu!tria wor3er i!* the
W
Illuminations
onger that o- a 4iitary 4an beco4e!. +t 4ay be "art o- !ocietyK! "re"aration
-or tota war that training i! !hi-ting -ro4 the "ractice o- "roduction to the
"ractice o- de!truction.
n. 5a4bing in)aidate! the !tandard! o- eG"erience. +t 4ay be due to an
ob!cure !en!e o- thi! that the D)ugar a""ea to eG"erienceE :Kant; ha! "articuar
currency a4ong ga4ber!. A ga4ber !ay! D4y nu4berE in the !a4e way a! a
4an about town !ay! D4y ty"e.E Toward the end o- the Second E4"ire thi!
attitude "re)aied. DOn the boue)ard! it wa! cu!to4ary to attribute e)erything
to chance.E Thi! di!"o!ition i! "ro4oted by betting* which i! a de)ice -or gi)ing
e)ent! the character o- a !hoc3* detaching the4 -ro4 the conteGt o- eG"erience.
7or the bourgeoi!ie* e)en "oitica e)ent! were a"t to a!!u4e the -or4 o-
occurrence! at the ga4bing tabe.
$.Q The narcotic e--ect that i! in)o)ed here i! !"eci-ied a! to ti4e* i3e the
4aady that it i! !u""o!ed to ae)iate. Ti4e i! the 4ateria into which the
"hanta!4agoria o- ga4bing ha! been wo)en. +n hi! Ra!"he!rs 'e n!its
5ourdon de 5enouiac write!N D+ cai4 that the 4ania -or ga4bing i! the
nobe!t o- a "a!!ion!* -or it incude! a the other!. A !erie! o- uc3y "o!:s
gi)e! 4e 4ore "ea!ure than a non=ga4ber can ha)e in year!. ... +- you thin3
that + !ee ony "ro-it in the god that -a! to 4y !hare* you are 4i!ta3en. + !ee in
it the "ea!ure! that it get! 4e* and + enCoy the4 -uy. They co4e too ?uic3y to
4a3e 4e weary* and there are too 4any o- the4 -or 4e to get bored. + i)e a
hundred i)e! in one. When + tra)e* it i! the way that an eectric !"ar3 tra)e!.
. . . +- + a4 !tingy and re!er)e 4y ban3 note! -or ga4bing* it i! becau!e + 3now
the )aue o- ti4e too we to in)e!t the4 a! other "eo"e do. A certain
enCoy4ent that + 4ight "er4it 4y!e- woud co!t 4e a thou!and other
enCoy4ent!. . . . + ha)e inteectua "ea!ure! and want no other!.E +n the -ine
note! on ga4bing in hi! 2ar'in ')9:i"!re, Anatoe 7rance "re!ent! a !i4iar
)iew.
$B. Beauty can be de-ined in two way!@ in it! reation!hi" to hi!tory and to
nature. +n both reation!hi"! the !e4bance* the "robe4atic ee4ent in the
beauti-u* 4ani-e!t! it!e-. :1et u! indicate the -ir!t reation!hi" brie-y. On the
ba!i! o- it! histori"al eGi!tence* beauty i! an a""ea to Coin tho!e who ad4ired it
at an earier ti4e. Being 4o)ed by beauty i! an a' :l!res ire, a! the Ro4an!
caed dying. According to thi! de-inition* the !e4bance o- beauty 4ean! that
the identica obCect which ad4iration i! courting cannot be -ound in the wor3.
Thi! ad4iration har)e!t! what earier generation! ha)e ad4ired
$/
On So4e 8oti-! in Baudeaire
in it. Word! o- 5oethe eG"re!! here the -ina concu!ion o- wi!do4@
DE)erything that ha! had a great e--ect can reay no onger be e)auated.E;
Beauty in it! reation!hi" to nat!re can be de-ined a! that which Dre4ain! true to
it! e!!entia nature ony when )eied.E The "orres:on'an"es te u! what i! 4eant
by !uch a )ei. We 4ay ca it* in a !o4ewhat daring abbre)iation* the
Dre"roducing a!"ectE o- the wor3 o- art. The "orres:on'an"es con!titute the
court o- Cudg4ent be-ore which the obCect o- art i! -ound to be a -aith-u re"ro=
ductionFwhich* to be !ure* 4a3e! it entirey "robe4atic. +- one atte4"ted to
re"roduce thi! a:oria through anguage* one woud de-ine beauty a! the obCect
o- eG"erience in the !tate o- re!e4bance. Thi! de-inition woud "robaby
coincide with 6aeryK! -or4uation@ DBeauty 4ay re?uire the !er)ie i4itation o-
what i! inde-inabe in obCect!.E +- ,rou!t !o readiy return! to thi! !ubCect :which
in hi! wor3 a""ear! a! ti4e reco)ered;* one cannot !ay that he i! teing any
!ecret!. +t i!* rather* one o- the di!concerting -eature! o- hi! techni?ue that he
re"eatedy and o?uaciou!y buid! hi! re-ection! around the conce"t o- beauty
Fin !hort* the her4etic a!"ect o- art. He write! about the origin and the
intention! o- hi! wor3 with a -uency and an urbanity that woud be-it a re-ined
a4ateur. Thi!* to be !ure* ha! it! counter"art in Berg!on. The -oowing "a!!age
in which the "hio!o"her indicate! a the thing! that 4ay be eG"ected -ro4 a
)i!ua actuaiAation o- the uninterru"ted !trea4 o- beco4ing ha! a -a)or
re4ini!cent o- ,rou!t DWe can et our day=to=day eGi!tence be "er4eated with
!uch a )i!uaiAation and thu!* than3! to "hio!o"hy* enCoy a !ati!-action !i4iar
to that o- artN but thi! !ati!-action woud be 4ore -re?uent* 4ore reguar* and
4ore ea!iy acce!!ibe to ordinary 4orta!.E Berg!on !ee! within reach what
6aeryK! better* 5oethean under!tanding )i!uaiAe! a! the DhereE in which the
inade?uate beco4e! an actuaity.P
$<. +n the 4y!tica DCoo?uy o- 8ono! and 2na*E ,oe ha!* !o to !"ea3*
in!erted the e4"ty ti4e !e?uence* to which the 4an in the 4ood o- D!"eenE i!
abandoned* into the '!ree
(
and he !ee4! to regard it a! bi!! that he i! now rid o-
it! horror!. +t i! a D!iGth !en!eE ac?uired by the de"arted which ta3e! the -or4 o-
an abiity to deri)e har4ony e)en -ro4 the e4"ty "a!!age o- ti4e. To be !ure* it
i! ?uite ea!iy di!ru"ted by the rhyth4 o- the !econd=hand. DThere !ee4ed to
ha)e !"rung u" in die brain that o- which no word! coud
^. . . in 'em 'as CnE!lan#li"he 9rei#nis -3ir'4< An au!ion to
the Choru! 8y!ticu! that end! 5oetheK! Ra!st
t
,art Two.FTran!.
R%%
&ll!minations
con)ey to the 4erey hu4an inteigence e)en an indi!tinct conce"tion. 1et 4e
ter4 it a 4enta "enduou! "u!ation. +t wa! the 4ora e4bodi4ent o- 4anK!
ab!tract idea o- Time4 By the ab!oute e?uaiAation o- thi! 4o)e4ent=or o- !uch
a! thi!Fhad the cyce! o- the -ir4a4enta orb! the4!e)e! been adCu!ted. By it!
aid + 4ea!ured the irreguaritie! o- the coc3 u"on the 4ante* and o- the watche!
o- the attendant!. Their tic3ing! ca4e !onorou!y to 4y ear!. The !ighte!t
de)iation -ro4 the true "ro"ortion . . . a--ected 4e Cu!t a! )ioation! o- ab!tract
truth are wont* on earth* to a--ect the 4ora !en!e.E
+(. The deterioration o- eG"erience 4ani-e!t! it!e- in ,rou!t in the co4"ete
reaiAation o- hi! uti4ate intention. There i! nothing 4ore ingeniou! or 4ore
oya than the way in which he nonchaanty and con!tanty !tri)e! to te the
reader@ Rede4"tion i! 4y "ri)ate !how.
$&. The 4o4ent o- !uch a !ucce!! i! it!e- 4ar3ed a! !o4ething uni?ue.
+t i! the ba!i! o- the !tructura de!ign o- ,rou!tK! wor3!. Each !ituation in which
the chronicer i! touched by the breath o- o!t ti4e i! thereby rendered
inco4"arabe and re4o)ed -ro4 the !e?uence o- the day!.
$0. Thi! endow4ent i! a we!"ring o- "oetry. Where)er a hu4an being*
an ani4a* or an inani4ate obCect thu! endowed by the "oet i-t! u" it! eye!* it
draw! hi4 into the di!tance. The gaAe o- nature thu! awa3ened drea4! and "u!
the "oet a-ter it! drea4. Word!* too* can ha)e an aura o- their own. Thi! i! how
Kar Krau! de!cribed it@ DThe co!er the oo3 one ta3e! at a word* the greater the
di!tance -ro4 which it oo3! bac3.E
$'. +t i! not i4"o!!ibe that thi! entry wa! occa!ioned by a "athogenic
!hoc3. The -or4 which reate! it to BaudeaireK! wor3 i! a the 4ore re)eaing.
.//
$e #magt of %rous&'
I
The thirteen )ou4e! o- 8arce ,rou!tK! e la *e"her"he '! tem:i :er'! are the
re!ut o- an uncon!truabe !ynthe!i! in which the ab!or"tion o- a 4y!tic* the art
o- a "ro!e writer* the )er)e o- a !atiri!t* the erudition o- a !choar* and the !e-=
con!ciou!ne!! o- a 4ono4aniac ha)e co4bined in an autobiogra"hica wor3. +t
ha! righty been !aid that a great wor3! o- iterature -ound a genre or di!!o)e
oneFthat they are* in other word!* !"ecia ca!e!* A4ong the!e ca!e! thi! i! one o-
the 4o!t un-atho4abe. 7ro4 it! !tructure* which i! -iction* autobiogra"hy* and
co44entary in one* to the !yntaG o- ende!! !entence! :the Nie o- anguage*
which here o)er-ow! and -ructi-ie! the region! o- truth;* e)erything tran!cend!
the nor4. The -ir!t re)eaing ob!er)ation that !tri3e! one i! that thi! great !"ecia
ca!e o- iterature at the !a4e ti4e con!titute! it! greate!t achie)e4ent o- recent
decade!. The condition! under which it wa! created were eGtre4ey unheathy@
T
an unu!ua 4aady* eGtraordinary weath* and an abnor4a di!"o!ition. Thi! i! not
a 4ode i-e in e)ery re!"ect* but e)erything about it i! eGe4"ary. The
out!tanding iterary achie)e4ent o- our ti4e i! a!!igned a "ace in the heart o-
the i4"o!!ibe* at theW
./$
+u4ination!
centerFand a!o at the "oint o- indi--erenceFo- a danger!* and it 4ar3! thi!
great reaiAation o- a Di-ewor3E a! the a!t -or a ong ti4e. The i4age o- ,rou!t
i! the highe!t "hy!iogno4ic eG"re!!ion which the irre!i!tiby growing
di!cre"ancy between iterature and i-e wa! abe to a!!u4e. Thi! i! the e!!on
which Cu!ti-ie! the atte4"t to e)o3e thi! i4age.
We 3now that in hi! wor3 ,rou!t did not de!cribe a i-e a! it actuay wa!* but a
i-e a! it wa! re4e4bered by the one who had i)ed it. And yet e)en thi!
!tate4ent i! i4"reci!e and -ar too crude. 7or the i4"ortant thing -or the
re4e4bering author i! not what he eG"erienced* but the wea)ing o- hi! 4e4ory*
the ,eneo"e wor3 o- recoection. Or !houd one ca it* rather* a ,eneo"e wor3
o- -orgettingJ +! not the in)ountary recoection* ,rou!tK! memoire involontaire,
4uch co!er to -orgetting than what i! u!uay caed 4e4oryJ And i! not thi!
wor3 o- !"ontaneou! recoection* in which re4e4brance i! the woo- and
-orgetting the war-* a counter"art to ,eneo"eK! wor3 rather than it! i3ene!!J
7or here the day unra)e! what the night wa! wo)en. When we awa3e each
4orning* we hod in our hand!* u!uay wea3y and oo!ey* but a -ew -ringe! o-
the ta"e!try o- i)ed i-e* a! oo4ed -or u! by -orgetting. Howe)er* with our
"ur"o!e-u acti)ity and* e)en 4ore* our "ur"o!i)e re4e4bering each day
unra)e! the web and the orna4ent! o- -orgetting. Thi! i! why ,rou!t -inay
turned hi! day! into night!* de)oting a hi! hour! to undi!turbed wor3 in hi!
dar3ened roo4 with arti-icia iu4ination* !o that none o- tho!e intricate
arabe!?ue! 4ight e!ca"e hi4.
The 1atin word te=t!m 4ean! Dweb.E No oneK! teGt i! 4ore tighty wo)en than
8arce ,rou!tK!N to hi4 nothing wa! tight or durabe enough. 7ro4 hi! "ubi!her
5ai4ard we 3now that ,rou!tK! "roo-reading habit! were the de!"air o- the
ty"e!etter!* The gaey! away! went bac3 co)ered with 4argina note!* but not a
!inge 4i!"rint had been correctedN a a)aiabe !"ace had been u!ed -or -re!h
teGt. Thu! the aw! o- re4e4brance were o"erati)e e)en within the con-ine! o-
the wor3. 7or an eG"erienced e)ent i! -initeFat any rate* con-ined to one !"here
o- eG"erienceN a re4e4bered e)ent i! in-inite* becau!e it i! ony a 3ey to
e)erything that ha""ened be-ore it and a-ter it. There i! yet
./.
The &ma#e o( 5ro!st
another !en!e in which 4e4ory i!!ue! !trict wea)ing reguation!. Ony the a"t!s
:!r!s o- recoection it!e-* not the author or the "ot* con!titute! the unity o- the
teGt. One 4ay e)en !ay that the inter4ittence o- author and "ot i! ony the
re)er!e o- the continuu4 o- 4e4ory* the "attern on the bac3 !ide o- the ta"e!try.
Thi! i! what ,rou!t 4eant* and thi! i! how he 4u!t be under!tood* when he !aid
that he woud "re-er to !ee hi! entire wor3 "rinted in one )ou4e in two cou4n!
and without any "aragra"h!.
What wa! it that ,rou!t !ought !o -reneticayJ What wa! at the botto4 o- the!e
in-inite e--ort!J Can we !ay that a i)e!* wor3!* and deed! that 4atter were
ne)er anything but the undi!turbed un-oding o- the 4o!t bana* 4o!t -eeting*
4o!t !enti4enta* wea3e!t hour in the i-e o- the one to who4 they "ertainJ
When ,rou!t in a we=3nown "a!!age de!cribed the hour that wa! 4o!t hi! own*
he did it in !uch a way that e)eryone can -ind it in hi! own eGi!tence. We 4ight
a4o!t ca it an e)eryday hourN it co4e! with the night* a o!t twittering o- bird!*
or a breath drawn at the !i o- an o"en window. And there i! no teing what
encounter! woud be in !tore -or u! i- we were e!! incined to gi)e in to !ee".
,rou!t did not gi)e in to !ee". And yetFor* rather* "reci!ey -or thi! rea!onF
(ean Cocteau wa! abe to !ay in a beauti-u e!!ay that the intonation o- ,rou!tK!
)oice obeyed the aw! o- night and honey. By !ub4itting to the!e aw! he
con?uered the ho"ee!! !adne!! within hi4 :what he once caed ;^im:er(e"tion
in"!rale 'ans Gessen"e mime '! :resent< P;* and -ro4 the honeyco4b! o-
4e4ory he buit a hou!e -or the !war4 o- hi! thought!. Cocteau recogniAed what
reay !houd ha)e been the 4aCor concern o- a reader! o- ,rou!t and yet ha!
!er)ed no one a! the "i)ota "oint o- hi! re-ection! or hi! a--ection. He
recogniAed ,rou!tK! bind* !en!ee!!* -renAied ?ue!t -or ha""ine!!. +t !hone -ro4
hi! eye!N they were not ha""y* but in the4 there ay -ortune a! it ie! in ga4bing
or in o)e. Nor i! it hard to !ay why thi! "arayAing* eG"o!i)e wi to ha""ine!!
which "er)ade! ,rou!tK! writing! i! !o !edo4 co4"re=
^... the incurabe i4"er-ection in the )ery e!!ence o- the "re!ent
4o4ent.E
./B
&ll!minations
hended by hi! reader!. +n 4any "ace! ,rou!t hi4!e- 4ade it ea!y -or the4 to
)iew thi! oe!vre, too* -ro4 the ti4e=te!ted* co4-ortabe "er!"ecti)e o-
re!ignation* heroi!4* a!cetici!4. A-ter a* nothing 4a3e! 4ore !en!e to the 4ode
"u"i! o- i-e than the notion that a great achie)e4ent i! the -ruit o- toi* 4i!ery*
and di!a""oint4ent. The idea that ha""ine!! coud ha)e a !hare in beauty woud
be too 4uch o- a good thing* !o4ething that their ressentiment woud ne)er get
o)er.
There i! a dua wi to ha""ine!!* a diaectic! o- ha""ine!!N a hy4nic and an
eegiac -or4. The one i! the unheard=o-* the un"recedented* the height o- bi!! Y
the other* the eterna re"etition* the eterna re!toration o- the origina* the -ir!t
ha""ine!!. +t i! thi! eegiac idea o- ha""ine!!Fit coud a!o be caed EeaticF
which -or ,rou!t tran!-or4! eGi!tence into a "re!er)e o- 4e4ory. To it he
!acri-iced in hi! i-e -riend! and co4"anion!hi"* in hi! wor3! "ot* unity o-
character!* the -ow o- the narration* the "ay o- the i4agination. 8aG 2nod*
one o- ,rou!tK! 4ore di!cerning reader!* -a!tened on the Dboredo4E thu! created
in ,rou!tK! writing! and i3ened it to D"ointe!! !torie!.E D,rou!t 4anaged to
4a3e the "ointe!! !tory intere!ting. He !ay!@ R+4agine* dear reader* ye!terday +
wa! dun3ing a coo3ie in 4y tea when it occurred to 4e that a! a chid + !"ent
!o4e ti4e in the country.K 7or thi! he u!e! eighty "age!* and it i! !o -a!cinating
that you thin3 you are no onger the i!tener but the daydrea4er hi4!e-.E +n !uch
!torie!FDa ordinary drea4! turn into "ointe!! !torie! a! !oon a! one te! the4 to
!o4eoneEF2nod ha! di!co)ered the bridge to the drea4. No !ynthetic
inter"retation o- ,rou!t can di!regard it. Enough incon!"icuou! gate! ead into it
F,rou!tK! -reneticay !tudying re!e4bance!* hi! i4"a!!ioned cut o-
!i4iarity. The true !ign! o- it! hege4ony do not beco4e ob)iou! where he
!uddeny and !tartingy unco)er! !i4iaritie! in action!* "hy!iogno4ie!* or
!"eech 4anneri!4!. The !i4iarity o- one thing to another which we are u!ed to*
which occu"ie! u! in a wa3e-u !tate* re-ect! ony )aguey the dee"er
re!e4bance o- the drea4 word in which e)erything that ha""en! a""ear! not in
identica but in !i4iar gui!e* o"a?uey !i4iar one to another. Chidren 3now a
!y4bo o- thi! word@ the !toc3ing which
./<
The +4age o- ,rou!t
ha! the !tructure o- thi! drea4 word when* roed u" in the aundry ha4"er* it
i! a DbagE and a D"re!entE at the !a4e ti4e. And Cu!t a! chidren do not tire o-
?uic3y changing the bag and it! content! into a third thingFna4ey* a !toc3ing
F,rou!t coud not get hi! $$$ o- e4"tying the du44y* hi! !e-* at one !tro3e in
order to 3ee" garnering that third thing* the i4age which !ati!-ied hi! curio!ityF
indeed* a!!uaged hi! ho4e!ic3ne!!. He ay on hi! bed rac3ed with ho4e!ic3ne!!*
ho4e!ic3 -or the word di!torted in the !tate o- re!e4bance* a word in which
the true !urreai!t -ace o- eGi!tence brea3! through* To thi! word beong! what
ha""en! in ,rou!t* and the deiberate and -a!tidiou! way in which it a""ear!. +t i!
ne)er i!oated* rhetorica* or )i!ionaryN care-uy heraded and !ecurey
!u""orted* it bear! a -ragie* "reciou! reaityN the i4age. +t detache! it!e- -ro4
the !tructure o- ,rou!tK! !entence! a! that !u44er day at BabecFod*
i44e4oria* 4u44i-iedFe4erged -ro4 the ace curtain! under 7rancoi!eK!
hand!.
II
We do not away! "rocai4 oudy the 4o!t i4"ortant thing we ha)e to !ay.
Nor do we away! "ri)atey !hare it with tho!e co!e!t to u!* our inti4ate -riend!*
tho!e who ha)e been 4o!t de)otedy ready to recei)e our con-e!!ion. +- it i! true
that not ony "eo"e but a!o age! ha)e !uch a cha!teFthat i!* !uch a de)iou!
and -ri)oou!=way o- co44unicating what i! 4o!t their own to a "a!!ing
ac?uaintance* then the nineteenth century did not re)ea it!e- to [oa or Anatoe
7rance* but to the young ,rou!t* the in!igni-icant !nob* the "ayboy and !ociaite
Dwho !natched in "a!!ing the 4o!t a!tounding con-idence! -ro4 a decining age
a! -ro4 another* bone=weary Swann. +t too3 ,rou!t to 4a3e the nineteenth
century ri"e -or 4e4oir!. What be-ore hi4 had been a "eriod de)oid o- ten!ion
now beca4e a -ied o- -orce in which ater writer! arou!ed 4uti-ariou! current!.
Nor i! it accidenta that the two 4o!t !igni-icant wor3! o- thi! 3ind were written
by author! who were "er!onay co!e to ,rou!t a! ad4irer! and -riend!@ the
4e4oir! o- ,rince!! Cer4ont=Tonnerre and the
./Z
iu4ination!
autobiogra"hica wor3 o- 1eon DaudetN the -ir!t )ou4e! o- both wor3! were
"ubi!hed recenty. An e4inenty ,rou!tian in!"iration ed 1ion Daudet* who!e
"oitica -oy i! too gro!! and too obtu!e to do 4uch har4 to hi! ad4irabe
taent* to turn hi! i-e into a city. 5aris vim, the "roCection o- a biogra"hy onto
the city 4a"* in 4ore than one "ace i! touched by the !hadow! o- ,rou!tian
character!. And the )ery tite o- ,rince!! Cer4ont=TonnerreK! boo3* A! Tem:s
'es e7!i:a#es, woud ha)e been unthin3abe "rior to ,rou!t. Thi! boo3 i! the
echo which !o-ty an!wer! ,rou!tK! a4biguou!* o)ing* chaenging ca -ro4 the
7aubourg Saint=5er4ain. +n addition* thi! 4eodiou! "er-or4ance i! !hot
through with direct and indirect re-erence! to ,rou!t in it! tenor and it!
character!* which incude hi4 and !o4e o- hi! -a)orite obCect! o- !tudy -ro4 the
BitA. There i! no denying* o- cour!e* that thi! "ut! u! in a )ery ari!tocratic
4iieu* and* with -igure! i3e Robert de 8onte!?uiouQ who4 ,rince!!
