Deconstruction Literary Theory 

Deconstruction

• Introduction
• Founders
• Notable works
• Logocentrism
• Conclusion

Deconstruction says that the text must be read carefully to understand the different meanings of the text. An approach examines the relationship between text and meaning. This is the method of critical analysis of philosophical and literary language. Whenever we read the text, we have questions about the text and it helps us understand the hidden meaning. It directs the reader to understand things not in the text, but the text directs the reader to make assumptions about the things hidden between the lines. It reveals the facts of the text. It started in France in 1960. The French philosopher Jacque Derrida mentions constructions in his famous book “Of Grammatology”. He took it from Martin Heidegger's concept of “Destructive retrieve ". He researched the interaction between language and the construction of meaning. The deconstruction is thus a means of examining the relationship between the two.

Derrida rejected Platonism and criticized the idea of ​​real forms taking precedence over appearances. For Derrida, the essence is in the looks. Derrida claims that Westerners always express their views in binary oppositions such as black/white. Derrida suggests that these opposites are small classifications, one of which is the term that Western culture sees as positive or superior and the other as negative or inferior, albeit slightly. Through deconstruction, Derrida's goal is to bridge the gap between binary opposites. He refused to accept the idea of ​​structuralism. He also said that nothing could be said against it. Deconstruction said that no one thing could take precedence over another. Similarly, the constructor gave the example of language and writing. He said that we mentioned all the positive qualities in the speech and the writing was given secondary importance. Since Plato wrote words, you only understand the representation of spoken words. We prioritize one thing over another. The deconstructionist said it was wrong. Deconstruction involves reading the text closely to show that each text has irreparably contradictory meanings rather than a coherent, logical completion. Their ultimate goal may be to analyze Western logic as a reaction to structuralism and formality. Derrida rejects the idea of ​​defining unambiguous meanings, inversions, and thus the destabilization of predefined categories of binary existence and understanding.

Of Grammatology

Jacques Derrida published grammatology in French in 1967. Gayatri Chakravarty Spivak translated it into English in 1976. "Of-Grammatology" provides an overview of the relationship between language and writing and the way in which language and writing are developed as forms of language. According to Derrida, writing is often viewed as derived from language, and this attitude towards the relationship between language and writing has been reflected in many philosophical and scholarly studies of the origin of language. The grammatology is divide into two parts. Part 1 is entitled "Writing before the letter"; Part II is entitled "Nature, culture, and writing". The first part describes the traditional theories about the beginning of writing and explains how these theories have subordinated the theory of writing to the theory of speaking. Part II uses this method of description to form various texts in areas such as linguistics (Saussure’s Course in General Linguistics) and philosophy (Rousseau’s Essay on the Origin of Languages). He analyzes Saussure's concept of the sign as having two separate components of sound and meaning, also called signifier and signified. Saussure says, “Language and writing are two distinct systems of signs; the second exists for the sole purpose of representing the first”, Derrida explains how the structural approach of downplaying the importance of writing is incorrect as to how written symbols are legitimate symbols in themselves.

Logocentrism

Logocentrism is the attitude that the logo (Greek term for language, law, thought or reason) is the central principle of language and philosophy. In this way, "grammatology" can liberate our written thoughts from subordination to our uttered thoughts. According to Logocentrist Theory, language is the original symbol of meaning, and the written word is derived from the spoken word. Logocentrism is encouraged by the idea that a language symbol consists of a gesture that derives its meaning from an important idea or concept. Logocentrism refers to the appearance of the pointer. However, if the text only represents speech, then the text is only a "signifier". A signifier can be internalized according to its relationship to other signifiers. Script cannot be fully understood when viewed as a mere external representation of language. Derrida argues that the game of difference between language and writing is also a game of difference between inside and outside. Logocentrism is not enough if we want to understand the full meaning of writing. The game of the difference between inward and outward shows that writing is both outward and inward of language and that language is inward and outward. The outward and inward writing become insufficient terms to define language or to describe writing. According to logocentric theory, speaking can be a kind of presence because the speaker is simultaneously present for the listener, but writing can be a kind of absence because the author is not simultaneously present for the reader. Logocentrism thus emphasizes that writing is an alternative to speaking and/or an attempt to re-establish language presence. Derrida describes Logocentrism as a "metaphysics of existence" driven by the desire for a "transcendental of signified" (an indicator that transcends all signs).

Difference

“Difference” is a term that Derrida uses to describe the origin of presence and absence. Difference is indefinable, and it cannot be explained by the “metaphysics of absence.” In French, the verb “deferrer” means both “to defer” and “to differ.” Derrida explains that difference is the condition for the opposition of presence and absence.  

Logic of supplementarity

In the 2^nd part of the book “of grammatology”, Derrida discusses Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s Essay on the Origin of Languages. According to Rousseau, writing may become a “dangerous supplement” if it is used as a substitute for speech. The argument that writing is a supplement to speech may also suggest that there is a loss of presence in speech that must be supplemented by writing. If an absence expands within the presence of speech, then writing may become a means of recovering whatever presence is lacking.