► How
to apply the theory of deconstruction?
► What
is the purpose of Deconstruction theory in a Novel?
► How
a novel can be analyzed under Jacques' theory of deconstruction?
The
theory of deconstruction was proposed by Jacques Derrida in the 1960s. Basically, this theory in English Literature was the reaction to the theory of structuralism, which states that a literary work has a fixed and predetermined meaning.
However, Jacques Derrida denied this idea through his theory and stated that
the meaning of a text varies from reader to reader and has no fixed
meaning. By his theory, Derrida broke the inherent western philosophy that has
been followed since ancient Greeks times.
The biggest question raises, or we can say the confusion occurs at the time when most of the students do not know how to apply the deconstruction theory in a novel. However, this theory can easily be applied to poems and poetry to find out controversial lines or words in the poems and poetry. Moreover, we have so many articles where we can observe that many poems have been analyzed under this theory, but in terms of a novel, we rarely find out the content regarding this theory. Today’s topic is related to it as we will discuss how a novel can be analyzed under Jacques’ theory of deconstruction, and if you are looking to apply the theory of deconstruction in your novel, then I must say this article is going to assist you a lot.
There
are various approaches to deconstruction theory; you can choose the theoretical
framework of “binary opposition” for your novel as this theoretical frame is
perfect for analyzing your novel, but before applying it, make sure that there
should be two opposing forces within the selected novel. Now you might be
thinking about what kind of two opposite forces is meant here. Male vs. female,
good vs. bad, upper class vs. middle class, and on and on are sorts of two opposite
forces that should be present in the novel. If you think that your novel roams
between two opposite forces, then you have to follow the following steps that
Jacques has discussed to deconstruct a literary work in his book, “Position” which is based on three
interviews given by him.
STEPS TO DECONSTRUCT A LITERARY TEXT OR YOUR NOVEL:
1.
The very first step is to find out which binaries exist in the text
2.
After finding them, observes which is superior to another one in the selected
literary work as obviously between two opposite forces, one force is shown dominant,
and another suppressed.
3.
This is the third and final step where you have to reverse the existing
hierarchic and uplift suppressed or marginalized force(s) by presenting
facts and figures through the events and concepts of the novel.
Thus,
in this way, you can apply the theory of Jacques Derrida in your novel. Moreover,
you can also apply the rest of the approaches of this theory, but for that, you
need to study and get a sufficient amount of knowledge about them, and if you
have enough knowledge, then you should go for it.
SEE ALSO:
How to apply reader-response theory in Research?