Cer4ont=Tonnerre de"ict! 4a!ter-uy* in a )ery !"ecia one at that. But thi! i!
true o- ,rou!t a! we* and in hi! writing! 8onte!?uiou ha! a counter"art. A thi!
woud not be worth di!cu!!ing* e!"eciay !ince the ?ue!tion o- 4ode! woud be
!econdary and uni4"ortant -or 5er4any* i- 5er4an critici!4 were not !o -ond
o- ta3ing the ea!y way out. Abo)e a* it coud not re!i!t the o""ortunity to
de!cend to the e)e o- the ending=ibrary crowd. Hac3 critic! were te4"ted to
draw concu!ion! about the author -ro4 the !nobbi!h 4iieu o- hi! writing!* to
characteriAe ,rou!tK! wor3! a! an interna a--air o- the 7rench* a iterary
!u""e4ent to the Almana"h 'e Fotha4 +t i! ob)iou! that the "robe4! o- ,rou!tK!
character! are tho!e o- a !atiated !ociety. But there i! not one which woud be
identica with tho!e o- the author* which are !ub)er!i)e. To reduce thi! to a
-or4ua* it wa! to be ,rou!tK! ai4 to de!ign the entire inner !tructure o- !ociety a!
a "hy!ioogy o- chatter. +n the trea!ury o- it! "reCudice! and 4aGi4! there i! not
one that i! not annihiated by a dangerou! co4ic ee4ent. ,ierre=_uint wa! the
-ir!t to draw attention to it. DWhen hu4orou! wor3! are 4entioned*E he wrote*
Done u!uay thin3! o- !hort* a4u!ing boo3! in iu!trated Cac3et!. One -orget!
about 0!n J!i=ote, 5anta#r!el, and Fil Bias8-at* ungainy to4e! in !4a
./&
The &ma#e o( 5ro!st
"rint.E The!e co4"ari!on!* o- cour!e* do not do -u Cu!tice to the eG"o!i)e
"ower o- ,rou!tK! criti?ue o- !ociety. Hi! !tye i! co4edy* not hu4orN hi!
aughter doe! not to!! the word u" but -ing! it downFat the ri!3 that it wi be
!4a!hed to "iece!* which wi then 4a3e hi4 bur!t into tear!. And unity o-
-a4iy and "er!onaity* o- !eGua 4oraity and "ro-e!!iona honor* are indeed
!4a!hed to bit!. The "reten!ion! o- the bourgeoi!ie are !hattered by aughter.
Their return and rea!!i4iation by the ari!tocracy i! the !ocioogica the4e o- the
wor3.
,rou!t did not tire o- the training which 4o)ing in ari!tocratic circe! re?uired.
A!!iduou!y and without 4uch con!traint* he conditioned hi! "er!onaity* 4a3ing
it a! i4"enetrabe and re!ource-u* a! !ub4i!!i)e and di--icut* a! it had to be -or
the !a3e o- hi! 4i!!ion. 1ater on thi! 4y!ti-ication and cere4oniou!ne!! beca4e
!o 4uch "art o- hi4 that hi! etter! !o4eti4e! con!titute whoe !y!te4! o-
"arenthe!e!* and not Cu!t in the gra44atica !en!eFetter! which de!"ite their
in-initey ingeniou!* -eGibe co4"o!ition occa!ionay ca to 4ind the !"eci4en
o- a etter writerK! handboo3@ D8y dear 8ada4* + Cu!t noticed that + -orgot 4y
cane at your hou!e ye!terdayN "ea!e be good enough to gi)e it to the bearer o-
thi! etter. ,.S. Kindy "ardon 4e -or di!turbing youN + Cu!t -ound 4y cane.E
,rou!t wa! 4o!t re!ource-u in creating co4"ication!. Once* ate at night* he
dro""ed in on ,rince!! Cer4ont=Tonnerre and 4ade hi! !taying de"endent on
!o4eone bringing hi4 hi! 4edicine -ro4 hi! hou!e. He !ent a )aet -or it* gi)ing
hi4 a engthy de!cri"tion o- the neighborhood and o- the hou!e. 7inay he !aid@
DYou cannot 4i!! it. +t i! the ony window on the Boue)ard Hau!!4ann in
which there !ti i! a ight burningME E)erything but the hou!e nu4berM Anyone
who ha! tried to get the addre!! o- a brothe in a !trange city and ha! recei)ed the
4o!t ong=winded direction!* e)erything but the na4e o- the !treet and the hou!e
nu4ber* wi under!tand what i! 4eant here and what the connection i! with
,rou!tK! o)e o- cere4ony* hi! ad4iration o- the Due de Saint=Si4on* and* a!t but
not ea!t* hi! intran!igent 7rench !"irit. +! it not the ?uinte!!ence o- eG"erience to
-ind out how )ery di--icut it i! to earn 4any thing! which a""arenty coud be
tod in )ery -ew word!J +t i!
./0
&ll!minations
!i4"y that !uch word! are "art o- a anguage e!tabi!hed aong ine! o- ca!te
and ca!! and uninteigibe to out!ider!. No wonder that the !ecret anguage o-
the !aon! eGcited ,rou!t* When he ater e4bar3ed on hi! 4ercie!! de"iction o-
the :etit "lan, the Cour)oi!ier!* the De!"rit dKOriane*E he had through hi!
a!!ociation with the Bibe!co! beco4e con)er!ant with the i4"ro)i!ation! o- a
code anguage to which we too ha)e recenty been introduced. +n hi! year! o-
i-e in the !aon! ,rou!t de)eo"ed not ony the )ice o- -attery to an e4inentF
one i! te4"ted to !ay* to a theoogicaFdegreeQ but the )ice o- curio!ity a! we.
We detect in hi4 the re-ection o- the aughter which i3e a -a!h -ire cur! the
i"! o- the 7ooi!h 6irgin! re"re!ented on the intrado! o- 4any o- the cathedra!
which ,rou!t o)ed. +t i! the !4ie o- curio!ity. Wa! it curio!ity that 4ade hi4
!uch a great "arodi!tJ +- !o* we woud 3now how to e)auate the ter4 D"arodi!tE
in thi! conteGt. Not )ery highy. 7or though it doe! Cu!tice to hi! aby!4a 4aice*
it !3irt! the bitterne!!* !a)agery* and "ri4ne!! o- the 4agni-icent "iece! which
he wrote in the !tye o- BaAac* 7aubert* Sainte=Beu)e* Henri de Regnier* the
5oncourt!* 8iche=et* Renan* and hi! -a)orite Saint=Si4on* and which are
coected in the )ou4e 5asti"hes et melan#es4 The 4i4icry o- a 4an o-
curio!ity i! the briiant de)ice o- thi! !erie!* a! it i! a!o a -eature o- hi! entire
creati)ity in which hi! "a!!ion -or )egetati)e i-e cannot be ta3en !eriou!y
enough. Ortega y 5a!!et wa! the -ir!t to draw attention to the )egetati)e
eGi!tence o- ,rou!tK! character!* which are "anted !o -ir4y in their !ocia
habitat* in-uenced by the "o!ition o- the !un o- ari!tocratic -a)or* !tirred by the
wind that bow! -ro4 5uer4ante! or 8&!egi!e* and ineGtricaby intertwined in
the thic3et o- their -ate. Thi! i! the en)iron4ent that ga)e ri!e to the "oetK!
4i4icry. ,rou!tK! 4o!t accurate* 4o!t con)incing in!ight! -a!ten on their obCect!
a! in!ect! -a!ten on ea)e!* bo!!o4!* branche!* betraying nothing o- their
eGi!tence unti a ea"* a beating o- wing!* a )aut* !how the !tarted ob!er)er that
!o4e incacuabe indi)idua i-e ha! i4"erce"tiby cre"t into an aien word. The
true reader o- ,rou!t i! con!tanty Carred by !4a !hoc3!. +n the "arodie! he -ind!
again* in the gui!e o- a "ay with D!tye!*E what a--ected hi4 in an atogether
di--erent way
./'
The +4age o- ,rou!t
a! thi! !"iritK! !trugge -or !ur)i)a under the ea-y cano"y o- !ociety. At thi!
"oint we 4u!t !ay !o4ething about the co!e and -ructi-ying inter"enetration o-
the!e two )ice!* curio!ity and -attery. There i! a re)eaing "a!!age in the writing!
o- ,rince!! Cer4ont=Tonnerre. DAnd -inay we cannot !u""re!! the -act that
,rou!t beca4e enra"tured with the !tudy o- do4e!tic !er)ant!Fwhether it be
that an ee4ent which he encountered nowhere e!e intrigued hi! in)e!tigati)e
-acutie! or that he en)ied !er)ant! their greater o""ortunitie! -or ob!er)ing the
inti4ate detai! o- thing! that arou!ed hi! intere!t. +n any ca!e* do4e!tic !er)ant!
in their )ariou! e4bodi4ent! and ty"e! were hi! "a!!ion.E +n the eGotic !hading!
o- a (u"ien* a 8on!ieur Ai4e* a C&$e!tine Abaat* their ran3! eGtend -ro4
7rancoi!e* a -igure with the coar!e* anguar -eature! o- St. 8artha that !ee4! to be
!traight out o- a Boo3 o- Hour!* to tho!e groo4! and "hasse!rs who are "aid -or
oa-ing rather than wor3ing. And "erha"! the greate!t concentration o- thi!
connoi!!eur o- cere4onie! wa! re!er)ed -or the de"iction o- the!e ower ran3!.
Who can te how 4uch !er)ant curio!ity beca4e "art o- ,rou!tK! -attery* how
4uch !er)ant -attery beca4e 4iGed with hi! curio!ity* and where thi! art-u co"y
o- the roe o- the !er)ant on the height! o- the !ocia !cae had it! i4it!J ,rou!t
"re!ented !uch a co"y* and he coud not he" doing !o* -or* a! he once ad4itted*
;voir< and ;'Dsirer imiter< were one and the !a4e thing to hi4. Thi! attitude*
which wa! both !o)ereign and ob!e?uiou!* ha! been "re!er)ed by 8aurice
Barre! in the 4o!t a""o!ite word! that ha)e e)er been written about ,rou!t@ ;Cn
:oete :ersan 'ans !ne lo#e 'e :ortiere< P
There wa! !o4ething o- the detecti)e in ,rou!tK! curio!ity. The u""er ten
thou!and were to hi4 a can o- cri4ina!* a band o- con!"irator! beyond
co4"are@ the Ca4orra o- con!u4er!. +t eGcude! -ro4 it! word e)erything that
ha! a "art in "roduction* or at ea!t de4and! that thi! "art be grace-uy and
ba!h-uy conceaed behind the 3ind o- 4anner that i! !"orted by the "oi!hed
"ro-e!!iona! o- con!u4"tion. ,rou!tK! anay!i! o- !nobbery*
DA ,er!ian "oet in a "orterK! odge.E ()*
Ill*minati+n)
which i! -ar 4ore i4"ortant than hi! a"otheo!i! o- art* con!titute! the a"ogee o-
hi! critici!4 o- !ociety. 7or the attitude o- the !nob i! nothing but the con!i!tent*
organiAed* !teey )iew o- i-e -ro4 the che4icay "ure !tand"oint o- the
con!u4er. And becau!e e)en the re4ote!t a! we a! the 4o!t "ri4iti)e 4e4ory
o- natureK! "roducti)e -orce! wa! to be bani!hed -ro4 thi! !atanic 4agic word*
,rou!t -ound a "er)erted reation!hi" 4ore !er)iceabe than a nor4a one e)en
in o)e. But the "ure con!u4er i! the "ure eG"oiterFogicay and theoreticay
Fand in ,rou!t he i! that in the -u concretene!! o- hi! actua hi!torica
eGi!tence. He i! concrete becau!e he i! i4"enetrabe and eu!i)e* ,rou!t de!cribe!
a ca!! which i! e)erywhere "edged to ca4ou-age it! 4ateria ba!i! and -or thi!
)ery rea!on i! attached to a -eudai!4 which ha! no intrin!ic econo4ic
!igni-icance but i! a the 4ore !er)iceabe a! a 4a!3 o- the u""er 4idde ca!!.
Thi! di!iu!ioned* 4ercie!! dega4oriAer o- the ego* o- o)e* o- 4ora!F-or thi!
i! how ,rou!t i3ed to )iew hi4!e-Fturn! hi! whoe i4ite!! art into a )ei -or
thi! one 4o!t )ita 4y!tery o- hi! ca!!@ the econo4ic a!"ect. He did not 4ean to
do it a !er)ice. Here !"ea3! 8arce ,rou!t* the hardne!! o- hi! wor3* the
intran!igence o- a 4an who i! ahead o- hi! ca!!. What he acco4"i!he! he acco4=
"i!he! a! it! 4a!ter. And 4uch o- the greatne!! o- thi! wor3 wi re4ain
inacce!!ibe or undi!co)ered unti thi! ca!! ha! re)eaed it! 4o!t "ronounced
-eature! in the -ina !trugge.
+
+n the a!t century there wa! an inn by the na4e o- DAu Te4"! ,erduE at
5renobeN + do not 3now whether it !ti eGi!t!. +n ,rou!t* too* we are gue!t! who
enter through a door under=neath a !u!"ended !ign that !way! in the breeAe* a
door behind which eternity and ra"ture await u!. 7ernandeA righty di!tingui!hed
between a theme 'e riternite and a theme '! tem:s in ,rou!t. But hi! eternity i!
by no 4ean! a "atonic or a 2to"ian oneN it i! ra"turou!. There-ore* i- Dti4e
re)ea! a new and hitherto un3nown 3ind o- eternity to anyone who beco4e!
engro!!ed in it! "a!!ing*E thi! certainy doe! not enabe an indi)idua to a"=
.$/
The +4age o- ,rou!t
"roach Dthe higher region! which a ,ato or S"inoAa reached with one beat o-
the wing!.E +t i! true that in ,rou!t we -ind rudi4ent! o- an enduring ideai!4* but
it woud be a 4i!ta3e to 4a3e the!e the ba!i! o- an inter"retation* a! Benoi!t=
8echin ha! done 4o!t garingy. The eternity which ,rou!t o"en! to )iew i! con=
)outed ti4e* not bounde!! ti4e. Hi! true intere!t i! in the "a!!age o- ti4e in it!
4o!t reaFthat i!* !"ace=boundF-or4* and thi! "a!!age nowhere hod! !way
4ore o"eny than in re4e4brance within and aging without. To ob!er)e the
interaction o- aging and re4e4bering 4ean! to "enetrate to the heart o- ,rou!tK!
word* to the uni)er!e o- con)oution. +t i! the word in a !tate o- re!e4bance!*
the do4ain o- the "orres:on'an"esM the Ro4antici!t! were the -ir!t to co4"rehend
the4 and Baudeaire e4braced the4 4o!t -er)enty* but ,rou!t wa! the ony one
who 4anaged to re)ea the4 in our i)ed i-e. Thi! i! the wor3 o- the memoire
involontaire, the reCu)enating -orce which i! a 4atch -or the ineGorabe "roce!!
o- aging. When the "a!t i! re-ected in the dewy -re!h Din!tant*E a "ain-u !hoc3
o- reCu)enation "u! it together once 4ore a! irre!i!tiby a! the 5uer4ante! way
and SwannK! way beco4e intertwined -or ,rou!t when* in the thirteenth )ou4e*
he roa4! about the Co4bray area -or the a!t ti4e and di!co)er! the intertwining
o- the road!. +n a trice the and!ca"e Cu4"! about i3e a chid.
!
AhV 7!e le mon'e
est #ran' W la "larti 'es lam:esV A!= .e!= '! so!venir 7!e le mon'e est :etitV< P
,rou!t ha! brought o-- the tre4endou! -eat o- etting the whoe word age by a
i-eti4e in an in!tant. But thi! )ery concentration in which thing! that nor4ay
Cu!t -ade and !u4ber con!u4e the4!e)e! in a -a!h i! caed reCu)enation. e la
*e"her"he '! tem:s :er'! i! the con!tant atte4"t to charge an entire i-eti4e
with the ut4o!t awarene!!. ,rou!tK! 4ethod i! actuaiAation* not re-ection. He i!
-ied with the in!ight that none o- u! ha! ti4e to i)e the true dra4a! o- the i-e
that we are de!tined -or. Thi! i! what age! u!Fthi! and nothing e!e. The wrin=
3e! and crea!e! on our -ace! are the regi!tration o- the great
DOh* how arge the word i! in the brightne!! o- the a4"!. How
!4a the word i! in the eye! o- recoection.E
.$$
+u4ination!
"a!!ion!* )ice!* in!ight! that caed on u!N but we* the 4a!ter!* were not ho4e.
Since the !"iritua eGerci!e! o- 1oyoa there ha! hardy been a 4ore radica
atte4"t at !e-=ab!or"tion. ,rou!tK!* too* ha! a! it! center a oneine!! which "u!
the word down into it! )orteG with the -orce o- a 4ae!tro4. And the o)eroud
and inconcei)aby hoow chatter which co4e! roaring out o- ,rou!tK! no)e! i!
the !ound o- !ociety "unging down into the aby!! o- thi! oneine!!. Thi! i! the
ocation o- ,rou!tK! in)ecti)e! again!t -riend!hi". +t wa! a 4atter o- "ercei)ing
the !ience at the botto4 o- thi! crater* who!e eye! are the ?uiete!t and 4o!t
ab!orbing. So4ething that i! 4ani-e!ted irritatingy and ca"riciou!y in !o 4any
anecdote! i! the co4bination o- an un"araeed inten!ity o- con)er!ation with an
un!ur"a!!abe aoo-ne!! -ro4 hi! "artner. There ha! ne)er been anyone e!e with
,rou!tK! abiity to !how u! thing!N ,rou!tK! "ointing -inger i! une?uaed. But
there i! another ge!ture in a4icabe togetherne!!* in con)er!ation@ "hy!ica
contact. To no one i! thi! ge!ture 4ore aien than to ,rou!t. He cannot touch hi!
reader eitherN he coud not do !o -or anything in the word. +- one wanted to
grou" iterature around the!e "oe!* di)iding it into the directi)e and the touching
3ind* the core o- the -or4er woud be the wor3 o- ,rou!t* the core o- the atter*
the wor3 o- ,eguy. Thi! i! ba!icay what 7ernandeA ha! -or4uated !o we@
DDe"th* or* rather* inten!ity* i! away! on hi! !ide* ne)er on that o- hi! "artner.E
Thi! i! de4on!trated briianty and with a touch o- cynici!4 in ,rou!tK! iterary
critici!4* the 4o!t !igni-icant docu4ent o- which i! an e!!ay that ca4e into
being on the high e)e o- hi! -a4e and the ow e)e o- hi! deathbed@ DA ,ro"o!
de Baudeaire.E The e!!ay i! (e!uitic in it! ac?uie!cence in hi! own 4aadie!*
i44oderate in the garruou!ne!! o- a 4an who i! re!ting* -rightening in the
indi--erence o- a 4an 4ar3ed by death who want! to !"ea3 out once 4ore* no
4atter on what !ubCect. What in!"ired ,rou!t here in the -ace o- death a!o
!ha"ed hi4 in hi! intercour!e with hi! conte4"orarie!@ !o !"a!4odic and har!h an
aternation o- !arca!4 and tenderne!! that it! reci"ient! threatened to brea3 down
in eGhau!tion.
The "ro)ocati)e* un!teady ?uaity o- the 4an a--ect! e)en
.$.
The &ma#e o( 5ro!st
the reader o- hi! wor3!. Su--ice it to reca the ende!! !ucce!!ion o- ;soit 7!e . .
. *Q by 4ean! o- which an action i! !hown in an eGhau!ti)e* de"re!!ing way in the
ight o- the counte!! 4oti)e! u"on which it 4ay ha)e been ba!ed. And yet the!e
"aratactic !e?uence! re)ea the "oint at which wea3ne!! and geniu! coincide in
,rou!t@ the inteectua renunciation* the te!ted !3e"tici!4 with which he
a""roached thing!. A-ter the !e-=!ati!-ied inwardne!! o- Ro4antici!4 ,rou!t ca4e
aong* deter4ined* a! (ac?ue! Ri)iere "ut! it* not to gi)e the ea!t credence to the
;DireXnes interie!res4< D,rou!t a""roache! eG"erience without the !ighe!t
4eta"hy!ica intere!t* without the !ighte!t "enchant -or con!truction* without the
!ighte!t tendency to con!oe.E Nothing i! truer than that. And thu! the ba!ic
-eature o- thi! wor3* too* which ,rou!t 3e"t "rocai4ing a! being "anned* i!
anything but the re!ut o- con!truction. But it i! a! "anned a! the ine! on the
"a4 o- our hand or the arrange4ent o- the !ta4en in a cayG. Co4"etey worn
out* ,rou!t* that aged chid* -e bac3 on the bo!o4 o- natureFnot to drin3 -ro4
it* but to drea4 to it! heartbeat. One 4u!t "icture hi4 in thi! !tate o- wea3ne!! to
under!tand how -eicitou!y (ac?ue! Ri)iere inter"reted the wea3ne!! when he
wrote@ D8arce ,rou!t died o- the !a4e ineG"erience which "er4itted hi4 to
write hi! wor3!. He died o- ignorance o- the word and becau!e he did not 3now
how to change the condition! o- hi! i-e which had begun to cru!h hi4. He died
becau!e he did not 3now how to 4a3e a -ire or o"en a window.E And* to be !ure*
o- hi! "!ychogenic a!th4a.
The doctor! were "owere!! in the -ace o- thi! 4aadyN not !o the writer* who
)ery !y!te4aticay "aced it in hi! !er)ice. To begin with the 4o!t eGterna
a!"ect* he wa! a "er-ect !tage director o- hi! !ic3ne!!. 7or 4onth! he connected*
with de)a!tating irony* the i4age o- an ad4irer who had !ent hi4 -ower! with
their odor* which he -ound unbearabe. De"ending on the u"! and down! o- hi!
