Repetition and death in Shelley's 'Epipsychidion': a post-structuralist reading

Abstract

In response to the criticism frequently levelled against contemporary literary theory, that it disregards and devalues the literary text, this article attempts to show how poststructuralism can feasibly be employed, vis-a-vis Shelley's 'Epipsychidion', as a strategy of reading literary texts without detracting from their enjoyment.
The article first examines a few key concepts and their ramifications that together constitute the theoretical field in terms of which a post-structuralist reading can be engaged in. While the concepts examined - difference, displacement, desire, and figuration - are common to most post-structuralist writers, the importance given to, as well as the particular use of, a given concept naturally varies considerably.
Having staked out the theoretical field in a necessarily cursory manner, the article offers a reading of 'Epipsychidion' that attempts to illustrate the poem's preoccupation with its own discursive mode. The reading attempts to show that although the poem endeavours to transcend its status as language and in so doing escape the limitations imposed on it, this endeavour must inevitably fail.

Opsomming
Kontemporere literere teorie word dikwels gekritiseer omdat dit die teks sou ignoreer en nie na waarde skat nie. In 'n reaksie hierteen probeer hierdie artikel om aan le toon hoe post-strukturalisme -met spesifieke verwysing na Shelley se 'Epipsychidion' - gebruik sou kon word as 'n strategie vir die lees van literere tekste en wel met behoud van die genot wat dergelike tekste veronderstel is om te ontlok.
Daar word eerstens gekyk na 'n paar sleutelkonsepte en hulle vertakkinge wat die teoretiese apparatuur uitmaak in terme waarvan 'n post-strukturalisliese lasing van 'n literere teks sou kon plaasvind. Alhoewel die konsepte wat ondersoek word - verskil, verplasing, begeerte en figurasie algemeen gebruik word deur die meeste post-struktu­raliste, bestaan daar verskil van mening oor die belangrikheid en/of die spesifieke gebruik van bepaalde konsepte. Na 'n onvermydelik kursoriese omskrywing van die teoretiese veld word 'Epipsychidion' op so 'n manier ge!ees dat die beheptheid van die gedig met sy eie skryfwyse uitgelig word. Daar word aangetoon dat, alhoewel die gedig probeer ontsnap aan die beperkinge wat deur sy taalmodus aan horn opgele word, hierdie strewe noodwen­dig moet misluk.