4aady he aar4ed hi! -riend!* who dreaded and onged -or the 4o4ent when the
writer woud !uddeny a""ear in their drawing roo4! ong a-ter mi'ni#ht8rise
'e (ati#!e and -or Cu!t -i)e 4inute!* a! he !aidFony to !tay ti the gray o- dawn*
too tired to get out o- hi! chair or interru"t hi! con)er=
.$Z
&ll!minations
!ation. E)en a! a writer o- etter! he eGtracted the 4o!t !inguar e--ect! -ro4 hi!
4aady. DThe wheeAing o- 4y breath i! drowning out the !ound! o- 4y "en and
o- a bath which i! being drawn on the -oor beow.E But that i! not a* nor i! it
the -act that hi! !ic3ne!! re4o)ed hi4 -ro4 -a!hionabe i)ing. Thi! a!th4a
beca4e "art o- hi! art=i- indeed hi! art did not create it. ,rou!tK! !yntaG
rhyth4icay and !te" by !te" re"roduce! hi! -ear o- !u--ocating. And hi! ironic*
"hio!o"hica* didactic re-ection! in)ariaby are the dee" breath with which he
!ha3e! o-- the weight o- 4e4orie!. On a arger !cae* howe)er* the threatening*
!u--ocating cri!i! wa! death* which he wa! con!tanty aware o-Q 4o!t o- a whie
he wa! writing. Thi! i! how death con-ronted ,rou!t* and ong be-ore hi! 4aady
a!!u4ed critica di4en!ion!F not a! a hy"ochondriaca whi4* but a! a ;realite
no!velle,< that new reaity who!e re-ection! on thing! and "eo"e are the 4ar3!
o- aging. A "hy!ioogy o- !tye woud ta3e u! into the inner4o!t core o- thi!
creati)ene!!Q No one who 3now! with what great tenacity 4e4orie! are
"re!er)ed by the !en!e o- !4e* and !4e! not at a in the 4e4ory* wi be abe
to ca ,rou!tK! !en!iti)ity to !4e! accidenta. To be !ure* 4o!t 4e4orie! that
we !earch -or co4e to u! a! )i!ua i4age!. E)en the -ree=-oating -or4! o- the
memoire involontaire are !ti in arge "art i!oated* though enig4aticay "re!ent*
)i!ua i4age!. 7or thi! )ery rea!on* anyone who wi!he! to !urrender 3nowingy to
the inner4o!t o)ertone! in thi! wor3 4u!t "ace hi4!e- in a !"ecia !tratu4Fthe
botto44o!tFo- thi! in)ountary 4e4ory* one in which the 4ateria! o-
4e4ory no onger a""ear !ingy* a! i4age!* but te u! about a whoe*
a4or"hou!y and -or4e!!y* inde-initey and weightiy* in the !a4e way a! the
weight o- hi! net te! a -i!her4an about hi! catch. S4eFthat i! the !en!e o-
weight o- !o4eone who ca!t! hi! net! into the !ea o- the tem:s :er'!4 And hi!
!entence! are the entire 4u!cuar acti)ity o- the inteigibe bodyN they contain
the whoe enor4ou! e--ort to rai!e thi! catch.
7or the re!t* the co!ene!! o- the !y4bio!i! between thi! "articuar creati)ity
and thi! "articuar 4aady i! de4on!trated 4o!t ceary by the -act that in ,rou!t
there ne)er wa! a brea3through o- that heroic de-iance with which other creati)e
"eo"e ha)e
T(e Ima>e +f Pr+*)t
ri!en u" again!t their in-ir4itie!. And there-ore one can !ay* -ro4 another "oint
o- )iew* that !o co!e a co4"icity with i-e and the cour!e o- the word a!
,rou!tK! woud ine)itaby ha)e ed to ordinary* indoent content4ent on any
ba!i! but that o- !uch great and con!tant !u--ering. A! it wa!* howe)er* thi!
4aady wa! de!tined to ha)e it! "ace in the great wor3 "roce!! a!!igned to it by
a -uror de)oid o- de!ire! or regret!. 7or the !econd ti4e there ro!e a !ca--od i3e
8icheangeoK! on which the arti!t* hi! head thrown bac3* "ainted the Creation
on the ceiing o- the Si!tine Cha"e@ the !ic3bed on which 8arce ,rou!t
con!ecrate! the counte!! "age! which he co)ered with hi! handwriting* hoding
the4 u" in the air* to the creation o- hi! 4icroco!4*
.$Z
sP
(h DWor3 oC Art
3 the AAE oj 1e"hani"al *e:ro'!"tion
;-!r (ine arts 3ere 'evelo:e', their t.:es an' !ses 3ere estalishe', in times
ver. 'i((erent (rom the :resent, . men 3hose :o3er o( a"tion !:on thin#s 3as
insi#ni(i"ant in "om:arison 3ith o!rs4 B!t the amaEin# #ro3th o( o!r
te"hni7!es, the a'a:tailit. an' :re"inon the. have attaine', the i'eas an'
haits the. are "reatin#, make it a "ertaint. that :ro(o!n' "han#es are
im:en'in# in the an"ient "ra(t o( the Bea!ti(!l4 &n all the arts there is a :h.si"al
"om:onent 3hi"h "an no lon#er e "onsi'ere' or treate' as it !se' to e, 3hi"h
"annot remain !na((e"te' . o!r mo'ern kno3le'#e an' :o3er4 Ror the last
t3ent. .ears neither matter nor s:a"e nor time has een 3hat it 3as (rom time
immemorial4 We m!st e=:e"t #reat innovations to trans(orm the entire te"hni7!e
o( the arts, there. a((e"tin# artisti" invention itsel( an' :erha:s even rin#in#
ao!t an amaEin# "han#e in o!r ver. notion o( art<6
,au 6aery* ,+ECES S2B 1KART* D1a Con?uete de +Kubi?u3e*E
,ari!.
,RE7ACE
When 8arG undertoo3 hi! criti?ue o- the ca"itai!tic 4ode o- "roduction* thi!
4ode wa! in it! in-ancy. 8arG directed hi! e--ort! in !uch a way a! to gi)e the4
"rogno!tic )aue. He went bac3 to the ba!ic condition! underying ca"itai!tic
"roduction and through hi! "re!entation !howed what coud be eG"ected o-
ca"itai!4 in the -uture. The re!ut wa! that one coud eG"ect it not ony to
eG"oit the "roetariat with increa!ing inten!ity* but uti4atey to create
condition! which woud 4a3e it "o!!ibe to aboi!h ca"itai!4 it!e-.
The tran!-or4ation o- the !u"er!tructure* which ta3e! "ace
P _uoted -ro4 ,au 6aery* Aestheti"s, DThe Con?ue!t o- 2bi?uity*E tran!ated
by Ra"h 8anhei4* ". ..9. ,antheon Boo3!* Boingen Serie!* New Yor3* $%&<.
.$0
&ll!minations
-ar 4ore !owy than that o- the !ub!tructure* ha! ta3en 4ore than ha- a
century to 4ani-e!t in a area! o- cuture the change in the condition! o-
"roduction. Ony today can it be indicated what -or4 thi! ha! ta3en. Certain
"rogno!tic re?uire4ent! !houd be 4et by the!e !tate4ent!. %+/e?er@ t(e)e)
a.+*t t(e art +f t(e 0r+letariat after it) a))*m0ti+n +f 0+/er +r
a.+*t t(e art +f a cla))le)) )+ciet3 /+*l, (a?e le)) .earin> +n
t(e)e ,eman,) t(an t(e)e) a.+*t t(e ,e?el+0mental ten,encie) +f
art *n,er 0re)ent c+n,iti+n) +f 0r+,*cti+nAAAA. Their diaectic i! no
e!! noticeabe in the !u"er!tructure than in the econo4y. +t woud there-ore be
wrong to undere!ti4ate the )aue o- !uch the!e! a! a wea"on. They bru!h a!ide a
nu4ber o- out4oded conce"t!* !uch a! creati)ity and geniu!* eterna )aue and
4y!teryFconce"t! who!e uncontroed :and at "re!ent a4o!t uncontroabe;
a""ication woud ead to a "roce!!ing o- data in the 7a!ci!t !en!e. The conce"t!
which are introduced into the theory o- art in what -oow! di--er -ro4 the 4ore
-a4iiar ter4! in that they are co4"etey u!ee!! -or the "ur"o!e! o- 7a!ci!4.
They are* on the other hand* u!e-u -or the -or4uation o- re)outionary de4and!
in the "oitic! o- art.
`
+n "rinci"e a wor3 o- art ha! away! been re"roducibe. 8an=4ade arti-act!
coud away! be i4itated by 4en. Re"ica! were 4ade by "u"i! in "ractice o-
their cra-t* by 4a!ter! -or di--u!ing their wor3!* and* -inay* by third "artie! in
the "ur!uit o- gain. 8echanica re"roduction o- a wor3 o- art* howe)er*
re"re!ent! !o4ething new. Hi!toricay* it ad)anced inter4ittenty and in ea"! at
ong inter)a!* but with acceerated inten!ity. The 5ree3! 3new ony two
"rocedure! o- technicay re"roducing wor3! o- art@ -ounding and !ta4"ing.
BronAe!* terra cotta!* and coin! were the ony art wor3! which they coud
"roduce in ?uantity. A other! were uni?ue and coud not be 4echanicay
re"roduced. With the woodcut gra"hic art beca4e 4echanicay re"roducibe -or
the -ir!t ti4e* ong be-ore !cri"t beca4e re"roducibe by "rint. The enor4ou!
change! which "rinting* the 4echanica
.$'
The Work o( Art in the A#e o( 1e"hani"al *e:ro'!"tion
re"roduction o- writing* ha! brought about in iterature are a -a4iiar !tory.
Howe)er* within the "heno4enon which we are here eGa4ining -ro4 the
"er!"ecti)e o- word hi!tory* "rint i! 4erey a !"ecia* though "articuary
i4"ortant* ca!e. During the 8idde Age! engra)ing and etching were added to
the woodcutN at the beginning o- the nineteenth century ithogra"hy 4ade it!
a""earance*
With ithogra"hy the techni?ue o- re"roduction reached an e!!entiay new
!tage. Thi! 4uch 4ore direct "roce!! wa! di!tingui!hed by the tracing o- the
de!ign on a !tone rather than it! inci!ion on a boc3 o- wood or it! etching on a
co""er"ate and "er4itted gra"hic art -or the -ir!t ti4e to "ut it! "roduct! on the
4ar3et* not ony in arge nu4ber! a! hitherto* but a!o in daiy changing -or4!.
1ithogra"hy enabed gra"hic art to iu!trate e)eryday i-e* and it began to 3ee"
"ace with "rinting. But ony a -ew decade! a-ter it! in)ention* ithogra"hy wa!
!ur"a!!ed by "hotogra"hy. 7or the -ir!t ti4e in the "roce!! o- "ictoria re"ro=
duction* "hotogra"hy -reed the hand o- the 4o!t i4"ortant arti!tic -unction!
which hence-orth de)o)ed ony u"on the eye oo3ing into a en!. Since the eye
"ercei)e! 4ore !wi-ty than the hand can draw* the "roce!! o- "ictoria
re"roduction wa! acceerated !o enor4ou!y that it coud 3ee" "ace with !"eech.
A -i4 o"erator !hooting a !cene in the !tudio ca"ture! the i4age! at the !"eed o-
an actorK! !"eech. (u!t a! ithogra"hy )irtuay i4"ied the iu!trated new!"a"er*
!o did "hotogra"hy -ore!hadow the !ound -i4. The technica re"roduction o-
!ound wa! tac3ed at the end o- the a!t century. The!e con)ergent endea)or!
4ade "redictabe a !ituation which ,au 6aYry "ointed u" in thi! !entence@ D(
u!t

a
!
water* ga!* and eectricity are brought into our hou!e! -ro4 -ar o-- to !ati!-y our
need! in re!"on!e to a 4ini4a e--ort* !o we !ha be !u""ied with )i!ua or
auditory i4age!* which wi a""ear and di!a""ear at a !i4"e 4o)e4ent o- the
hand* hardy 4ore than a !ignE Bo:4 "it4, ". ..&;. Around $%// technica
re"roduction had reached a !tandard that not ony "er4itted it to re"roduce a
tran!4itted wor3! o- art and thu! to cau!e the 4o!t "ro-ound change in their
i4"act u"on the "ubicN it a!o had ca"tured a "ace o- it! own a4ong the arti!tic
"roc=
.$Z
&ll!minations
e!!e!. 7or the !tudy o- thi! !tandard nothing i! 4ore re)eaing than the nature
o- the re"ercu!!ion! that the!e two di--erent 4ani-e!tation!Fthe re"roduction o-
wor3! o- art and the art o- the -i4Fha)e had on art in it! traditiona -or4.
t
E)en the 4o!t "er-ect re"roduction o- a wor3 o- art i! ac3ing in one ee4ent@
it! "re!ence in ti4e and !"ace* it! uni?ue eGi!tence at the "ace where it ha""en!
to be. Thi! uni?ue eGi!tence o- the wor3 o- art deter4ined the hi!tory to which it
wa! !ubCect throughout the ti4e o- it! eGi!tence. Thi! incude! the change!
which it 4ay ha)e !u--ered in "hy!ica condition o)er the year! a! we a! the
)ariou! change! in it! owner!hi".
$
The trace! o- the -ir!t can be re)eaed ony by
che4ica or "hy!ica anay!e! which it i! i4"o!!ibe to "er-or4 on a
re"roductionN change! o- owner!hi" are !ubCect to a tradition which 4u!t be
traced -ro4 the !ituation o- the origina.
The "re!ence o- the origina i! the "rere?ui!ite to the conce"t o- authenticity.
Che4ica anay!e! o- the "atina o- a bronAe can he" to e!tabi!h thi!* a! doe! the
"roo- that a gi)en 4anu!cri"t o- the 8idde Age! !te4! -ro4 an archi)e o- the
-i-teenth century. The whoe !"here o- authenticity i! out!ide technicaF and* o-
cour!e* not ony technicaFre"roducibiity.
.
Con-ronted with it! 4anua
re"roduction* which wa! u!uay branded a! a -orgery* the origina "re!er)ed a
it! authorityN not !o vis W vis technica re"roduction. The rea!on i! two-od. 7ir!t*
"roce!! re"roduction i! 4ore inde"endent o- the origina than 4anua re=
"roduction. 7or eGa4"e* in "hotogra"hy* "roce!! re"roduction can bring out
tho!e a!"ect! o- the Dorigina that ate ^^attainabe to the na3ed eye yet acce!!ibe
to the en!* which i! adCu!tabe and choo!e! it! ange at wi. And "hotogra"hic
re"roduction* with the aid o- certain "roce!!e!* !uch a! enarge4ent or !ow
4otion* can ca"ture i4age! which e!ca"e natura )i!ion. Secondy* technica
re"roduction can "ut the co"y o- the origina into !ituation! which woud be out
o- reach -or the origina it!e-. Abo)e a* it enabe! the origina to 4eet the
behoder ha-way*
../
The Work o( An in the A#e o( 1e"hani"al *e:ro'!"tion
be it in the -or4 o- a "hotogra"h or a "honogra"h record. The cathedra ea)e!
it! ocae to be recei)ed in the !tudio o- a o)er o- artN the chora "roduction*
"er-or4ed in an auditoriu4 or in the o"en air* re!ound! in the drawing roo4.
The !ituation! into which the "roduct o- 4echanica re"roduction can be
brought 4ay not touch the actua wor3 o- art* yet the ?uaity o- it! "re!ence i!
away! de"reciated. Thi! hod! not ony -or the art wor3 but a!o* -or in!tance*
-or a and!ca"e which "a!!e! in re)iew be-ore the !"ectator in a 4o)ie. +n the
ca!e o- the art obCect* a 4o!t !en!iti)e nuceu!Fna4ey* it! authenticityFi!
inter-ered with wherea! no natura obCect i! )unerabe on that !core. The
authenticity o- a thing i! the e!!ence o- a that i! tran!4i!!ibe -ro4 it!
beginning* ranging -ro4 it! !ub!tanti)e duration to it! te!ti4ony to the hi!tory
which it ha! eG"erienced. Since the hi!torica te!ti4ony re!t! on the authenticity*
the -or4er* too* i! Ceo"ardiAed by re"roduction when !ub!tanti)e duration cea!e!
to 4atter. And what i! reay Ceo"ardiAed when the hi!torica te!ti4ony i!
a--ected i! the authority o- the obCect.
'
One 4ight !ub!u4e the ei4inated ee4ent in the ter4 DauraE and go on to !ayN
that which wither! in the age o- 4echanica re"roduction i! the aura o- the wor3
o- art. Thi! i! a !y4"to4atic "roce!! who!e !igni-icance "oint! beyond the rea4
o- art. One 4ight generaiAe by !aying@ the techni?ue o- re"roduction detache!
the re"roduced obCect -ro4 the do4ain o- tradition. By 4a3ing 4any
re"roduction! it !ub!titute! a "uraity o- co"ie! -or a uni?ue eGi!tence. And in
"er4itting the re"roduction to 4eet the behoder or i!tener in hi! own "articuar
!ituation* it reacti)ate! the obCect re"roduced. The!e two "roce!!e! ead to a
tre4endou! !hattering o- tradition which i! the ob)er!e o- the conte4"orary
cri!i! and renewa o- 4an3ind. Both "roce!!e! are inti4atey connected with the
conte4"orary 4a!! 4o)e4ent!. Their 4o!t "ower-u agent i! the -i4. +t! !ocia
!igni-icance* "articuary in it! 4o!t "o!iti)e -or4* i! inconcei)abe without it!
de!tructi)e* cathartic a!"ect* that i!* the i?uidation o- the traditiona )aue o- the
cutura heritage. Thi! "heno4enon i! 4o!t "a."ab.e in the great hi!toricP* n.4-.
+t eGteWd! to e)er new "o!i=tion!. +n $%$0 Abe 5ance eGcai4ed enthu!ia!ticay@
DSha3e=
Illuminations
!"eare* Re4brandt* Beetho)en wi 4a3e -i4! ... a egend!* a 4ythoogie! and
a 4yth!* a -ounder! o- reigion* and the )ery reigion! . . . await their eG"o!ed
re!urrection* and the heroe! crowd each other at the gate.E P ,re!u4aby without
intending it* he i!!ued an in)itation to a -ar=reaching i?uidation.
#I
During ong "eriod! o- hi!tory* the 4ode o- hu4an !en!e "erce"tion change!
with hu4anityK! entire 4ode o- eGi!tence. The 4anner in which hu4an !en!e
"erce"tion i! organiAed* the 4ediu4 in which it i! acco4"i!hed* i! deter4ined
not ony by nature but by hi!torica circu4!tance! a! we. The -i-th century*
with it! great !hi-t! o- "o"uation* !aw the birth o- the ate Ro4an art indu!try
and the 6ienna 5ene!i!* and there de)eo"ed not ony an art di--erent -ro4 that
o- anti?uity but a!o a new 3ind o- "erce"tion. The !choar! o- the 6ienne!e
!choo* Rieg and Wic3ho--* who re!i!ted the weight o- ca!!ica tradition under
which the!e ater art -or4! had been buried* were the -ir!t to draw concu!ion!
-ro4 the4 concerning the organiAation o- "erce"tion at the ti4e. Howe)er -ar=
reaching their in!ight* the!e !choar! i4ited the4!e)e! to !howing the
!igni-icant* -or4a ha4ar3 which characteriAed "erce"tion in ate Ro4an ti4e!.
They did not atte4"tFand* "erha"!* !aw no wayFto !how the !ocia
tran!-or4ation! eG"re!!ed by the!e change! o- "erce"tion. The condition! -or an
anaogou! in!ight are 4ore -a)orabe in the "re!ent. And i- change! in the
4ediu4 o- conte4"orary "erce"tion can be co4"rehended a! decay o- the aura*
it i! "o!!ibe to !how it! !ocia cau!e!.
The conce"t o- aura which wa! "ro"o!ed abo)e with re-erence to hi!torica
obCect! 4ay u!e-uy be iu!trated with re-erence to the aura o- natura one!. We
de-ine the aura o- the atter a! the uni?ue "heno4enon o- a di!tance* howe)er
co!e it 4ay be. +-* whie re!ting on a !u44er a-ternoon* you -oow with
PAbe 5ance* D1e Te4"! de +Ki4age e!t )enu*E GAn "inemato#ra:hf[ i7!e,
6o. i* "". %< -* ,ari!* $%$0.
...
The Work o( Art m the A#e o( 1e"hani"al *e:ro'!"tion
your eye! a 4ountain range on the horiAon or a branch which ca!t! it! !hadow
o)er you* you eG"erience the aura o- tho!e 4ountain!* o- that branch. Thi! i4age
4a3e! it ea!y to co4"rehend the !ocia ba!e! o- the conte4"orary decay o- the
aura. +t re!t! on two circu4!tance!* both o- which are reated to the increa!ing
!igni-icance o- the 4a!!e! in conte4"orary i-e. Na4ey* the de!ire o-
conte4"orary 4a!!e! to bring thing! Dco!erE !"atiay and hu4any* which i!
Cu!t a! ardent a! their bent toward o)erco4ing the uni?uene!! o- e)ery reaity by
acce"ting it! re"roduction.
<
E)ery day the urge grow! !tronger to get hod o- an
obCect at )ery co!e range by way o- it! i3ene!!* it! re"roduction. 2n4i!ta3aby*
re"roduction a! o--ered by "icture 4ag.a=Aine! and newee! di--er! -ro4 the
i4age !een by the unar4ed eye. 2ni?uene!! and "er4anence are a! co!ey
in3ed in the atter a! are tran!itorine!! and re"roducibiity in the -or4er. To "ry
an obCect -ro4 it! !he* to de!troy it! aura* i! the 4ar3 o- a "erce"tion who!e
D!en!e o- the uni)er!a e?uaity o- thing!Q ha! increa!ed to !uch a degree that it
eGtract! it e)en -ro4 a uni?ue obCect by 4ean! o- re"roduction. Thu! i!
4ani-e!ted in the -ied o- "erce"tion what in the theoretica !"here i! noticeabe in
the increa!ing i4"ortance o- !tati!tic!. The adCu!t4ent o- reaity to the 4a!!e!
and o- the 4a!!e! to reaity i! a "roce!! o- uni4ited !co"e* a! 4uch -or thin3ing
a! -or "erce"tion.
IV
The uni?uene!! o- a wor3 o- art i! in!e"arabe -ro4 it! being i4bedded in the
-abric o- tradition. Thi! tradition it!e- i! thoroughy ai)e and eGtre4ey
changeabe. An ancient !tatue o- 6enu!* -or eGa4"e* !tood in a di--erent
traditiona conteGt with the 5ree3!* who 4ade it an obCect o- )eneration* than
with the ceric! o- the 8idde Age!* who )iewed it a! an o4inou! ido. Both o-
the4* howe)er* were e?uay con-ronted with it! uni?uene!!* that i!* it! aura.
Originay the conteGtua integration o- art in tradition -ound it! eG"re!!ion in the
cut. We 3now that the earie!t art wor3! originated in the !er)ice o- a rituaF-ir!t
the 4agica* then the reigiou! 3ind. +t i! !igni-icant that the eGi!tence
..;
&ll!minations
o- the wor3 o- art with re-erence to it! aura i! ne)er entirey !e"arated -ro4 it!
ritua -unction.
9
+n other word!* the uni?ue )aue o- the DauthenticE wor3 o- art
ha! it! ba!i! in ritua* the ocation o- it! origina u!e )aue. Thi! rituai!tic ba!i!*
howe)er re4ote* i! !ti recogniAabe a! !ecuariAed ritua e)en in the 4o!t "ro-ane
-or4! o- the cut o- beauty.
&
The !ecuar cut o- beauty* de)eo"ed during the
Renai!!ance and "re)aiing -or three centurie!* ceary !howed that rituai!tic
ba!i! in it! decine and the -ir!t dee" cri!i! which be-e it. With the ad)ent o- the
-ir!t truy re)outionary 4ean! o- re"roduction* "hotogra"hy* !i4utaneou!y
with the ri!e o- !ociai!4* art !en!ed the a""roaching cri!i! which ha! beco4e
e)ident a century ater. At the ti4e* art reacted with the doctrine o- Gan :o!r Gar
_ that i!* with a theoogy o- art. Thi! ga)e ri!e to what 4ight be caed a negati)e
theoogy in the -or4 o- the idea o- D"ureE art* which not ony denied any !ocia
-unction o- art but a!o any categoriAing by !ubCect 4atter. :+n "oetry* 8aar4e
wa! the -ir!t to ta3e thi! "o!ition.;
An anay!i! o- art in the age o- 4echanica re"roduction 4u!t do Cu!tice to
the!e reation!hi"!* -or they ead u! to an a=i4"or=tant in!ight@ -or the -ir!t ti4e
in word hi!tory* 4echanica re="roduction e4anci"ate! the wor3 o- art -ro4 it!
"ara!itica de="endence on ritua- To an e)er greater degree the wor3 o- art
re"roduced beco4e! the wor3 o- art de!igned -or re"roducibiity.
0
7ro4 a
"hotogra"hic negati)e* -or eGa4"e* one can 4a3e any nu4ber o- "rint!N to a!3
-or the DauthenticE "rint 4a3e! no !en!e. But the in!tant the criterion o-
authenticity cea!e! to be a""icabe to arti!tic "roduction* the tota -unction o-
art i! re)er!ed. +n!tead o- being ba!ed on ritua* it begin! to be ba!ed on another
"racticeF"oitic!.
k
Wor3! o- art are recei)ed and )aued on di--erent "ane!. Two "oar ty"e!
!tand out@ with one* the accent i! on the cut )aueN with the other* on the
eGhibition )aue o- the wor3.
'
Arti!tic "roduction begin! with cere4onia obCect!
de!tined to !er)e in a cut. One 4ay a!!u4e that what 4attered wa! their
..<
The Work o( Art in the A#e o( 1e"hani"al *e:ro'!"tion
eGi!tence* not their being on )iew. The e3 "ortrayed by the 4an o- the Stone
Age on the wa! o- hi! ca)e wa! an in!tru4ent o- 4agic. He did eG"o!e it to hi!
-eow 4en* but in the 4ain it wa! 4eant -or the !"irit!. Today the cut )aue
woud !ee4 to de4and that the wor3 o- art re4ain hidden. Certain !tatue! o-
god! are acce!!ibe ony to the "rie!t in the ceaN certain 8adonna! re4ain
co)ered neary a year roundN certain !cu"ture! on 4edie)a cathedra! are
in)i!ibe to the !"ectator on ground e)e. With the e4anci"ation o- the )ariou!
art "ractice! -ro4 ritua go increa!ing o""ortunitie! -or the eGhibition o- their
"roduct!. +t i! ea!ier to eGhibit a "ortrait bu!t that can be !ent here and there than
to eGhibit the !tatue o- a di)inity that ha! it! -iGed "ace in the interior o- a
te4"e. The !a4e hod! -or the "ainting a! again!t the 4o!aic or -re!co that
"receded it. And e)en though the "ubic "re!entabiity o- a 4a!! originay 4ay
ha)e been Cu!t a! great a! that o- a !y4"hony* the atter originated at the 4o4ent
when it! "ubic "re!entabiity "ro4i!ed to !ur"a!! that o- the 4a!!.
With the di--erent 4ethod! o- technica re"roduction o- a wor3 o- art* it! -itne!!
-or eGhibition increa!ed to !uch an eGtent that the ?uantitati)e !hi-t between it!
two "oe! turned into a ?uaitati)e tran!-or4ation o- it! nature. Thi! i!
co4"arabe to the !ituation o- the wor3 o- art in "rehi!toric ti4e! when* by the
ab!oute e4"ha!i! on it! cut )aue* it wa!* -ir!t and -ore4o!t* an in!tru4ent o-
4agic. Ony ater did it co4e to be recogniAed a! a wor3 o- art. +n the !a4e way
today* by the ab!oute e4"ha!i! on it! eGhibition )aue the wor3 o- art beco4e a
creation with entirey new -unction!* a4ong which the one we are con!ciou! o-*
the arti!tic -unction* ater 4ay be recogniAed a! incidenta.Q Thi! 4uch i!
certain@ today "hotogra"hy and the -i4 are the 4o!t !er)iceabe
eGe4"i-ication! o- thi! new -unction.
VI
+n "hotogra"hy* eGhibition )aue begin! to di!"ace cut )aue a aong the ine.
But cut )aue doe! not gi)e way without re!i!tance. +t retire! into an uti4ate
retrench4ent@ the hu4an
..Z
+u4ination!
countenance. +t i! no accident that the "ortrait wa! the -oca "oint o- eary
"hotogra"hy. The cut o- re4e4brance o- o)ed one!* ab!ent or dead* o--er! a
a!t re-uge -or the cut )aue o- the "icture. 7or the a!t ti4e the aura e4anate!
-ro4 the eary "hotogra"h! in the -eeting eG"re!!ion o- a hu4an -ace. Thi! i!
what con!titute! their 4eanchoy* inco4"arabe beauty. But a! 4an withdraw!
-ro4 the "hotogra"hic i4age* the eGhibition )aue -or the -ir!t ti4e !how! it!
!u"eriority to the ritua )aue. To ha)e "in"ointed thi! new !tage con!titute! the
inco4"arabe !igni-icance o- Atget* who* around $%//* too3 "hotogra"h! o-
de!erted ,ari! !treet!. +t ha! ?uite Cu!ty been !aid o- hi4 that he "hotogra"hed
the4 i3e !cene! o- cri4e. The !cene o- a cri4e* too* i! de!ertedN it i!
"hotogra"hed -or the "ur"o!e o- e!tabi!hing e)idence. With Atget* "hotogra"h!
beco4e !tandard e)idence -or hi!torica occurrence!* and ac?uire a hidden
"oitica !igni-icance. They de4and a !"eci-ic 3ind o- a""roachN -ree=-oating
conte4"ation i! not a""ro"riate to the4. They !tir the )iewerN he -ee!
chaenged by the4 in a new way. At the !a4e ti4e "icture 4agaAine! begin to
"ut u" !ign"o!t! -or hi4* right one! or wrong one!* no 4atter. 7or the -ir!t ti4e*
ca"tion! ha)e beco4e obigatory. And it i! cear that they ha)e an atogether
di--erent character than the tite o- a "ainting. The directi)e! which the ca"tion!
gi)e to tho!e oo3ing at "icture! in iu!trated 4agaAine! !oon beco4e e)en 4ore
eG"icit and 4ore i4"erati)e in the -i4 where the 4eaning o- each !inge "icture
a""ear! to be "re!cribed by the !e?uence o- a "receding one!.
VII
The nineteenth=century di!"ute a! to the arti!tic )aue o- "ainting )er!u!
"hotogra"hy today !ee4! de)iou! and con-u!ed. Thi! doe! not di4ini!h it!
i4"ortance* howe)erN i- anything* it underine! it. The di!"ute wa! in -act the
!y4"to4 o- a hi!torica tran!-or4ation the uni)er!a i4"act o- which wa! not
reaiAed by either o- the ri)a!. When the age o- 4echanica re"roduction
!e"arated art -ro4 it! ba!i! in cut* the !e4bance o- it! autono4y di!a""eared
-ore)er. The re!uting change in the -unc=
..&
The Work o( Art in the A#e o( 1e"hani"al *e:ro'!"tion
tion o- art tran!cended the "er!"ecti)e o- the centuryN -or a ong ti4e it e)en
e!ca"ed that o- the twentieth century* which eG"erienced the de)eo"4ent o- the
-i4.
Earier 4uch -utie thought had been de)oted to the ?ue!tion o- whether
"hotogra"hy i! an art. The "ri4ary ?ue!tionF whether the )ery in)ention o-
"hotogra"hy had not tran!-or4ed the entire nature o- artFwa! not rai!ed. Soon
the -i4 theoretician! a!3ed the !a4e i=con!idered ?ue!tion with regard to the
-i4. But the di--icutie! which "hotogra"hy cau!ed traditiona ae!thetic! were
4ere chidK! "ay a! co4"ared to tho!e rai!ed by the -i4. Whence the
in!en!iti)e and -orced character o- eary theorie! o- the -i4. Abe 5ance* -or
in!tance* co4"are! the -i4 with hierogy"h!@ DHere* by a re4ar3abe regre!!ion*
we ha)e co4e bac3 to the e)e o- eG"re!!ion o- the Egy"tian!. . . . ,ictoria
anguage ha! not yet 4atured becau!e our eye! ha)e not yet adCu!ted to it. There
i! a! yet in!u--icient re!"ect -or* in!u--icient cut o-* what it eG"re!!e!.E P Or* in
the word! o- Se)erin=8ar!@ DWhat art ha! been granted a drea4 4ore "oetica
and 4ore rea at the !a4e ti4eM A""roached in thi! -a!hion the -i4 4ight
re"re!ent an inco4"arabe 4ean! o- eG"re!!ion. Ony the 4o!t high=4inded
"er!on!* in the 4o!t "er-ect and 4y!teriou! 4o4ent! o- their i)e!* !houd be
aowed to enter it! a4bience.E t AeGandre ArnouG concude! hi! -anta!y about
the !ient -i4 with the ?ue!tion@ DDo not a the bod de!cri"tion! we ha)e gi)en
a4ount to the de-inition o- "rayerJE t +t i! in!tructi)e to note how their de!ire to
ca!! the -i4 a4ong the Dart!E -orce! the!e theoretician! to read ritua ee4ent!
into itFwith a !tri3ing ac3 o- di!cretion. Yet when the!e !"ecuation! were
"ubi!hed* -i4! i3e G-:inion :!li7!e and The Fol' *!sh had aready
a""eared. Thi!* howe)er* did not 3ee" Abe 5ance -ro4 ad=ducing hierogy"h!
-or "ur"o!e! o- co4"ari!on* nor So)erin=8ar! -ro4 !"ea3ing o- the -i4 a! one
4ight !"ea3 o- "ainting! by 7ra Angeico. Characteri!ticay* e)en today
u3rareactionary author! gi)e the -i4 a !i4iar conteGtua !igni-icanceFi- not an
Abe 5ance* o:4 "it4, "". $//=$.
t Se)crin=8ar!* ?uoted by Abe 5ance* o:, "k,
t
". $//.
_ AeGandre A4ouG* Cinema :ris, $%.%* ". .'.
..Qu
&ll!minations
outright !acred one* then at ea!t a !u"ernatura one. Co44enting on 8aG
ReinhardtK! -i4 )er!ion o- A 1i's!mmer Ni#h(s 0ream, Wer-e !tate! that
undoubtedy it wa! the !terie co"ying o- the eGterior word with it! !treet!*
interior!* rairoad !tation!* re!taurant!* 4otorcar!* and beache! which unti now
had ob!tructed the ee)ation o- the -i4 to the rea4 o- art. DThe -i4 ha! not yet
reaiAed it! true 4eaning* it! rea "o!!ibiitie! .. . the!e con!i!t in it! uni?ue
-acuty to eG"re!! by natura 4ean! and with inco4"arabe "er!ua!i)ene!! a that
i! -airyi3e* 4ar)eou!* !u"ernatura.E P
6+++
The arti!tic "er-or4ance o- a !tage actor i! de-initey "re!ented to the "ubic by
the actor in "er!onN that o- the !creen actor* howe)er* i! "re!ented by a ca4era*
with a two-od con!e?uence. The ca4era that "re!ent! the "er-or4ance o- the
-i4 actor to the "ubic need not re!"ect the "er-or4ance a! an integra whoe.
5uided by the ca4era4an* the ca4era continuay change! it! "o!ition with
re!"ect to the "er-or4ance. The !e?uence o- "o!itiona )iew! which the editor
co4"o!e! -ro4 the 4ateria !u""ied hi4 con!titute! the co4"eted -i4. +t co4=
"ri!e! certain -actor! o- 4o)e4ent which are in reaity tho!e o- the ca4era* not to
4ention !"ecia ca4era ange!* co!e=u"!* etc. Hence* the "er-or4ance o- the
actor i! !ubCected to a !erie! o- o"tica te!t!. Thi! i! the -ir!t con!e?uence o- the
-act that the actorK! "er-or4ance i! "re!ented by 4ean! o- a ca4era. A!o* the -i4
actor ac3! the o""ortunity o- the !tage actor to adCu!t to the audience during hi!
"er-or4ance* !ince he doe! not "re!ent hi! "er-or4ance to the audience in "er!on.
Thi! "er4it! the audience to ta3e the "o!ition o- a critic* without eG"eriencing
any "er!ona contact with the actor. The audienceK! identi-ication with the actor
i! reay an identi-ication with the ca4era. Con!e?uenty the audience ta3e! the
"o!ition o- the ca4eraN it! a"=
7ranA Wer-e* DE4 So44ernaeht!trau4* Ein 7i4 )on
Sha3e!"eare und Reinhardt*E g ems Wiener 2o!rnal, cited in +! $9* No)e4ber*
$%B9.
..'
The Work o( Art in the A#e o( 1e"hani"al *e:ro'!"tion
"roach i! that o- te!ting.
$/
Thi! i! not the a""roach to which cut )aue! 4ay be
eG"o!ed.
&`
7or the -i4* what 4atter! "ri4ariy i! that the actor re"re!ent! hi4!e- to the
"ubic be-ore the ca4era* rather than re"re!enting !o4eone e!e. One o- the -ir!t
to !en!e the actorK! 4eta4or"ho!i! by thi! -or4 o- te!ting wa! ,irandeo.
Though hi! re4ar3! on the !ubCect in hi! no)e Di Fira were i4ited to the
negati)e a!"ect! o- the ?ue!tion and to the !ient -i4 ony* thi! hardy i4"air!
their )aidity. 7or in thi! re!"ect* the !ound -i4 did not change anything
e!!entia What 4atter! i! that the "art i! acted not -or an audience but -or a
4echanica contri)anceF in the ca!e o- the !ound -i4* -or two o- the4. DThe
-i4 actor*E wrote ,irandeo* D-ee! a! i- in eGieFeGied not ony -ro4 the !tage
but a!o -ro4 hi4!e-. With a )ague !en!e o- di!co4-ort he -ee! ineG"icabe
e4"tine!!N hi! body o!e! it! cor"oreaity* it e)a"orate!* it i! de"ri)ed o- reaity*
i-e* )oice* and the noi!e! cau!ed by hi! 4o)ing about* in order to be changed into
a 4ute i4age* -ic3ering an in!tant on the !creen* then )ani!hing into !ience. . . .
The "roCector wi "ay with hi! !hadow be-ore the "ubic* and he hi4!e- 4u!t
be content to "ay be-ore the ca4era.E P Thi! !ituation 4ight a!o be
characteriAed a! -oow!P* -or the -ir!t ti4eFand thi! i! the e--ect o- the -i4F
4an ha! to o"erate with hi! whoe i)ing "er!on* yet -orgoing it! aura. 7or aura i!
tied to hi! "re!enceN there can be no re"ica o- it. The aura which* on the !tage*
e4anate! -ro4 8acbeth* cannot be !e"arated -or the !"ectator! -ro4 that o- the
actor. Howe)er* the !inguarity o- the !hot in the !tudio i! that the ca4era i!
!ub!tituted -or the "ubic. Con!e?uenty* the aura that en)eo"! the actor
)ani!he!* and with it the aura o- the -igure he "ortray!.
+t i! not !ur"ri!ing that it !houd be a dra4ati!t !uch a! ,irandeo who* in
characteriAing the -i4* inad)ertenty touche! on the )ery cri!i! in which we !ee
the theater. Any thorough !tudy
1uigi ,irandeo* Di 5ira* ?uoted by 1eon ,ierre=_uint*
DSigni-ication du c-rYtna*E CArt "inDmato#ra:hi7!e, o:4 "it4
t
"". $<=$9.
..%
&ll!minations
"ro)e! that there i! indeed no greater contra!t than that o- the !tage "ay to a
wor3 o- art that i! co4"etey !ubCect to or* i3e the -i4* -ounded in* 4echanica
re"roduction. EG"ert! ha)e ong recogniAed that in the -i4 Dthe greate!t e--ect! are
a4o!t away! obtained by RactingK a! itte a! "o!!ibe. . . .Q +n $%B. Rudo-
Arnhei4 !aw Dthe ate!t trend ... in treating the actor a! a !tage "ro" cho!en -or
it! characteri!tic! and . . . in!erted at the "ro"er "ace.E
u
With thi! idea !o4ething
e!e i! co!ey connected. The !tage actor identi-ie! hi4!e- with the character o-
hi! roe. The -i4 actor )ery o-ten i! denied thi! o""ortunity. Hi! creation i! by
no 4ean! a o- a "ieceN it i! co4"o!ed o- 4any !e"arate "er-or4ance!. Be!ide!
certain -ortuitou! con!ideration!* !uch a! co!t o- !tudio* a)aiabiity o- -eow
"ayer!* d&eor* etc.* there are ee4entary nece!!itie! o- e?ui"4ent that !"it the
actorK! wor3 into a !erie! o- 4ountabe e"i!ode!. +n "articuar* ighting and it!
in!taation re?uire the "re!entation o- an e)ent that* on the !creen* un-od! a! a
ra"id and uni-ied !cene* in a !e?uence o- !e"arate !hooting! which 4ay ta3e
hour! at the !tudioN not to 4ention 4ore ob)iou! 4ontage. Thu! a Cu4" -ro4 the
window can be !hot in the !tudio a! a Cu4" -ro4 a !ca--od* and the en!uing
-ight* i- need be* can be !hot wee3! ater when outdoor !cene! are ta3en. 7ar
4ore "aradoGica ca!e! can ea!iy be con!truedQ 1et u! a!!u4e that an actor i!
!u""o!ed to be !tarted by a 3noc3 at the door. +- hi! reaction i! not !ati!-actory*
the director can re!ort to an eG"edient@ when the actor ha""en! to be at the
!tudio again he ha! a !hot -ired behind hi4 without hi! being -orewarned o- it.
The -rightened reaction can be !hot now and be cut into the !creen )er!ion.
Nothing 4ore !tri3ingy !how! that art ha! e-t the rea4 o- the Dbeauti-u
!e4banceE which* !o -ar* had been ta3en to be the ony !"here where art coud
thri)e.
2
The -eeing o- !trangene!! that o)erco4e! the actor be-ore the ca4era* a!
,irandeo de!cribe! it* i! ba!icay o- the !a4e 3ind a! the e!trange4ent -et
be-ore oneK! own i4age in the 4irror.
The Work of +rt in the +ge of ,echanical Re-roduction
But now the re-ected i4age ha! beco4e !e"arabe* tran!"ortabe. And where i!
it tran!"ortedJ Be-ore the "ubic.
$.
Ne)er -or a 4o4ent doe! the !creen actor
cea!e to be con!ciou! o- thi! -act. Whie -acing the ca4era he 3now! that
uti4atey he wi -ace the "ubic* the con!u4er! who con!titute the 4ar3et. Thi!
4ar3et* where he o--er! not ony hi! abor but a!o hi! whoe !e-* hi! heart and
!ou* i! beyond hi! reach. During the !hooting he ha! a! itte contact with it a!
any artice 4ade in a -actory. Thi! 4ay contribute to that o""re!!ion* that new
anGiety which* aeeordinC 6 to ,irandeo* gri"! the actor be-ore the ca4era. The
-i4 re !"ond! to the !hri)eing o- the aura with an arti-icia buid=u" b the
D"er!onaityE out!ide the !tudio. The cut o- the 4o)ie !tar* -o!tered by the
4oney o- the -i4 indu!try* "re!er)e! not the uni?ue aura o- the "er!on but the
D!"e o- the "er!onaity*E the "hony !"e o- a co44odity. So ong a! the 4o)ie=
4a3er!K ca"ita !et! the -a!hion* a! a rue no other re)outionary 4erit can be
accredited to todayK! -i4 than the "ro4otion o- a re)outionary critici!4 o-
traditiona conce"t! o- art. We do not deny that in !o4e ca!e! todayK! -i4! can
a!o "ro4ote re)outionary critici!4 o- !ocia condition!* e)en o- the di!tribution
o- "ro"erty. Howe)er* our "re!ent !tudy i! no 4ore !"eci-icay concerned with
thi! than i! the -i4 "roduction o- We!tern Euro"e.
+t i! inherent in the techni?ue o- the -i4 a! we a! that o- !"ort! that e)erybody
who witne!!e! it! acco4"i!h4ent! i! !o4ewhat o- an eG"ert. Thi! i! ob)iou! to
anyone i!tening to a grou" o- new!"a"er boy! eaning on their bicyce! and
di!cu!!ing the outco4e o- a bicyce race. +t i! not -or nothing that new!"a"er
"ubi!her! arrange race! -or their dei)ery boy!. The!e arou!e great intere!t
a4ong the "artici"ant!* -or the )ictor ha! an o""ortunity to ri!e -ro4 dei)ery
boy to "ro-e!!iona racer. Si4iary* the new!ree o--er! e)eryone the
o""ortunity to ri!e -ro4 "a!!er=by to 4o)ie eGtra. +n thi! way any 4an 4ight
e)en -ind hi4!e- "art o- i wor3 o- art* a! witne!! 6erto--K! Three Don#s Ao!t
+enin or +)en!K Borina#e4 Any 4an today can ay cai4 to being -i4ed. Thi!
cai4 can be!t be eucidated by a co4"arati)e oo3 at the hi!torica !ituation o-
conte4"orary iterature.
7or centurie! a !4a nu4ber o- writer! were con-ronted by
.Z +
&ll!minations
4any thou!and! o- reader!. Thi! changed toward the end o- the a!t century.
With the increa!ing eGten!ion o- the "re!!* which 3e"t "acing new "oitica*
reigiou!* !cienti-ic* "ro-e!!iona* and oca organ! be-ore the reader!* an
increa!ing nu4ber o- reader! beca4e writer!Fat -ir!t* occa!iona one!. +t began
with the daiy "re!! o"ening to it! reader! !"ace -or Detter! to the editor.E And
today there i! hardy a gain-uy e4"oyed Euro"ean who coud not* in "rinci"e*
-ind an o""ortunity to "ubi!h !o4ewhere or other co44ent! on hi! wor3*
grie)ance!* docu4entary re"ort!* or that !ort o- thing. Thu!* the di!tinction
between author and "ubic i! about to o!e it! ba!ic character. The di--erence
beco4e! 4erey -unctionaN it 4ay )ary -ro4 ca!e to ca!e. At any 4o4ent the
reader i! ready to turn into a writer. A! eG"ert* which he had to beco4e wiy=
niy in an eGtre4ey !"eciaiAed wor3 "roce!!* e)en i- ony in !o4e 4inor
re!"ect* the reader gain! acce!! to author!hi". +n the So)iet 2nion wor3 it!e- i!
gi)en a )oice. To "re!ent it )erbay i! "art o- a 4anK! abiity to "er-or4 the
wor3. 1iterary icen!e i! now -ounded on "oytechnic rather than !"eciaiAed
training and thu! beco4e! co44on "ro"erty.
$'
A thi! can ea!iy be a""ied to
the -i4* where tran!ition! that in iterature too3 centurie! ha)e co4e about in a
decade. +n cine4atic "ractice* "articuary in Ru!!ia* thi! change=o)er ha!
"artiay beco4e e!tabi!hed reaity. So4e o- the "ayer! who4 we 4eet in
Ru!!ian -i4! are not actor! in our !en!e but "eo"e who "ortray themselvesXma
"ri4ariy in their own wor3 "roce!!. +n We!tern Euro"e the ca"itai!tic
eG"oitation o- the -i4 denie! con!ideration to 4odern 4anK! egiti4ate cai4 to
being re"roduced. 2nder the!e circu4!tance! the -i4 indu!try i! trying hard to
!"ur the intere!t o- the 4a!!e! through iu!ion="ro4oting !"ectace and dubiou!
!"ecuation!.
XI
The !hooting o- a -i4* e!"eciay o- a !ound -i4* a--ord! a !"ectace
uni4aginabe anywhere at any ti4e be-ore thi!. +t "re!ent! a "roce!! in which it
i! i4"o!!ibe to a!!ign to a !"ectator a )iew"oint which woud eGcude -ro4 the
actua !cene !uch
.Z.
The Work o( Art in the A#e o( 1e"hani"al *e:ro'!"tion
eGtraneou! acce!!orie! a! ca4era e?ui"4ent* ight4g 4achinery* !ta-- a!!i!tant!*
etcFune!! hi! eye were on a ine "arae with the en!. Thi! circu4!tance*
4ore than any other* render! !u"er-icia and in!igni-icant any "o!!ibe !i4iarity
between a !cene in the !tudio and one on the !tage. +n the theater one i! we
aware o- the "ace -ro4 which the "ay cannot i44ediatey be detected a!
iu!ionary. There i! no !uch "ace -or the 4o)ie !cene that i! being !hot. +t!
iu!ionary nature i! that o- the !econd degree* the re!ut o- cutting. That i! to
!ay* in the !tudio the 4echanica e?ui"4ent ha! "enetrated !o dee"y into reaity
that it! "ure a!"ect -reed -ro4 the -oreign !ub!tance o- e?ui"4ent i! the re!ut o-
a !"ecia "rocedure* na4ey* the !hooting by the !"eciay adCu!ted ca4era and
the 4ounting o- the !hot together with other !i4iar one!. The e?ui"4ent=-ree
a!"ect o- reaity here ha! beco4e the height o- arti-iceN the !ight o- i44ediate
reaity ha! beco4e an orchid in the and o- technoogy.
E)en 4ore re)eaing i! the co4"ari!on o- the!e circu4!tance!* which di--er !o
4uch -ro4 tho!e o- the theater* with the !ituation in "ainting. Here the ?ue!tion
i!@ How doe! the ca4era4an co4"are with the "ainterJ To an!wer thi! we ta3e
recour!e to an anaogy with a !urgica o"eration. The !urgeon re"re!ent! the
"oar o""o!ite o- the 4agician. The 4agician hea! a !ic3 "er!on by the aying on
o- hand!N the !urgeon cut! into the "atientK! body. The 4agician 4aintain! the
natura di!tance between the "atient and hi4!e-N though he reduce! it )ery
!ighty by the aying on o- hand!* he greaty increa!e! it by )irtue o- hi! au=
thority. The !urgeon doe! eGacty the re)er!eN he greaty di4ini!he! the di!tance
between hi4!e- and the "atient by "enetrating into the "atientK! body* and
increa!e! it but itte by the caution with which hi! hand 4o)e! a4ong the
organ!. +n !hort* in contra!t to the 4agicianFwho i! !ti hidden in the 4edica
"ractitionerFthe !urgeon at the deci!i)e 4o4ent ab!tain! -ro4 -acing the "atient
4an to 4anN rather* it i! through the o"eration that he "enetrate! into hi4.
8agician and !urgeon co4"are to "ainter and ca4era4an. The "ainter
4aintain! in hi! wor3 a natura di!tance -ro4 reaity* the ca4era4an "enetrate!
dee"y into it! web.
$<
There i! a tre=
4
&ll!minations
4endou! di--erence between the "icture! they obtain. That o- the "ainter i! a
tota one* that o- the ca4era4an con!i!t! o- 4uti"e -rag4ent! which are
a!!e4bed under a new aw. Thu!* -or conte4"orary 4an the re"re!entation o-
reaity by the -i4 i! inco4"araby 4ore !igni-icant than that o- the "ainter*
!ince it o--er!* "reci!ey becau!e o- the thoroughgoing "er4eation o- reaity with
4echanica e?ui"4ent* an a!"ect o- reaity which i! -ree o- a e?ui"4ent. And
that i! what one i! entited to a!3 -ro4 a wor3 o- art.
L++
8echanica re"roduction o- art change! the reaction o- the 4a!!e! toward art.
The reactionary attitude toward a ,ica!!o "ainting change! into the "rogre!!i)e
reaction toward a Cha"in 4o)ie. The "rogre!!i)e reaction i! characteriAed by the
direct* inti4ate -u!ion o- )i!ua and e4otiona enCoy4ent with the orientation o-
the eG"ert. Such -u!ion i! o- great !ocia !igni-icance. The greater the decrea!e in
the !ocia !igni-icance o- an art -or4* the !har"er the di!tinction between
critici!4 and enCoy4ent by the "ubic. The con)entiona i! uncriticay enCoyed*
and the truy new i! criticiAed with a)er!ion. With regard to the !creen* the
critica and the rece"ti)e attitude! o- the "ubic coincide. The deci!i)e rea!on -or
thi! i! that indi)idua reaction! are "redeter4ined by the 4a!! audience re!"on!e
they are about to "roduce* and thi! i! nowhere 4ore "ronounced than in the -i4.
The 4o4ent the!e re!"on!e! beco4e 4ani-e!t they contro each other. Again* the
co4"ari!on with "ainting i! -ruit-u. A "ainting ha! away! had an eGceent
chance to be )iewed by one "er!on or by a -ew. The !i4utaneou! conte4"ation
o- "ainting! by a arge "ubic* !uch a! de)eo"ed in the nineteenth century* i! an
eary !y4"to4 o- the cri!i! o- "ainting* a cri!i! which wa! by no 4ean!
occa!ioned eGcu!i)ey by "hotogra"hy but rather in a reati)ey inde"endent
4anner by the a""ea o- art wor3! to the 4a!!e!.
,ainting !i4"y i! in no "o!ition to "re!ent an obCect -or !i4utaneou!
coecti)e eG"erience* a! it wa! "o!!ibe -or architeC=
The Work of +rt in the +ge of ,echanical Re-roduction
ture at a ti4e!* -or the e"ic "oe4 in the "a!t* and -or the 4o)ie today.
Athough thi! circu4!tance in it!e- !houd not ead one to concu!ion! about the
!ocia roe o- "ainting* it doe! con!titute a !eriou! threat a! !oon a! "ainting*
under !"ecia condition! and* a! it were* again!t it! nature* i! con-ronted directy
by the 4a!!e!. +n the churche! and 4ona!terie! o- the 8idde Age! and at the
"rincey court! u" to the end o- the eighteenth century* a coecti)e rece"tion o-
"ainting! did not occur !i4utaneou!y* but by graduated and hierarchiAed
4ediation. The change that ha! co4e about i! an eG"re!!ion o- the "articuar
con-ict in which "ainting wa! i4"icated by the 4echanica re"roducibiity o-
"ainting!. Athough "ainting! began to be "ubicy eGhibited in gaerie! and
!aon!* there wa! no way -or the 4a!!e! to organiAe and contro the4!e)e! in their
rece"tion.
$'
Thu! the !a4e "ubic which re!"ond! in a "rogre!!i)e 4anner toward
a grote!?ue -i4 i! bound to re!"ond in a reactionary 4anner to !urreai!4.
L+++
The characteri!tic! o- the -i4 ie not ony in thr $..
which 4an "re!ent! hi4!e- to 4echanica e?ui"4ent but a!o in the 4anner in
which* by 4ean! o- thi! a""aratu!* 4an can re"=re!ent hi! en)iron4ent. A gance
at occu"ationa "!ychoogy iu!trate! the te!ting ca"acity o- the e?ui"4ent.
,!ychoanay!i! iu!trate! it in a di--erent "er!"ecti)e. The -i4 ha! enriched our
-ied o- "erce"tion with 4ethod! which can be iu!trated by tho!e o- 7reudian
theory. 7i-ty year! ago* a !i" o- the tongue "a!!ed 4ore or e!! unnoticed. Ony
eGce"tionay 4ay !uch a !i" ha)e re)eaed di4en!ion! o- de"th in a
con)er!ation which had !ee4ed to be ta3ing it! cour!e on the !ur-ace. Since the
5s.-"ho:atholo#. o( 9ver.'a. +i(e thing! ha)e changed. Thi! boo3 i!oated and
4ade anayAabe thing! which had hereto-ore -oated aong unnoticed in the broad
!trea4 o- "erce"tion. 7or the entire !"ectru4 o- o"ticaI* and now a!o acou!tica*
"erce"tion the -i4 ha! brought about a !i4iar dee"ening o- a""erce"tion. +t i!
ony an ob)er!e o- thi! -act that beha)ior ite4! !hown in a 4o)ie can be
anayAed 4uch 4ore "reci!ey and -ro4 4ore
.B9
+u4ination!
"oint! o- )iew than tho!e "re!ented on "ainting! or on the !tage. A! co4"ared
with "ainting* -i4ed beha)ior end! it!e- 4ore readiy to anay!i! becau!e o- it!
inco4"araby 4ore "reci!e !tate4ent! o- the !ituation. +n co4"ari!on with the
!tage !cene* the -i4ed beha)ior ite4 end! it!e- 4ore readiy to anay!i! becau!e
it can be i!oated 4ore ea!iy. Thi! circu4!tance deri)e! it! chie- i4"ortance
-ro4 it! tendency to "ro4ote the 4utua "enetration o- art and !cience. Actuay*
o- a !creened beha)ior ite4 which i! neaty brought out in a certain !ituation*
i3e a 4u!ce o- a body* it i! di--icut to !ay which i! 4ore -a!cinating* it! arti!tic
)aue or it! )aue -or !cience. To de4on!trate the identity o- the arti!tic and
!cienti-ic u!e! o- "hotogra"hy which hereto-ore u!uay were !e"arated wi be
one o- the re)outionary -unction! o- the -i4.E
By co!e=u"! o- the thing! around u!* by -ocu!ing on hidden detai! o- -a4iiar
obCect!* by eG"oring co44on"ace 4iieu! under the ingeniou! guidance o- the
ca4era* the -i4* on the one hand* eGtend! our co4"rehen!ion o- the nece!!itie!
which rue our i)e!N on the other hand* it 4anage! to a!!ure u! o- an i44en!e
and uneG"ected -ied o- action. Our ta)ern! and our 4etro"oitan !treet!* our
o--ice! and -urni!hed roo4!* our rairoad !tation! and our -actorie! a""eared to
ha)e u! oc3ed u" ho"ee!!y. Then ca4e the -i4 and bur!t thi! "ri!on=word
a!under by the dyna4ite o- the tenth o- a !econd* !o that now* in the 4id!t o- it!
-ar=-ung ruin! and debri!* we ca4y and ad)enturou!y go tra)eing. With the
co!e=u"* !"ace eG"and!N with !ow 4otion* 4o)e4ent i! eGtended. The
enarge4ent o- a !na"!hot doe! not !i4"y render 4ore "reci!e what in any ca!e
wa! )i!ibe* though uncear@ it re)ea! entirey new !tructura -or4ation! o- the
!ubCect. So* too* !ow 4otion not ony "re!ent! -a4iiar ?uaitie! o- 4o)e4ent but
re)ea! in the4 entirey un3nown one! Dwhich* -ar -ro4 oo3ing i3e retarded
ra"id 4o)e4ent!* gi)e the e--ect o- !inguary giding* -oating* !u"ernatura 4o=
tion!.E P E)identy a di--erent nature o"en! it!e- to the ca4era than o"en! to the
na3ed eyeFi- ony becau!e an uncon!ciou!y "enetrated !"ace i! !ub!tituted -or a
!"ace con!ciou!y eG"ored
Rudo- A4hei4Q lo"4 "it4, ". $B'.
.B&
The Work o( Art in the A#e o( 1e"hani"al *e:ro'!"tion
by 4an. E)en i- one ha! a genera 3nowedge o- the way "eo"e wa3* one
3now! nothing o- a "er!onK! "o!ture during the -ractiona !econd o- a !tride. The
act o- reaching -or a ighter or a !"oon i! -a4iiar routine* yet we hardy 3now
what reay goe! on between hand and 4eta* not to 4ention how thi! -uctuate!
with our 4ood!. Here the ca4era inter)ene! with the re!ource! o- it! owering!
and i-ting!* it! interru"tion! and i!oation!* it! eGten!ion! and acceeration!* it!
enarge4ent! and reduction!. The ca4era introduce! u! to uncon!ciou! o"tic! a!
doe! "!ychoanay!i! to uncon!ciou! i4"u!e!.
L+6
One o- the -ore4o!t ta!3! o- art ha! away! been the creation
o- a de4and which coud be -uy !ati!-ied ony ater.
$0
The hi!
tory o- e)ery art -or4 !how! critica e"och! in which a certain
art -or4 a!"ire! to e--ect! which coud be -uy obtained ony
with a changed technica !tandard* that i! to !ay* in a new art
-or4. The eGtra)agance! anE cruditie! o- art wbP ` thu! a""ear*
"articuary in the !o=caed d3 id
A
VP V=^ R ari!e -ro4
the nuceu! o- it! riche!t hi!toric *erYc!. +n recent year!* !uch barbari!4! were
abundant in
r
Yi!4. +t i! ony now that it! i4"u!e beco4e! di!cernibe i(adai!4
atte4"ted to create by "ictoriaFand iteraryFrYean! the e--ect! which the
"ubic today !ee3! in the -i4*
E)ery -unda4entay new* "ioneering creation o- de4and! wi carry beyond it!
goa. Dadai!4 did !o to the eGtent that it !acri-iced the 4ar3et )aue! which are
!o characteri!tic o- the -i4 in -a)or o- higher a4bition!=though o- cour!e it wa!
not con!ciou! o- !uch intention! a! here de!cribed. The Dadai!t! attached 4uch
e!! i4"ortance to the !ae! )aue o- their wor3 than to it! u!ee!!ne!! -or
conte4"ati)e i44er!ion. The !tudied degradation o- their 4ateria wa! not the
ea!t o- their 4ean! to achie)e thi! u!ee!!ne!!. Their "oe4! are Dword !aadE
containing ob!cenitie! and e)ery i4aginabe wa!te "roduct o- anguage. The !a4e
i! true o- their "ainting!* on which they 4ounted button! and tic3et!. What they
intended and achie)ed wa! a reente!!
.B0
Illuminations
de!truction o- the aura o- their creation!* which they branded a! re"roduction!
with the )ery 4ean! o- "roduction. Be-ore a "ainting o- Ar"K! or a "oe4 by
Augu!t Stra44 it i! i4"o!!ibe to ta3e ti4e -or conte4"ation and e)auation a!
one woud be-ore a can)a! o- DerainK! or a "oe4 by Ri3e. +n the decine o-
4idde=ca!! !ociety* conte4"ation beca4e a !choo -or a!ocia beha)iorN it wa!
countered by di!traction a! a )ariant o- !ocia conduct.
$'
Dadai!tic acti)itie!
actuay a!!ured a rather )ehe4ent di!traction by 4a3ing wor3! o- art the center
o- !canda. One re?uire4ent wa! -ore4o!t@ to outrage the "ubic.
7ro4 an auring a""earance or "er!ua!i)e !tructure o- !ound the wor3 o- art o-
the Dadai!t! beca4e an in!tru4ent o- bai!tic!. +t hit the !"ectator i3e a buetQ it
ha""ened to hi4* thu! ac?uiring a tactie ?uaity. +t "ro4oted a de4and -or the
-i4* the di!tracting ee4ent o- which i! a!o "ri4ariy tactie* being ba!ed on
change! o- "ace and -ocu! which "eriodicay a!!ai the !"ectator. 1et u! co4"are
the !creen on which a -i4 un-od! with the can)a! o- a "ainting. The "ainting
in)ite! the !"ectator to conte4"ationN be-ore it the !"ectator can abandon
hi4!e- to hi! a!!ociation!. Be-ore the 4o)ie -ra4e he cannot do !o. No !ooner
ha! hi! eye gra!"ed a !cene than it i! aready changed. +t cannot be arre!ted.
Duha4e* who dete!t! the -i4 and 3now! nothing o- it! !igni-icance* though
!o4ething o- it! !tructure* note! thi! circu4!tance a! -oow!@ D+ can no onger
thin3 what + want to thin3. 8y thought! ha)e been re"aced by 4o)ing i4age!.E
P The !"ectatorK! "roce!! o- a!!ociation in )iew o- the!e i4age! i! indeed
interru"ted by their con!tant* !udden change. Thi! con!titute! the !hoc3 e--ect o-
the -i4* which* i3e a !hoc3!* !houd be cu!hioned by heightened "re!ence o-
4ind.
$%
By 4ean! o- it! technica !tructure* the -i4 ha! ta3en the "hy!ica !hoc3
e--ect out o- the wra""er! in which Dadai!4 had* a! it were* 3e"t it in!ide the
4ora* !hoc3 e--ect.
./
5eorge! Duha4e* D"enes 'e la vie (!t!re, ,ari!* $%B/* ". 9..
$%!
The Work of +rt in the +ge of ,echanical Re-roduction
L6
The 4a!! i! a 4atriG -ro4 which a traditiona beha)ior toward wor3! o- art
i!!ue! today in a new -or4. _uantity ha! been tran!4uted into ?uaity. The
greaty increa!ed 4a!! o- "artici"ant! ha! "roduced a change in the 4ode o-
"artici"ation. The -act that the new 4ode o- "artici"ation -ir!t a""eared in a di!=
re"utabe -or4 4u!t not con-u!e the !"ectator. Yet !o4e "eo"e ha)e aunched
!"irited attac3! again!t "reci!ey thi! !u"er-icia a!"ect. A4ong the!e* Duha4e
ha! eG"re!!ed hi4!e- in the 4o!t radica 4anner. What he obCect! to 4o!t i! the
3ind o- "artici"ation which the 4o)ie eicit! -ro4 the 4a!!e!. Duha4e ca! the
4o)ie Da "a!ti4e -or heot!* a di)er!ion -or uneducated* wretched* worn=out
creature! who are con!u4ed by their worrie! . . . * a !"ectace which re?uire! no
concentration and "re!u""o!e! no inteigence . . .* which 3inde! no ight in the
heart and awa3en! no ho"e other than the ridicuou! one o- !o4eday beco4ing a
R!tarP in 1o! Angee!.E P Ceary* thi! i! at botto4 the !a4e ancient a4ent that the
4a!!e! !ee3 di!traction wherea! art de4and! concentration -ro4 the !"ectator.
That i! a co44on"ace. The ?ue!tion re4ain! whether it "ro)ide! a "at-or4 -or
the anay!i! o- the -i4. A co!er oo3 i! needed here. Di!traction and
concentration -or4 "oar o""o!ite! which 4ay be !tated a! -oow!@ A 4an who
concentrate! be-ore a wor3 o- art i! ab!orbed by it. He enter! into thi! wor3 o- art
the way egend te! o- the Chine!e "ainter when he )iewed hi! -ini!hed "ainting.
+n contra!t* the di!tracted 4a!! ab!orb! the wor3 o- art. Thi! i! 4o!t ob)iou! with
regard to buiding!. Architecture ha! away! re"re!ented the "rototy"e o- a wor3
o- art the rece"tion o- which i! con!u44ated by a coecti)ity in a !tate o-
di!traction. The aw! o- it! rece"tion are 4o!t in!tructi)e.
Buiding! ha)e been 4anK! co4"anion! !ince "ri4e)a ti4e!. 8any art -or4!
ha)e de)eo"ed and "eri!hed. Tragedy begin! with the 5ree3!* i! eGtingui!hed
with the4* and a-ter centurie! it! Drue!E ony are re)i)ed. The e"ic "oe4* which
had it! origin
Duha4e* o:4 "it4, ". 9'. 2,%
Ill*minati+n)
in the youth o- nation!* eG"ire! in Euro"e at the end o- the Renai!!ance. ,ane
"ainting i! a creation o- the 8idde Age!* and nothing guarantee! it!
uninterru"ted eGi!tence. But the hu4an need -or !heter i! a!ting. Architecture
ha! ne)er been ide. +t! hi!tory i! 4ore ancient than that o- any other art* and it!
cai4 to being a i)ing -orce ha! !igni-icance in e)ery atte4"t to co4"rehend the
reation!hi" o- the 4a!!e! to art. Buiding! are a""ro"riated in a two-od 4anner@
by u!e and by "erce"tionFor rather* by touch and !ight. Such a""ro"riation
cannot be under!tood in ter4! o- the attenti)e concentration o- a touri!t be-ore a
-a4ou! buiding. On the tactie !ide there i! no counter"art to conte4"ation on
the o"tica !ide. Tactie a""ro"riation i! acco4"i!hed not !o 4uch by attention a!
by habit. A! regard! architecture* habit deter4ine! to a arge eGtent e)en o"tica
rece"tion. The atter* too* occur! 4uch e!! through ra"t attention than by
noticing the obCect in incidenta -a!hion. Thi! 4ode o- a""ro"riation* de)eo"ed
with re-erence to architecture* in certain circu4!tance! ac?uire! canonica )aue.
7or the ta!3! which -ace the hu4an a""aratu! o- "erce"tion at the turning "oint!
o- hi!tory cannot be !o)ed by o"tica 4ean!* that i!* by conte4"ation* aone.
They are 4a!tered graduay by habit* under the guidance o- tactie
a""ro"riation.
The di!tracted "er!on* too* can -or4 habit!. 8ore* the abiity to 4a!ter certain
ta!3! in a !tate o- di!traction "ro)e! that their !oution ha! beco4e a 4atter o-
habit. Di!traction a! "ro)ided by art "re!ent! a co)ert contro o- the eGtent to
which new ta!3! ha)e beco4e !oube by a""erce"tion. Since* 4oreo)er* indi)id=
ua! are te4"ted to a)oid !uch ta!3!* art wi tac3e the 4o!t di--icut and 4o!t
i4"ortant one! where it i! abe to 4obiiAe the 4a!!e!. Today it doe! !o in the
-i4. Rece"tion in a !tate o- di!traction* which i! increa!ing noticeaby in a -ied!
o- art and i! !y4"to4atic o- "ro-ound change! in a""erce"tion* -ind! in the -i4
it! true 4ean! o- eGerci!e. The -i4 with it! !hoc3 e--ect 4eet! thi! 4ode o-
rece"tion ha-way. The -i4 4a3e! the cut )aue recede into the bac3ground not
ony by "utting the "ubic in the "o!ition o- the critic* but a!o by the -act that at
the 4o)ie!
.</
The Work o( Art in the A#e o( 1e"hani"al *e:ro'!"tion
thi! "o!ition re?uire! no attention. The "ubic i! an eGa4iner* but an ab!ent=
4inded one.
E,+1O52E
The growing "roetarianiAation o- 4odern 4an and the increa!ing -or4ation o-
4a!!e! are two a!"ect! o- the !a4e "roce!!. 7a!ci!4 atte4"t! to organiAe the
newy created "roetarian 4a!!e! without a--ecting the "ro"erty !tructure which
the 4a!!e! !tri)e to ei4inate. 7a!ci!4 !ee! it! !a)ation in gi)ing the!e 4a!!e! not
their right* but in!tead a chance to eG"re!! the4!e)e!.
.$
The 4a!!e! ha)e a right
to change "ro"erty reation!N 7a!ci!4 !ee3! to gi)e the4 an eG"re!!ion whie
"re!er)ing "ro"erty. The ogica re!ut o- 7a!ci!4 i! the introduction o-
ae!thetic! into "oitica i-e. The )ioation o- the 4a!!e!* who4 7a!ci!4* with it!
R!hrer cut* -orce! to their 3nee!* ha! it! counter"art in the )ioation o- an
a""aratu! which i! "re!!ed into the "roduction o- ritua )aue!.
A e--ort! to render "oitic! ae!thetic cu4inate in one thing@
war. War and war ony can !et a goa -or 4a!! 4o)e4ent! on the
arge!t !cae whie re!"ecting the traditiona "ro"erty !y!te4.
Thi! i! the "oitica -or4ua -or the !ituation. The technoogica
-or4ua 4ay be !tated a! -oow!@ Ony war 4a3e! it "o!!ibe to
4obiiAe a o- todayK! technica re!ource! whie 4aintaining the
"ro"erty !y!te4. +t goe! without !aying that the 7a!ci!t a"othe
o!i! o- war doe! not e4"oy !uch argu4ent!. Sti* 8arinetti
!ay! in hi! 4ani-e!to on the Ethio"ian coonia war@ D7or twenty=
!e)en year! we 7uturi!t! ha)e rebeed again!t the branding o-
war a! antiae!thetic. . . . Accordingy we !tate@ . . . War i! beau
ti-u becau!e it e!tabi!he! 4anK! do4inion o)er the !ubCugated
4achinery by 4ean! o- ga! 4a!3!* terri-ying 4ega"hone!* -a4e
thrower!* and !4a tan3!. War i! beauti-u becau!e it initiate! the
drea4t=o- 4etaiAation o- the hu4an body. War i! beauti-u be
cau!e it enriche! a -owering 4eadow with the -iery orchid! o-
4achine gun!. War i! beauti-u becau!e it co4bine! the gun-ire*
the cannonade!* the -ire* the !cent!* and the !tench o-
"utre-action into a !y4"hony. War i! beauti-u becau!e it create!
.<$
&ll!minations
new architecture* i3e that o- the big tan3!* the geo4etrica -or4ation -ight!*
the !4o3e !"ira! -ro4 burning )iage!* and 4any other!. . . . ,oet! and arti!t! o-
7uturi!4M . . . re4e4ber the!e "rinci"e! o- an ae!thetic! o- war !o that your
!trugge -or a new iterature and a new gra"hic art . . . 4ay be iu4ined by
the4ME
Thi! 4ani-e!to ha! the )irtue o- carity. +t! -or4uation! de!er)e to be acce"ted
by diaectician!. To the atter* the ae!thetic! o- todayK! war a""ear! a! -oow!N +-
the natura utiiAation o- "roducti)e -orce! i! i4"eded by the "ro"erty !y!te4* the
increa!e in technica de)ice!* in !"eed* and in the !ource! o- energy wi "re!! -or
an unnatura utiiAation* and thi! i! -ound in war. The de!tructi)ene!! o- war
-urni!he! "roo- that !ociety ha! not been 4ature enough to incor"orate
technoogy a! it! organ* that technoogy ha! not been !u--icienty de)eo"ed to
co"e with the ee4enta -orce! o- !ociety. The horribe -eature! o- i4"eriai!tic
war-are are attributabe to the di!cre"ancy between the tre4endou! 4ean! o-
"roduction and their inade?uate utiiAation in the "roce!! o- "roductionFin other
word!* to une4"oy4ent and the ac3 o- 4ar3et!. +4"eriai!tic war i! a rebeion
o- technoogy which coect!* in the -or4 o- Dhu4an 4ateria*E the cai4! to
which !ociety ha! denied it! natura 4ateria. +n!tead o- draining ri)er!* !ociety
direct! a hu4an !trea4 into a bed o- trenche!N in!tead o- dro""ing !eed! -ro4
air"ane!* it dro"! incendiary bo4b! o)er citie!N and through ga! war-are the aura
i! aboi!hed in a new way.
;Riat ars8:ereat m!n'!s< !ay! 7a!ci!4* and* a! 8arinetti ad4it!* eG"ect! war to
!u""y the arti!tic grati-ication o- a !en!e "erce"tion that ha! been changed by
technoogy. Thi! i! e)identy the con!u44ation o- ;Rart :o!r 5art,)< 8an3ind*
which in Ho4erK! ti4e wa! an obCect o- conte4"ation -or the Oy4"ian god!*
now i! one -or it!e-. +t! !e-=aienation ha! reached !uch a degree that it can
eG"erience it! own de!truction a! an ae!thetic "ea!ure o- the -ir!t order. Thi! i!
the !ituation o- "oitic! which 7a!ci!4 i! rendering ae!thetic. Co44uni!4
re!"ond! by "oiticiAing art.
.<.
Tioles
`. O- cour!e* the hi!tory o- a wor3 o- art enco4"a!!e! 4ore than thi!. The
hi!tory o- the D8ona 1i!a*E -or in!tance* enco4"a!!e! the 3ind and nu4ber o- it!
co"ie! 4ade in the $0
th
* $'
th
* and $%
th
centurie!.
.. ,reci!ey becau!e authenticity i! not re"roducibe* the inten!i)e
"enetration o- certain :4echanica; "roce!!e! o- re"roduction wa! in!tru4enta
in di--erentiating and grading authenticity. To de)eo" !uch di--erentiation! wa!
an i4"ortant -unction o- the trade in wor3! o- art. The in)ention o- the woodcut
4ay be !aid to ha)e !truc3 at the root o- the ?uaity o- authenticity e)en be-ore
it! ate -owering. To be !ure* at the ti4e o- it! origin a 4edie)a "icture o- the
8adonna coud not yet be !aid to be Dauthentic.E +t beca4e DauthenticE ony
during the !ucceeding centurie! and "erha"! 4o!t !tri3ingy !o during the a!t
one.
B. The "oore!t "ro)incia !taging o- Ra!st i! !u"erior to a 7au!t -i4 in
that* ideay* it co4"ete! with the -ir!t "er-or4ance at Wei4ar. Be-ore the !creen
it i! un"ro-itabe to re4e4ber traditiona content! which 4ight co4e to 4ind
be-ore the !tageF-or in!tance* that 5oetheK! -riend (ohann Heinrich 8erc3 i!
hidden in 8e"hi!to* and the i3e.
<. To !ati!-y the hu4an intere!t o- the 4a!!e! 4ay 4ean to ha)e oneK!
!ocia -unction re4o)ed -ro4 the -ied o- )i!ion. Nothing guarantee! that a
"ortraiti!t o- today* when "ainting a -a4ou! !urgeon at the brea3-a!t tabe in the
4id!t o- hi! -a4iy* de"ict! hi! !ocia -unction 4ore "reci!ey than a "ainter o-
the $0
th
century who "ortrayed hi! 4edica doctor! a! re"re!enting thi!
"ro-e!!ion* i3e Re4brandt in hi! DAnato4y 1e!!on.E
9. The de-inition o- the aura a! a Duni?ue "heno4enon o- a di!tance
howe)er co!e it 4ay beE re"re!ent! nothing but the -or4uation o- the cut )aue
o- the wor3 o- art in categorie! o- !"ace and ti4e "erce"tion. Di!tance i! the
o""o!ite o- co!ene!!. The e!!entiay di!tant obCect i! the una""roachabe one.
2na""roachabiity i! indeed a 4aCor ?uaity o- the cut i4age. True to it! nature*
it re4ain! Ddi!tant* howe)er co!e it 4ay be.E The co!ene!! which one 4ay gain
-ro4 it! !ubCect 4atter doe! not i4"air the di!tance which it retain! in it!
a""earance.
/,
&ll!minations
&. To the eGtent to which the cut )aue o- the "ainting i! !ecuariAed the
idea! o- it! -unda4enta uni?uene!! o!e di!tinctne!!. +n the i4agination o- the
behoder the uni?uene!! o- the "heno4ena which hod !way in the cut i4age i!
4ore and 4ore di!"aced by the e4"irica uni?uene!! o- the creator or o- hi!
creati)e achie)e4ent. To be !ure* ne)er co4"etey !oN the conce"t o-
authenticity away! tran!cend! 4ere genuinene!!. :Thi! i! "articuary a""arent
in the coector who away! retain! !o4e trace! o- the -eti!hi!t and who* by
owning the wor3 o- art* !hare! in it! ritoa "ower.; Ne)erthee!!* the -unction o-
the conce"t o- authenticity re4ain! deter4inate in the e)auation o- artN with the
!ecuariAation o- art* authenticity di!"ace! the cut )aue o- the wor3.
0. +n the ca!e o- -i4!* 4echanica re"roduction i! not* a! with iterature
and "ainting* an eGterna condition -or 4a!! di!tribution. 8echanica
re"roduction i! inherent in the )ery techni?ue o- -i4 "roduction. Thi! techni?ue
not ony "er4it! in the 4o!t direct way but )irtuay cau!e! 4a!! di!tribution. +t
en-orce! di!tribution becau!e the "roduction o- a -i4 i! !o eG"en!i)e that an
indi)idua who* -or in!tance* 4ight a--ord to bay a "ainting no onger can a--ord
to buy a -i4. +n $%.0 it wa! cacuated that a 4aCor -i4* in order to "ay it! way*
had to reach an audience o- nine 4iion. With the !ound -i4* to be !ure* a
!etbac3 in it! internationa di!tribution occurred at -ir!t@ audience! beca4e
i4ited by anguage barrier!. Thi! coincided with the 7a!ci!t e4"ha!i! on
nationa intere!t!. +t i! 4ore i4"ortant to -ocu! on thi! connection with 7a!ci!4
than on thi! !etbac3* which wa! !oon 4ini4iAed by !ynchroniAation. The
!i4utaneity o- both "heno4ena i! attributabe to the de"re!!ion. The !a4e
di!turbance! which* on a arger !cae* ed to an atte4"t to 4aintain the eGi!ting
"ro"erty !tructure by !heer -orce ed the endangered -i4 ca"ita to !"eed u" the
de)eo"4ent o- the !ound -i4. The introduction o- the !ound -i4 brought
about a te4"orary reie-* not ony becau!e it again brought the 4a!!e! into the
theater! but a!o becau!e it 4erged new ca"ita -ro4 the eectrica indu!try with
that o- the -i4 indu!try. Thu!* )iewed -ro4 the out!ide* the !ound -i4
"ro4oted nationa intere!t!* but !een -ro4 the in!ide it he"ed to internationaiAe
-i4 "roduction e)en 4ore than "re)iou!y.
'. Thi! "oarity cannot co4e into it! own in the ae!thetic! o- +deai!4.
+t! idea o- beauty co4"ri!e! the!e "oar o""o!ite! without di--erentiating
between the4 and con!e?uenty eGcude! their "oarity. Yet in Hege thi!
"oarity announce! it!e- a! ceary a! "o!!ibe
.<<
The Work o( Art in the A#e o( 1e"hani"al *e:ro'!"tion
within the i4it! o- +deai!4. We ?uote -ro4 hi! 5hiloso:h. o( /istor.:
D+4age! were 3nown o- od. ,iety at an eary ti4e re?uired the4 -or wor!hi"*
but it coud do without ea!ti(!l i4age!. The!e 4ight e)en be di!turbing. +n
e)ery beauti-u "ainting there i! a!o !o4ething non!"iritua* 4erey eGternaQ
but it! !"irit !"ea3! to 4an through it! beauty. Wor!hi""ing* con)er!ey* i! con=
cerned with the wor3 a! an obCect* -or it i! but a !"irite!! !tu"or o- the !ou. . . .
7ine art ha! ari!en ... in the church ...* athough it ha! aready gone beyond it!
"rinci"e a! art.E 1i3ewi!e* the -oowing "a!!age -ro4 The 5hiloso:h. o( Rine
Art indicate! that Hege !en!ed a "robe4 here.
DWe are beyond the !tage o- re)erence -or wor3! o- art a! di)ine and obCect!
de!er)ing our wor!hi". The i4"re!!ion they "roduce i! one o- a 4ore re-ecti)e
3ind* and the e4otion! they arou!e re?uire a higher te!t. . . .QF5. W. 7. Hege*
The 5hiloso:h. o( Rine Art, tran!.* with note!* by 7. ,. B. O!4a!ton* 6o. i* ".
$.* 1ondon* ro.o. The tran!ition -ro4 the -ir!t 3ind o- arti!tic rece"tion to the
!econd characteriAe! the hi!tory o- arti!tic rece"tion in genera. A"art -ro4 that*
a certain o!ciation between the!e two "oar 4ode! o- rece"tion can be
de4on!trated -or each wor3 o- art. Ta3e the Si!tine 8adonna. Since Hubert
5ri44eK! re!earch it ha! been 3nown that the 8adonna originay wa! "ainted
-or the "ur"o!e o- eGhibition. 5ri44eK! re!earch wa! in!"ired by the ?ue!tionN
What i! the "ur"o!e o- the 4oding in the -oreground o- the "ainting which the
two cu"id! ean u"onJ How* 5ri44e a!3ed -urther* did Ra"hae co4e to -urni!h
the !3y with two dra"erie!J Re!earch "ro)ed that die 8adonna had been
co44i!!ioned -or the "ubic ying=in=!tate o- ,o"e SiGtu!. The ,o"e! ay in !tate
in a certain !ide cha"e o- St. ,eterK!. On that occa!ion Ra"haeK! "icture had
been -a!tened in a nichei3e bac3ground o- the cha"e* !u""orted by the co--in.
+n thi! "icture Ra"hae "ortray! the 8adonna a""roaching the "a"a co--in in
coud! -ro4 the bac3ground o- the niche* which wa! de4arcated by green
dra"e!. At the ob!e?uie! o- SiGtu! a "re=e4inent eGhibition )aue o- Ra"haeK!
"icture wa! ta3en ad)antage o-. So4e ti4e ater it wa! "aced on the high atar in
the church o- the Bac3 7riar! at ,iacenAa. The rea!on -or thi! eGie i! to be
-ound in the Ro4an rite! which -orbid the u!e o- "ainting! eGhibited at ob!e?uie!
a! cut obCect! on the high atar. Thi! reguation de)aued Ra"haeK! "icture to
.<!
&ll!minations
!o4e degree. +n order to obtain an ade?uate "rice ne)erthee!!* the ,a"a See
re!o)ed to add to the bargain the tacit toeration o- the "icture abo)e the high
atar. To a)oid attention the "icture wa! gi)en to the 4on3! o- the -ar=o--
"ro)incia town.
%. Bertot Brecht* on a di--erent e)e* engaged in anaogou! re
-ection!N D+- the conce"t o- Rwor3 o- artK can no onger be a""ied
to the thing that e4erge! once the wor3 i! tran!-or4ed into a co4
4odity* we ha)e to ei4inate thi! conce"t with cautiou! care but
without -ear* e!t we i?uidate the -unction o- the )ery thing a! we.
7or it ha! to go through thi! "ha!e without 4enta re!er)ation* and
not a! nonco44itta de)iation -ro4 the !traight "athN rather* what
ha""en! here with the wor3 o- art wi change it -unda4entay and
era!e it! "a!t to !uch an eGtent that !houd the od conce"t be ta3en
u" again=and it wi* why notJFit wi no onger !tir any 4e4ory
o- the thing it once de!ignated.E
$/. DThe -i4 . . . "ro)ide!For coud "ro)ideFu!e-u in!ight into the
detai! o- hu4an action!. . . . Character i! ne)er u!ed a! a !ource o- 4oti)ationN
the inner i-e o- the "er!on! ne)er !u""ie! the "rinci"a cau!e o- the "ot and
!edo4 i! it! 4ain re!ut.E :Bertot Brecht* Gers!"he, DDer
Dreigro!chen"roAe!!*E ". .&'.; The eG"an!ion o- the -ied o- the te!tabe which
4echanica e?ui"4ent bring! about -or the actor corre!"ond! to the
eGtraordinary eG"an!ion o- the -ied o- the te!tabe brought about -or the
indi)idua through econo4ic condition!. Thu!* )ocationa a"titude te!t! beco4e
con!tanty 4ore i4"ortant. What 4atter! in the!e te!t! are !eg4enta
"er-or4ance! o- the indi)idua The -i4 !hot and the )ocationa a"titude te!t are
ta3en be-ore a co44ittee o- eG"ert!. The ca4era director in the !tudio occu"ie!
a "ace identica with that o- the eGa4iner during a"titude te!t!.
$$. Rudo- A4hei4* Rilm ah ?!nst, Berin* $%B.* "". $0& -. +n thi!
conteGt certain !ee4ingy uni4"ortant detai! in which the -i4 director de)iate!
-ro4 !tage "ractice! gain in intere!t. Such i! the atte4"t to et the actor "ay
without 4a3e=u"* a! 4ade a4ong other! by Dreyer in hi! 2eanne '6Ar"4 Dreyer
!"ent 4onth! !ee3ing the -orty actor! who con!titute the +n?ui!itor!K tribuna.
The !earch -or the!e actor! re!e4bed that -or !tage "ro"ertie! that are hard to
co4e by. Dreyer 4ade e)ery e--ort to a)oid re!e4bance! o- age* buid* and
"hy!iogno4y. +- the actor thu! beco4e! a !tage "ro"erty* thi! atter* on the other
hand* -re?uenty -unction! a! actor. At ea!t it i! not unu!ua -or the -i4 to
a!!ign a roe to the !tage "ro"erty.
.<&
The Work o( Art in the A#e o( 1e"hani"al *e:ro'!"tion
+n!tead o- choo!ing at rando4 -ro4 a great weath o- eGa4"e!* et u!
concentrate on a "articuary con)incing one. A coc3 that i! wor3ing wi
away! be a di!turbance on the !tage. There it cannot be "er4itted it! -unction o-
4ea!uring ti4e. E)en in a naturai!tic "ay* a!trono4ica ti4e woud ca!h with
theatrica ti4e. 2nder the!e circu4!tance! it i! highy re)eaing that the -i4
canQ whene)er a""ro"riate* u!e ti4e a! 4ea!ured by a coc3. 7ro4 thi! 4ore
than -ro4 4any other touche! it 4ay ceary be recogniAed that under certain
circu4!tance! each and e)ery "ro" in a -i4 4ay a!!u4e i4"ortant -unction!.
7ro4 here it i! but one !te" to ,udo)3inK! !tate4ent that Dthe "aying o- an actor
which i! connected with an obCect and i! buit around it ... i! away! one o- the
!tronge!t 4ethod! o- cine4atic con!truction.E :W* ,udo)3in* Rilmre#ie !na
Ritmman!skri:t, Berin* $%.'* ". 12S4@ The -i4 i! the -ir!t art -or4 ca"abe o-
de4on!trating how 4atter "ay! tric3! on 4an. Hence* -i4! can be an eGceent
4ean! o- 4ateriai!tic re"re!entation.
$.. The change noted here in the 4ethod o- eGhibition cau!ed by
4echanica re"roduction a""ie! to "oitic! a! we. The "re!ent cri!i! o- the
bourgeoi! de4ocracie! co4"ri!e! a cri!i! o- the condition! which deter4ine the
"ubic "re!entation o- the ruer!. De4ocracie! eGhibit a 4e4ber o- go)ern4ent
directy and "er!onay be-ore the nationK! re"re!entati)e!. ,aria4ent i! hi!
"ubic. Since the inno)ation! o- ca4era anaP recording e?ui"4ent 4a3e it
"o!!ibe -or the orator to beco4e audibe and )i!ibe to an uni4ited nu4ber o-
"er!on!* the "re!entation o- the 4an o- "oitic! be-ore ca4era and recording
e?ui"4ent beco4e! "ara4ount. ,aria4ent!* a! 4uch a! theater!* are de!erted.
Radio and -i4 not ony a--ect the -unction o- the "ro-e!!iona actor but i3ewi!e
the -unction o- tho!e who a!o eGhibit the4!e)e! be-ore thi! 4echanica
e?ui"4ent* tho!e who go)ern. Though their ta!3! 4ay be di--erent* the change
a--ect! e?uay the actor and the ruer. The trend i! toward e!tabi!hing
controabe and tran!-erabe !3i! under certain !ocia condition!. Thi! re!ut!
in a new !eection* a !eection be-ore the e?ui"4ent -ro4 which the !tar and the
dictator e4erge )ictoriou!.
$B. The "ri)ieged character o- the re!"ecti)e techni?ue! i! o!t. Adou!
HuGey write!@
DAd)ance! in technoogy ha)e ed . . . to )ugarity. . . . ,roce!! re"roduction
and the rotary "re!! ha)e 4ade "o!!ibe the inde-inite 4uti"ication o- writing
and "icture!. 2ni)er!a education and reati)ey high wage! ha)e created an
enor4ou! "ubic who
4
+u4ination!
3now how to read and can a--ord to buy reading and "ictoria 4atter. A great
indu!try ha! been caed into eGi!tence in order to !u""y the!e co44oditie!.
NowQ arti!tic taent i! a )ery rare "heno4enonN whence it -oow! . . . that* at
e)ery e"och and in a countrie!* 4o!t art ha! been bad. But the "ro"ortion o-
tra!h in the tota arti!tic out"ut i! greater now than at any other "eriod. That it
4u!t be !o i! a 4atter o- !i4"e arith4etic. The "o"uation o- We!tern Euro"e
ha! a itte 4ore than doubed during the a!t century. But the a4ount o-
reading=and !eeingF4atter ha! increa!ed* + !houd i4agine* at ea!t twenty and
"o!!iby -i-ty or e)en a hundred ti4e!. +- there were a 4en o- taent in a "o"ua=
tion o- O 4iion!* there wi "re!u4aby be in 4en o- taent a4ong .L 4iion!.
The !ituation 4ay be !u44ed u" thu!Q 7or e)ery "age o- "rint and "icture!
"ubi!hed a century ago* twenty or "erha"! e)en a hundred "age! are "ubi!hed
today. But -or e)ery 4an o- taent then i)ing* there are now ony two 4en o-
taent. +t 4ay be o- cour!e that* than3! to uni)er!a education* 4any "otentia
taent! which in the "a!t woud ha)e been !tiborn are now enabed to reaiAe
the4!e)e!. 1et u! a!!u4e* then* that there are now three or e)en -our 4en o-
taent to e)ery one o- earier ti4e!. +t !ti re4ain! true to !ay that the
con!u4"tion o- readingFand !eeingF4atter ha! -ar out!tri""ed the natura
"roduction o- gi-ted writer! and draught!4en. +t i! the !a4e with hearing=4atter.
,ro!"erity* the gra4o"hone and the radio ha)e created an audience o- hearer!
who con!u4e an a4ount o- hearing=4atter that ha! increa!ed out o- a
"ro"ortion to the increa!e o- "o"uation and the con!e?uent natura increa!e o-
taented 4u!ician!. +t -oow! -ro4 a thi! that in a the art! the out"ut o- tra!h
i! both ab!outey and reati)ey greater than it wa! in the "a!tN and that it 4u!t
re4ain greater -or Cu!t !o ong a! the word continue! to con!u4e the "re!ent
inordinate ?uantitie! o- reading=4atter* !eeing=4atter* and hearing=4atter.EF
Adou! HuGey* Be.on' the 1e=i7!e Ba., A Traveller)s 2o!rnal, 1ondon* $%<%*
"". .0< --. 7ir!t "ubi!hed in $%B<. Thi! 4ode o- ob!er)ation i! ob)iou!y not
"rogre!!i)e. $<. The bodne!! o- the ca4era4an i! indeed co4"arabe to that o-
the !urgeon. 1uc Durtain i!t! a4ong !"eci-ic technica !eight! o- hand tho!e
Dwhich are re?uired in !urgery in the ca!e o- certain di--icut o"eration!. +
choo!e a! an eGa4"e a ca!ei -ro4 oto=rhino=aryngoogyN ... the !o=caed
endona!a "er!"ecti)e "rocedureN or
.<'
The Work o( Art in the A#e o( 1e"hani"al *e:ro'!"tion
+ re-er to the acrobatic tric3! o- arynG !urgery which ha)e to be "er-or4ed
-oowing the re)er!ed "icture in the aryngo!co"e. + 4ight a!o !"ea3 o- ear
!urgery which !ugge!t! the "reci!ion wor3 o- watch4a3er!. What range o- the
4o!t !ubte 4u!cuar acrobatic! i! re?uired -ro4 the 4an who want! to re"air or
!a)e the hu4an bodyQ We ha)e ony to thin3 o- the couching o- a cataract where
there i! )irtuay a debate o- !tee with neary -uid ti!!ue* or o- the 4aCor
abdo4ina o"eration! :a"aroto4y;.EF1uc Durtain* o:4 "it,
$9. Thi! 4ode o- ob!er)ation 4ay !ee4 crude* but a! the great
theoretician 1eonardo ha! !hown* crude 4ode! o- ob!er)ation 4ay at ti4e! be
u!e-uy adduced. 1eonardo co4"are! "ainting and 4u!ic a! -oow!@ D,ainting i!
!u"erior to 4u!ic becau!e* uni3e un-ortunate 4u!ic* it doe! not ha)e to die a!
!oon a! it i! born. . * . 8u!ic which i! con!u4ed in the )ery act o- it! birth i!
in-erior to "ainting which the u!e o- )arni!h ha! rendered eterna.E :Trattato +*
.%.;
$&. Renai!!ance "ainting o--er! a re)eaing anaogy to thi! !ituation. The
inco4"arabe de)eo"4ent o- thi! art and it! !igni-icance re!ted not ea!t on the
integration o- a nu4ber o- new !cience!* or at ea!t o- new !cienti-ic data.
Renai!!ance "ainting 4ade u!e o- anato4y and "er!"ecti)e* o- 4athe4atic!*
4eteoroogy* and chro4atoogy. 6aery write!@ DWhat coud be -urther -ro4 u!
than the !trange cai4 o- a 1eonardo to who4 "ainting wa! a !u"re4e goa and
the uti4ate de4on!tration o- 3nowedgeJ 1eonardo wa! con)inced that "ainting
de4anded uni)er!a 3nowedge* and he did not e)en !hrin3 -ro4 a theoretica
anay!i! which to u! i! !tunning becau!e o- it! )ery de"th and "reci!ion. . . .EF
,au 6aery* 5ie"es s!r 5art, DAutour de Corot*E ,ari!* ". $%$.
$0. DThe wor3 o- art*E !ay! Andre Breton* Di! )auabe ony in !o -ar a! it
i! )ibrated by the re-eGe! o- the -uture.E +ndeed* e)ery de)eo"ed art -or4
inter!ect! three ine! o- de)eo"4ent. Technoogy wor3! toward a certain -or4 o-
art. Be-ore the ad)ent o- the -i4 there were "hoto boo3et! with "icture! which
-itted by the onoo3er u"on "re!!ure o- the thu4b* thu! "ortraying a boGing bout
or a tenni! 4atch. Then there were the !ot 4achine! in baAaar!=* their "icture
!e?uence! were "roduced by the turning o- a cran3.
Secondy* the traditiona art -or4! in certain "ha!e! o- their de)eo"4ent
!trenuou!y wor3 toward e--ect! which ater are e--orte!!y attained by the new
one!. Be-ore the ri!e o- the 4o)ie the
.<%
&ll!minations
Dadai!t!K "er-or4ance! tried to create an audience reaction which Cha"in ater
e)o3ed in a 4ore natura way*
Thirdy* un!"ectacuar !ocia change! o-ten "ro4ote a change in rece"ti)ity
which wi bene-it the new art -or4. Be-ore the 4o)ie had begun to create it!
"ubic* "icture! that were no onger i44obie ca"ti)ated an a!!e4bed audience
in the !o=caed ?aiser:anorama4 Here the "ubic a!!e4bed be-ore a !creen into
which !tereo!co"e! were 4ounted* one to each behoder. By a 4echanica
"roce!! indi)idua "icture! a""eared brie-y be-ore the !tereo!co"e!* then 4ade
way -or other!. Edi!on !ti had to u!e !i4iar de)ice! in "re!enting the -ir!t
4o)ie !tri" be-ore the -i4 !creen and "roCection were 3nown. Thi! !tri" wa!
"re!ented to a !4a "ubic which !tared into the a""aratu! in which the
!ucce!!ion o- "icture! wa! reeing o--. +ncidentay* the in!titution o- the
?aiser:anorama !how! )ery ceary a diaectic o- the de)eo"4ent. Shorty
be-ore the 4o)ie turned the rece"tion o- "icture! into a coecti)e one* the
indi)idua )iewing o- "icture! in the!e !wi-ty out4oded e!tabi!h4ent! ca4e
into "ay once 4ore with an inten!ity co4"arabe to that o- the ancient "rie!t be=
hoding the !tatue o- a di)inity in the cea.
$'. The theoogica archety"e o- thi! conte4"ation i! the awarene!! o-
being aone with oneK! 5od. Such awarene!!* in the heyday o- the bourgeoi!ie*
went to !trengthen the -reedo4 to !ha3e o-- cerica tuteage. During the decine
o- the bourgeoi!ie thi! awarene!! had to ta3e into account the hidden tendency to
withdraw -ro4 "ubic a--air! tho!e -orce! which the indi)idua draw! u"on in hi!
co44union with 5od.
$%. The -i4 i! the art -or4 that i! in 3ee"ing with the increa!ed threat to
hi! i-e which 4odern 4an ha! to -ace. 8anK! need to eG"o!e hi4!e- to !hoc3
e--ect! i! hi! adCu!t4ent to the danger! threatening hi4. The -i4 corre!"ond! to
"ro-ound change! in the a""erce"ti)e a""aratu!Fchange! that are eG"erienced
on an indi)idua !cae by the 4an in the !treet in big=city tra--ic* on a hi!torica
!cae by e)ery "re!ent=day citiAen.
./. A! -or Dadai!4* in!ight! i4"ortant -or Cubi!4 and 7uturi!4 are to
be gained -ro4 the 4o)ie. Both a""ear a! de-icient atte4"t! o- art to
acco44odate the "er)a!ion o- reaity by the a""aratu!. +n contra!t to the -i4*
the!e !choo! did not try to u!e the a""aratu! a! !uch -or the arti!tic "re!entation
o- reaity* but ai4ed at !o4e !ort o- aoy in the Coint "re!entation o- reaity and
a""aratu!. +n Cubi!4*
.9/
The Work o( Art in the A#e o( 1e"hani"al *e:ro'!"tion
the "re4onition that thi! a""aratu! wi be !tructuray ba!ed on o"tic! "ay! a
do4inant "artN in 7uturi!4* it i! the "re4onition o- the e--ect! o- thi! a""aratu!
which are brought out by the ra"id !e?uence o- the -i4 !tri".
.$. One technica -eature i! !igni-icant hereQ e!"eciay with regard to new!ree!*
the "ro"agandi!t i4"ortance o- which can hardy be o)ere!ti4ated. 8a!!
re"roduction i! aided e!"eciay by the re"roduction o- 4a!!e!. +n big "arade! and
4on!ter raie!* in !"ort! e)ent!* 6 and in war* a o- which nowaday! are ca"tured
by ca4era and !ound recording* the 4a!!e! are brought -ace to -ace with
the4!e)e!. Thi! "roce!!* who!e !igni-icance need not be !tre!!ed* i! inti4atey
connected with the de)eo"4ent o- the techni?ue! o- re"roduction and
"hotogra"hy. 8a!! 4o)e4ent! are u!uay di!cerned 4ore ceary by a ca4era
than by the na3ed eye. A birdK!=eye )iew be!t ca"ture! gathering! o- hundred! o-
thou!and!. And e)en though !uch a )iew 4ay be a! acce!!ibe to the hu4an eye
a! it i! to the ca4era* the i4age recei)ed by the eye cannot be enarged the way a
negati)e i! enarged. Thi! 4ean! that 4a!! 4o)e4ent!* incuding war* con!titute a
-or4 o- hu4an beha)ior which "articuary -a)or! 4echanica e?ui"4ent.
f
&(e)e) +n t(e P(il+)+0(3 +f WiSt+r3
+
The !tory i! tod o- an auto4aton con!tructed in !uch a way that it coud "ay a
winning ga4e o- che!!* an!wering each 4o)e o- an o""onent with a
counter4o)e. A "u""et in Tur3i!h attire and with a hoo3ah in it! 4outh !at
be-ore a che!!board "aced on a arge tabeQ A !y!te4 o- 4irror! created the
iu!ion that thi! tabe wa! tran!"arent -ro4 a !ide!. Actuay* a itte hunchbac3
who wa! an eG"ert che!! "ayer !at in!ide and guided the "u""etK! hand by 4ean!
o- !tring!. One can i4agine a "hio!o"hica counter"art to thi! de)ice. The "u""et
caed Dhi!torica 4ateriai!4E i! to win a the ti4e. +t can ea!iy be a 4atch -or
anyone i- it eni!t! the !er)ice! o- theoogy* which today* a! we 3now* i! wiAened
and ha! to 3ee" out o- !ight.
&&
DOne o- the 4o!t re4ar3abe characteri!tic! o- hu4an nature*E write! 1otAe*
Di!* aong!ide !o 4uch !e-i!hne!! in !"eci-ic in!tance!* the -reedo4 -ro4 en)y
which the "re!ent di!"ay! toward the -uture.E Re-ection !how! u! that our
i4age o- ha""i=
.SB
Illuminations
ne!! i! thoroughy coored by the ti4e to which the cour!e o- our own
eGi!tence ha! a!!igned u!. The 3ind o- ha""ine!! that coud arou!e en)y in u!
eGi!t! ony in the air we ha)e breathed* a4ong "eo"e we coud ha)e ta3ed to*
wo4en who coud ha)e gi)en the4!e)e! to u!. +n other word!* our i4age o-
ha""ine!! i! indi!!ouby bound u" with the i4age o- rede4"tion. The !a4e
a""ie! to our )iew o- the "a!t* which i! the concern o- hi!tory. The "a!t carrie!
with it a te4"ora indeG by which it i! re-erred to rede4"tion. There i! a !ecret
agree4ent between "a!t generation! and the "re!ent one. Our co4ing wa!
eG"ected on earth. 1i3e e)ery generation that "receded u!* we ha)e been
endowed with a 3eak 8e!!ianic "ower* a "ower to which the "a!t ha! a cai4.
That cai4 cannot be !etted chea"y. Hi!torica 4ateriai!t! are aware o- that.
+
A chronicer who recite! e)ent! without di!tingui!hing between 4aCor and
4inor one! act! in accordance with the -oowing truth@ nothing that ha! e)er
ha""ened !houd be regarded a! o!t -or hi!tory. To be !ure* ony a redee4ed
4an3ind recei)e! the -une!! o- it! "a!tFwhich i! to !ay* ony -or a redee4ed
4an3ind ha! it! "a!t beco4e citabe in a it! 4o4ent!. Each 4o4ent it ha! i)ed
beco4e! a "itation a Gor're '! jo!r-ma that day i! (udg4ent Day.
&G
Deek (or (oo' an' "lothin# (irst, then the ?in#'om o( Fo' shall e a''e' !nto
.o!4
Hege* $'/0
The ca!! !trugge* which i! away! "re!ent to a hi!torian in-uenced by 8arG* i!
a -ight -or the crude and 4ateria thing! without which no re-ined and !"iritua
thing! coud eGi!t. Ne)erthee!!* it i! not in the -or4 o- the !"oi! which -a to
the )ictor that the atter 4a3e their "re!ence -et in the ca!! !trugge. They
.9<
Theses on the 5hiloso:h. o( /istor.
4ani-e!t the4!e)e! in thi! !trugge a! courage* hu4or* cunning* and -ortitude.
They ha)e retroacti)e -orce and wi con!tanty ca in ?ue!tion e)ery )ictory*
"a!t and "re!ent* o- the ruer!. A! -ower! turn toward the !un* by dint o- a !ecret
heiotro"i!4 the "a!t !tri)e! to turn toward that !un which i! ri!ing in the !3y o-
hi!tory. A hi!torica 4ateriai!t 4u!t be aware o- thi! 4o!t incon!"icuou! o- a
tran!-or4ation!.
k
The true "icture o- the "a!t -it! by. The "a!t can be !eiAed ony a! an i4age
which -a!he! u" at the in!tant when it can be recogniAed and i! ne)er !een again.
DThe truth wi not run away -ro4 u!EN in the hi!torica outoo3 o- hi!torici!4
the!e word! o- 5ott-ried Keer 4ar3 the eGact "oint where hi!torica 4ateriai!4
cut! through hi!torici!4. 7or e)ery i4age o- the "a!t that i! not recogniAed by
the "re!ent a! one o- it! own concern! threaten! to di!a""ear irretrie)aby. :The
good tiding! which the hi!torian o- the "a!t bring! with throbbing heart 4ay be
o!t in a )oid the )ery 4o4ent he o"en! hi! 4outh.;
VI
To articuate the "a!t hi!toricay doe! not 4ean to recogniAe it Dthe way it
reay wa!E :Ran3e;. +t 4ean! to !eiAe hod o- a 4e4ory a! it -a!he! u" at a
4o4ent o- danger. Hi!torica 4ateriai!4 wi!he! to retain that i4age o- the "a!t
which uneG"ectedy a""ear! to 4an !inged out by hi!tory at a 4o4ent o- dan=
ger. The danger a--ect! both the content o- the tradition and it! recei)er!. The
!a4e threat hang! o)er both@ that o- beco4ing a too o- the ruing ca!!e!. +n
e)ery era the atte4"t 4u!t be 4ade anew to wre!t tradition away -ro4 a
con-or4i!4 that i! about to o)er"ower it. The 8e!!iah co4e! not ony a! the
redee4er* he co4e! a! the !ubduer o- Antichri!t. Ony that hi!torian wi ha)e the
gi-t o- -anning the !"ar3 o- ho"e in the "a!t who i! -ir4y con)inced that even the
'ea' wi not be !a-e -ro4 the ene4y i- he win!. And thi! ene4y ha! not cea!ed
to be )ictoriou!.
6AA
iu4ination!
6++
Con!ider the dar3ne!! and the great cod
+n thi! )ae which re!ound! with 4y!ery.
8Brecht* the three"enny o"era
To hi!torian! who wi!h to rei)e an era* 7u!te de Couange! reco44end! that
they bot out e)erything they 3now about the ater cour!e o- hi!tory. There i! no
better way o- characteriAing the 4ethod with which hi!torica 4ateriai!4 ha!
bro3en. +t i! a "roce!! o- e4"athy who!e origin i! the indoence o- the heart*
a"e'ia, which de!"air! o- gra!"ing and hoding the genuine hi!torica i4age a! it
-are! u" brie-y. A4ong 4edie)a theoogian! it wa! regarded a! the root cau!e
o- !adne!!. 7aubert* who wa! -a4iiar with it* wrote@
!
Te! 'e #ens 'evineront
"omien il a (all(r itre triste :o!r ress!s"her Cartha#e4
1
6 6 The nature o- thi!
!adne!! !tand! out 4ore ceary i- one a!3! with who4 the adherent! o-
hi!torici!4 actuay e4"athiAe. The an!wer i! ine)itabe@ with the )ictor. And a
ruer! are the heir! o- tho!e who con?uered be-ore the4. Hence* e4"athy with
the )ictor in)ariaby bene-it! the ruer!. Hi!torica 4ateriai!t! 3now what that
4ean!. Whoe)er ha! e4erged )ictoriou! "artici"ate! to thi! day in the triu4"ha
"roce!!ion in which the "re!ent ruer! !te" o)er tho!e who are ying "ro!trate.
According to traditiona "ractice* the !"oi! are carried aong in the "roce!!ion.
They are caed cutura trea!ure!* and a hi!torica 4ateriai!t )iew! the4 with
cautiou! detach4ent. 7or without eGce"tion the cutura trea!ure! he !ur)ey!
ha)e an origin which he cannot conte4"ate without horror. They owe their
eGi!tence not ony to the e--ort! o- the great 4ind! and taent! who ha)e created
the4* but a!o to the anony4ou! toi o- their conte4"orarie!. There i! no
docu4ent o- ci)iiAation which i! not at the !a4e ti4e a docu4ent o- barbari!4.
And Cu!t a! !uch a docu4ent i! not -ree o- barbari!4* barbari!4 taint! a!o the
4anner in which it wa! tran!4itted -ro4 one owner to another. A hi!torica
4ateriai!t there-ore di!!oci=
D7ew wi be abe to gue!! how !ad one had to be in. order to
re!u!citate Carthage.E
./
Theses on the ;5hiloso:h. o( /istor.
ate! hi4!e- -ro4 it a! -ar a! "o!!ibe. He regard! it a! hi! ta!3 to bru!h hi!tory
again!t the grain.
6+++
The tradition o- the o""re!!ed teache! u! that the D!tate o- e4ergencyE in which
we i)e i! not the eGce"tion but the rue. We 4u!t attain to a conce"tion o-
hi!tory that i! in 3ee"ing with thi! in!ight. Then we !ha ceary reaiAe that it i!
our ta!3 to bring about a rea !tate o- e4ergency* and thi! wi i4"ro)e our
"o!ition in the !trugge again!t 7a!ci!4. One rea!on why 7a!ci!4 ha! a chance i!
that in the na4e o- "rogre!! it! o""onent! treat it a! a hi!torica nor4. The current
a4aAe4ent that the thing! we are eG"eriencing are D!tiE "o!!ibe in the
twentieth century i! not "hio!o"hica. Thi! a4aAe4ent i! not the beginning o-
3nowedgeFune!! it i! the 3nowedge that the )iew o- hi!tory which gi)e! ri!e
to it i! untenabe.
&`
8ein 7uge i!t Au4 Schwung bereit* ich 3ehrte gern Auruc3* der4 hieb ich auch
ebendige [eit* ich hiitte wenig 5uc3. F5erhard Schoe4* D5ra!! )o4 Angeu!E P
A Kee "ainting na4ed DAngeu! No)u!E !how! an ange oo3ing a! though he i!
about -o 4o)e away -ro4 !o4ething he i! -iGedy conte4"ating. Hi! eye! are
!taring* hi! 4outh i! o"en* hi! wing! are !"read. Thi! i! how one "icture! the
ange o- hi!tory. Hi! -ace i! turned toward the "a!t. Where we "ercei)e a chain o-
e)ent!* he !ee! one !inge cata!tro"he which 3ee"! "iing wrec3age u"on
wrec3age and hur! it in -ront o- hi! -eet. The ange woud i3e to !tay* awa3en
the dead* and 4a3e whoe what ha! been !4a!hed. But a !tor4 i! bowing -ro4
,aradi!eC it ha!
8y wing i! ready -or -ightY + woud i3e to turn bac3* +- + !tayed
ti4ee!! ti4e* + woud ha)e itte uc3.
.Za
&ll!minations
got caught in hi! wing! with !uch )ioence that the ange can no onger co!e
the4. Thi! !tor4 irre!i!tiby "ro"e! hi4 into the -uture to which hi! bac3 i!
turned* whie the "ie o- debri! be-ore hi4 grow! !3yward. Thi! !tor4 i! what we
ca "rogre!!.
2
The the4e! which 4ona!tic di!ci"ine a!!igned to -riar! -or 4editation were
de!igned to turn the4 away -ro4 the word and it! a--air!. The thought! which
we are de)eo"ing here originate -ro4 !i4iar con!ideration!. At a 4o4ent when
the "oitician! in who4 the o""onent! o- 7a!ci!4 had "aced their ho"e! are
"ro!trate and con-ir4 their de-eat by betraying their own cau!e* the!e
ob!er)ation! are intended to di!entange the "oitica wording! -ro4 the !nare! in
which the traitor! ha)e entra""ed the4. Our con!ideration "roceed! -ro4 the
in!ight that the "oitician!K !tubborn -aith in "rogre!!* their con-idence in their
D4a!! ba!i!*PK and* -inay* their !er)ie integration in an uncontroabe a"=
"aratu! ha)e been three a!"ect! o- the !a4e thing. +t !ee3! to con)ey an idea o-
the high "rice our accu!to4ed thin3ing wi ha)e to "ay -or a conce"tion o-
hi!tory that a)oid! any co4="icity with the thin3ing to which the!e "oitician!
continue to adhere.
`&
The con-or4i!4 which ha! been "art and "arce o- Socia De4ocracy -ro4 the
beginning attache! not ony to it! "oitica tactic! but to it! econo4ic )iew! a!
we. +t i! one rea!on -or it! ater brea3down. Nothing ha! corru"ted the 5er4an
wor3ing ca!! !o 4uch a! the notion that it wa! 4o)ing with the current. +t
regarded technoogica de)eo"4ent! a! the -a o- the !trea4 with which it
thought it wa! 4o)ing. 7ro4 there it wa! but a !te" to the iu!ion that the
-actory wor3 which wa! !u""o!ed to tend toward technoogica "rogre!!
con!tituted a "oitica achie)e4ent. The od ,rote!tant ethic! o- wor3 wa!
re!urrected a4ong
.9'
Theses on the 5hiloso:h. o( /istor.
5er4an wor3er! in !ecuariAed -or4. The 5otha ,rogra4 P aready bear! trace!
o- thi! con-u!ion* de-ining abor a! Dthe !ource o- a weath and a cuture.E
S4eing a rat* 8ar* countered that ^... the 4an who "o!!e!!e! no other "ro"erty
than hi! abor "owerE 4u!t o- nece!!ity beco4e Dthe !a)e o- other 4en who
ha)e 4ade the4!e)e! the owner!. * . .Q Howe)er* the con-u!ion !"read* and
!oon therea-ter (o!e- DietAgen "rocai4edN DThe !a)ior o- 4odern ti4e! i! caed
wor3. The . . . i4"ro)e4ent. .. o- abor con!titute! the weath which i! now abe
to acco4"i!h what no redee4er ha! e)er been abe to do.E Thi! )ugar=8arGi!t
conce"tion o- the nature o- abor by"a!!e! the ?ue!tion o- how it! "roduct! 4ight
bene-it the wor3er! whie !ti not being at their di!"o!a. +t recogniAe! ony the
"rogre!! in the 4a!tery o- nature* not the retrogre!!ion o- !ocietyN it aready
di!"ay! the technocratic -eature! ater encountered in 7a!ci!4. A4ong the!e i! a
conce"tion o- nature which di--er! o4inou!y -ro4 the one in the Sociai!t
2to"ia! be-ore the $'<' re)oution. The new conce"tion o- abor a4ount! to the
eG"oitation o- nature* which with nai)e co4"acency i! contra!ted with the
eG"oitation o- the "roetariat. Co4"ared with thi! "o!iti)i!tic conce"tion*
7ourierK! -anta!ie!* which ha)e !o o-ten been ridicued* "ro)e to be !ur"ri!ingy
!ound. According to 7ourier* a! a re!ut o- e--icient coo"erati)e abor* -our
4oon! woud iu4inate the earthy night* the ice woud recede -ro4 the "oe!*
!ea water woud no onger ta!te !aty* and bea!t! o- "rey woud do 4anK!
bidding. A thi! iu!trate! a 3ind o- abor which* -ar -ro4 eG"oiting nature* i!
ca"abe o- dei)ering her o- the creation! which ie dor4ant in her wo4b a!
"otentia!. Nature* which* a! DietAgen "ut! it* DeGi!t! grati!*E i! a co4"e4ent to
the corru"ted conce"tion o- abor.
The 5otha Congre!! o- $'09 united the two 5er4an Sociai!t
"artie!* one ed by 7erdinand 1a!!ae* the other by Kar 8arG and Wihe4
1ieb3necht. The "rogra4* dra-ted by 1ieb3necht and 1a!!ae* wa! !e)erey
attac3ed by 8arG in 1ondon. See hi! DCriti?ue o- the 5otha ,rogra4.E
.Z%
&ll!minations
:II
We nee' histor., !t not the 3a. a s:oile' loa(er in the #ar'en o( kno3le'#e
nee's it4
NietA!che* o- the u!e and abu!e o- hi!tory
Not 4an or 4en but the !tragging* o""re!!ed ca!! it!e- i! the de"o!itory o-
hi!torica 3nowedge. +n 8arG it a""ear! a! the a!t en!a)ed ca!!* a! the a)enger
that co4"ete! the ta!3 o- iberation in the na4e o- generation! o- the
downtrodden. Thi! con)iction* which had a brie- re!urgence +n the S"artaci!t
grou"*P ha! away! been obCectionabe to Socia De4ocrat!. Within three
decade! they 4anaged )irtuay to era!e the na4e o- Ban?ui* though it had been
the raying !ound that had re)erberated through the "receding century. Socia
De4ocracy thought -it to a!!ign to the wor3ing ca!! the roe o- the redee4er o-
-uture generation!* in thi! way cutting the !inew! o- it! greate!t !trength. Thi!
training 4ade the wor3ing ca!! -orget both it! hatred and it! !"irit o- !acri-ice*
-or both are nouri!hed by the i4age o- en!a)ed ance!tor! rather than that o-
iberated grandchidren.
L+++
E)ery day our cau!e beco4e! cearer and "eo"e get !4arter. FWihe4 DietAgen*
D+E RE1+5+ON DES SO[+A1DE8OKRAT+E
Socia De4ocratic theory* and e)en 4ore it! "ractice* ha)e been -or4ed by a
conce"tion o- "rogre!! which did not adhere to reaity but 4ade dog4atic
cai4!. ,rogre!! a! "ictured in the 4ind! o- Socia De4ocrat! wa!* -ir!t o- a* the
"rogre!! o- 4an3ind it!e- :and not Cu!t ad)ance! in 4enK! abiity and 3now=
edge;. Secondy* it wa! !o4ething bounde!!* in 3ee"ing with the in-inite
"er-ectibiity o- 4an3ind. Thirdy* "rogre!! wa! regarded a! irre!i!tibe*
!o4ething that auto4aticay "ur!ued a !traight or !"ira cour!e. Each o- the!e
"redicate! i! contro)er!ia and o"en
1e-ti!t grou"* -ounded by Kar 1ieb3necht and Ro!a 1uGe4burg
at the beginning o- Word War + in o""o!ition to the "ro=war "oicie! o- the
5er4an Sociai!t "arty* ater ab!orbed by the Co44uni!t "arty.
.&/
The!e! on the ,hio!o"hy o- Hi!tory
to critici!4. Howe)er* when the chi"! are down* critici!4 4u!t "enetrate
beyond the!e "redicate! and -ocu! on !o4ething that they ha)e in co44on. The
conce"t o- the hi!torica "rogre!! o- 4an3ind cannot be !undered -ro4 the
conce"t o- it! "rogre!!ion through a ho4ogeneou!* e4"ty ti4e. A criti?ue o- the
conce"t o- !uch a "rogre!!ion 4u!t be the ba!i! o- any critici!4 o- the conce"t o-
"rogre!! it!e-.
XIV
-ri#in is the #oal4
Kar Krau!* worn +N 6ERSEN* 6o. +
Hi!tory i! the !ubCect o- a !tructure who!e !ite i! not ho4ogeneou!* e4"ty ti4e*
but ti4e -ied by the "re!ence o- the now K2etEtEeh^46 Thu!* to Robe!"ierre
ancient Ro4e wa! a "a!t charged with the ti4e o- the now which he ba!ted out
o- the continuu4 o- hi!tory. The 7rench Re)oution )iewed it!e- a! Ro4e
reincarnate. +t e)o3ed ancient Ro4e the way -a!hion e)o3e! co!tu4e! o- the "a!t.
7a!hion ha! a -air -or the to"ica* no 4atter where it !tir! in the thic3et! o- ong
agoN it i! a tigerK! ea" into the "a!t. Thi! Cu4"* howe)er* ta3e! "ace in an arena
where the ruing ca!! gi)e! the co44and!. The !a4e ea" in the o"en air o-
hi!tory i! the diaectica one* which i! how 8arG under=!tood the re)oution.
L6
The awarene!! that they are about to 4a3e the continuu4 o- hi!tory eG"ode i!
characteri!tic o- the re)outionary ca!!e! at the 4o4ent o- their action. The great
re)oution introduced a new caendar. The initia day o- a caendar !er)e! a! a
hi!torica ti4e=a"!e ca4era. And* ba!icay* it i! the !a4e day that 3ee"! recur=
ring in the gui!e o- hoiday!* which are day! o- re4e4brance. Thu! the caendar!
do not 4ea!ure ti4e a! coc3! doN they are
BenCa4in !ay! ;2etEtEeW
1
and indicate! by the ?uotation 4ar3!
that he doe! not !i4"y 4ean an e?ui)aent to Fe#en3art, that i!* "re!ent. He
ceary i! thin3ing o- the 4y!tica n!n" stems4
.&$
&ll!minations
4onu4ent! o- a hi!torica con!ciou!ne!! o- which not the !ighte!t trace ha! been
a""arent in Euro"e in the "a!t hundred year!. +n the (uy re)oution an incident
occurred which !howed thi! con!ciou!ne!! !ti ai)e. On the -ir!t e)ening o-
-ighting it turned out that the coc3! in tower! were being -ired on !i4utaneou!y
and inde"endenty -ro4 !e)era "ace! in ,ari!. An eye=witne!!* who 4ay ha)e
owed hi! in!ight to the rhy4e* wrote a! -oow!@
_ui e croiraitM on dit* ?uKirrite! eontre Kheure De nou)eauG (o!ue! au "ied de
cha?ue tour* Tiraient !ur e! cadran! "our arreter e Cour.P
`G&
A hi!torica 4ateriai!t cannot do without the notion o- a "re!ent which i! not a
tran!ition* but in which ti4e !tand! !ti and ha! co4e to a !to". 7or thi! notion
de-ine! the "re!ent in which he hi4!e- i! writing hi!tory. Hi!torici!4 gi)e! the
DeternaE i4age o- the "a!tN hi!torica 4ateriai!4 !u""ie! a uni?ue eG"erience
with the "a!t. The hi!torica 4ateriai!t ea)e! it to other! to be drained by the
whore caed DOnce u"on a ti4eE in hi!torici!4K! bordeo. He re4ain! in contro
o- hi! "ower!* 4an enough to ba!t o"en the continuu4 o- hi!tory.
L6++
Hi!torici!4 righty cu4inate! in uni)er!a hi!tory. 8ateriai!tic hi!toriogra"hy
di--er! -ro4 it a! to 4ethod 4ore ceary than -ro4 any other 3ind. 2ni)er!a
hi!tory ha! no theoretica ar4ature. +t! 4ethod i! additi)eN it 4u!ter! a 4a!! o-
data to -i the ho4ogeneou!* e4"ty ti4e* 8ateriai!tic hi!toriogra"hy* on the
other hand* i! ba!ed on a con!tructi)e "rinci"e. Thin3ing in)o)e! not ony the
-ow o- thought!* but their arre!t a! we. Where thin3ing !uddeny !to"! in a
con-iguration "regnant with ten!ion!* it gi)e! that con-iguration a !hoc3* by
which it cry!ta=
Who woud ha)e beie)ed itM we are tod that new (o!hua! at the
-oot o- e)ery tower* a! though irritated with ti4e it!e-* -ired at the dia! in order
to !to" the day.
.&.
Theses on the 5hiloso:h. o( /istor.
iAe! into a 4onad. A hi!torica 4ateriai!t a""roache! a hi!torica !ubCect ony
where he encounter! it a! a 4onad. +n thi! !tructure he recogniAe! the !ign o- a
8e!!ianic ce!!ation o- ha""ening* or* "ut di--erenty* a re)outionary chance in
the -ight -or the o""re!!ed "a!t. He ta3e! cogniAance o- it in order to ba!t a
!"eci-ic era out o- the ho4ogeneou! cour!e o- hi!toryFba!ting a !"eci-ic i-e out
o- the era or a !"eci-ic wor3 out o- the i-ewor3. A! a re!ut o- thi! 4ethod the
i-ewor3 i! "re!er)ed in thi! wor3 and at the !a4e ti4e canceed PN in the
i-ewor3* the eraN and in the era* the entire cour!e o- hi!tory. The nouri!hing -ruit
o- the hi!toricay under!tood contain! ti4e a! a "reciou! but ta!tee!! !eed.
L6+++
D+n reation to the hi!tory o- organic i-e on earth*E write! a 4odern bioogi!t*
Dthe "atry -i-ty 4iennia o- homo sa:iens con!titute !o4ething i3e two !econd!
at the co!e o- a twenty=-our=hour day. On thi! !cae* the hi!tory o- ci)iiAed
4an3ind woud -i one=-i-th o- the a!t !econd o- the a!t hour.E The "re!ent*
which* a! a 4ode o- 8e!!ianic ti4e* co4"ri!e! the entire hi!tory o- 4an3ind in
an enor4ou! abridg4ent* coincide! eGacty with the !tature which the hi!tory o-
4an3ind ha! in the uni)er!e.
A
Hi!torici!4 content! it!e- with e!tabi!hing a cau!a connection between
)ariou! 4o4ent! in hi!tory. But no -act that i! a cau!e i! -or that )ery rea!on
hi!torica. +t beca4e hi!torica "o!thu4ou!y* a! it were* through e)ent! that 4ay
be !e"arated -ro4 it by thou!and! o- year!. A hi!torian who ta3e! thi! a! hi!
"oint o- de"arture !to"! teing the !e?uence o- e)ent! i3e the bead! o- a ro!ary.
+n!tead* he gra!"! the con!teation which hi! own era ha! -or4ed with a de-inite
earier one. Thu! he e!tabi!he! a conce"tion o- the "re!ent a! the Dti4e o- the
nowE which i! !hot through with chi"! o- 8e!!ianic ti4e.
The Hegeian ter4 a!(heen in it! three-od 4eaning@ to
"re!er)e* to ee)ate* to cance.
.&B
+u4ination! v
The !ooth!ayer! who -ound out -ro4 ti4e what it had in !tore certainy did not
eG"erience ti4e a! either ho4ogeneou! or e4"ty. Anyone who 3ee"! thi! in
4ind wi "erha"! get an idea o- how "a!t ti4e! were eG"erienced in
re4e4branceFna4ey* in Cu!t the !a4e way. We 3now that the (ew! were
"rohibited -ro4 in)e!tigating the -uture. The Torah and the "rayer! in!truct the4
in re4e4brance* howe)er. Thi! !tri""ed the -uture o- it! 4agic* to which a
tho!e !uccu4b who turn to the !ooth!ayer! -or enighten4ent. Thi! doe! not
i4"y* howe)er* that -or the (ew! the -uture turned into ho4ogeneou!* e4"ty
ti4e. 7or e)ery !econd o- ti4e wa! the !trait gate through which the 8e!!iah
4ight enter.
.&<
9'itors Note
BenCa4inK! wor3 con!i!tM o- two boo3! on 5er4an iteratureFhi! di!!ertation
on DThe Conce"t o- Art Critici!4 in 5er4an Ro4antici!4E B0er Be#ri(( 'er
?!nstkritik in 'er 'e!ts"hen *omanttk, Bern* $%./; and DThe Origin o- 5er4an
TragedyE B0er Crs:r!n# 'es 'e!ts"hen Tra!ers:iels, Berin* $%.';Fo- two
boo3! o- genera re-ection! in the -or4 o- !hort e!!ay! or a"hori!4!FDOne=
Way StreetKP B9inahnstrasse, Berin* $%.'; and DA Berin Chidhood around
$%//Q BBerliner ?in'eit !m Ne!nEehnh!n'ert
.
written during the ate thirtie!
and "ubi!hed "o!thu4ou!y* 7ran3-urt* $%9/;Fand o- a great nu4ber o- iterary
and critica e!!ay!* boo3 re)iew!* and co44entarie!.
The chie- "ur"o!e o- thi! coection i! to con)ey the i4"ortance o- BenCa4in a!
a iterary critic. +t contain! the -u=ength e!!ay! with two )ery regrettabe
eGce"tion!Fthe !tudy o- D5oetheK! 9le"tive A((inities< :"ubi!hed in Hugo )on
Ho-4ann!tha,! Ne!e 0e!ts"he Bekra#e in two in!ta4ent!* $%.< and $%.9; and
the artice on DKar Krau!E :in the Rrank(!rter Oeh!n#, $%B$;. Since Kar Krau!
i! !ti "racticay un3nown in Engi!h=!"ea3ing countrie! and !ince the 5oethe
e!!ay con!i!t! to a arge eGtent o- a "oe4ic again!t 7riedrich 5undo-K! Foethe,
e?uay un3nown* the!e two e!!ay! word ha)e needed !o 4any eG"anatory
note! that the thru!t o- the teGt it!e- woud ha)e been ruined.
The tran!ation o- the teGt -oow! the two=)ou4e 5er4an edition o-
BenCa4inK! writing! which* under the tite D"ri(ten, wa! edited and introduced
by Theodor W. Adorno and "ubi!hed by the Suhr3a4" 6eriag in $%99. The tide
o- the "re!ent coection* but not it! content* i! identica with the tite o- a
!eection -ro4 the D"hri(ten, "ubi!hed by Suhr3a4" in $%&$N BenCa4in hi4!e-
had a""ro)ed thi! tite -or an earier !eection o- !o4e o- hi! wor3!. The 5er4an
teGt i! chie-y drawn -ro4 the "ubi!hed teGt! in )ariou! 4agaAine! and
new!"a"er!. ,ro-e!!or Adorno "oint! out in hi! +ntroduction that it i! not
de-initi)e@ in the -ew in!tance! where the origina 4anu!cri"t! coud be
con!uted* it turned out that BenCa4inK! handwriting wa! di--icut to read* and a!
-or the ty"e!cri"t! and "rinted new!"a"er or 4agaAine co"ie!* they
Dun?ue!tionaby contain nu4erou! error!.E +n the ony ca!e in which + wa! abe
to co4"are the origina 4anu!cri"t
.&!
&ll!minations
with the "rinted teGt* DThe!e! on the ,hio!o"hy o- Hi!tory*E which BenCa4in
ga)e 4e !hordy be-ore hi! deathQ + -ound 4any i4"ortant )ariant!.
A! + 4entioned in the +ntroduction :Note 0;* 4anu!cri"t!* ty"e!cri"t!* and
re"rint! o- BenCa4inK! wor3 are !cattered. 8o!t 4anu!cri"t! are in the
"o!!e!!ion o- ,ro-e!!or Theodor W. Adorno in 7ran3-urtN a nu4ber o- etter!
and 4anu!cri"t! are in the Ea!t 5er4an [entraarchi) in ,ot!da4. ,ro-e!!or
5er!ho4 Sehoe4 in (eru!ae4 "o!!e!!e! a coection o- re"rint! and carbon
co"ie! o- ty"e!cri"t!.
The two=)ou4e D"ri(ten doe! not contain die coected wor3!. 1arge "ortion!
o- what BenCa4in con!idered hi! 4ain oeu)re* D,ari!* the Ca"ita o- the
Nineteenth Century*E !ee4 to ha)e been -ini!hed in 4anu!cri"t* and a nu4ber o-
hi! e!!ay! and re)iew!* "ubi!hed during hi! i-eti4e* ha)e not been re"rinted.
Two )ou4e! o- etter!* edited by T. W. Adorno and 5* Sehoe4* were "ubi!hed
in $%&&N a coection o- e!!ay! on Brecht* which incude! !e)era "re)iou!y
un"ubi!hed artice! and note! on DCon)er!ation! with Brecht*E a!o a""eared in
$%&& under the editor!hi" o- Ro- Tiede=4ann. 7inay* a coection o- 5er4an
etter!* written between $0'B and $'BB* with co44entarie! and -ir!t "ubi!hed
under the "!eudony4 Dede) HoA with the tide 0e!ts"he 1ens"hen in
SwitAerand in $%B&* ha! been rei!!ued in 5er4any.
The origina !ource! o- the e!!ay! "ubi!hed in tibi! coection are a! -oow!@
D2n"ac3ing 8y 1ibraryE@ +heraris"he Welt, $%B$.
DThe Ta!3 o- the Tran!atorE.P hi! introduction to hi! tran!ation o-
BaudeaireK! Talea!= :arisiens, Heideberg* $%.B.
DThe StoryteerE@ -rient !n' -kEi'ent, $%B&.
D7ranA Ka-3aE@ 2!'is"he *!n's"ha!, $%B<.
DSo4e Re-ection! on Ka-3aE@ the teGt i! ba!ed u"on a etter to Sehoe4* dated
,ari!* (une $.* $%B'N now "ubi!hed in Brie(e, ++* 09&=&<.
DWhat +! E"ic TheaterJE@ 1ass !n' Wert, $%B%.
DOn So4e 8oti-! in BaudeaireE@ Oeits"hri(t (!r DoEial(ors"h!n#, 6+++* $=.*
$%B%.
DThe +4age o- ,rou!tE@ +heraris"he Welt, $%.%. 2SS
E,it+rB) N+te
DThe Wor3 o- Art in the Age o- 8echanica Re"roductionE@ Oeits"hri(t (!r
DoEial(ors"hm#, 6* i*
m
S,
DThe!e! on the ,hio!o"hy o- Hi!toryE@ co4"eted in !"ring $%</* -ir!t
"ubi!hed in Ne!e *!n's"ha!, &i* B* $%9/.
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and
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$%B%* 7rench iterary critic* e!!ayi!t* tran!ator*
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$.&
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!y4boi!t "oet* e!!ayi!t* iterary
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o- 7rench iterature* .$/* .$. 7aubert* 5u!ta)e* $'.$=$''/* 7rench no)ei!t*
./'* .9& 7ourier* 7rancoi!* $00.=$'B0* 7rench !ocioogi!t and "hio!o"her* $'$*
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and cutura hi!torian!* brother!* ./' 5or3y* 8aGi4* $'&'=$%B&* Ru!!ian writer
o- !hort !torie!* no)e!*
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