A Theater of Envy
Rene Girard
About half of Rene Girard's book is about Midsummer. He can be a bit heady but it is interesting to see Midsummer taken in such a bizarre/unique way. Proceed with caution with these articles, my feelings won't be hurt if you decide they are not for you.
About half of Rene Girard's book is about Midsummer. He can be a bit heady but it is interesting to see Midsummer taken in such a bizarre/unique way. Proceed with caution with these articles, my feelings won't be hurt if you decide they are not for you."
In reading this know that Girard has reinterpreted the word "mimesis" (which usually means mimicry). For Girard, people desire objects not for their value, but because they are desired by someone else – we mime or imitate their desires. This envy – or "mimetic desire" – he sees as one of the foundations of the human condition. So, the lovers in A Midsummer Night’s Dream don’t compete with each other because they accidentally desire the same person, but they desire the same person because they imitate one another.
If this super interests you the chapters I didn't include are:
"Genesis of Myth"
"The Craftsmen"
"Mimetic Punning"
Let me know if you would like to read them.
About half of Rene Girard's book is about Midsummer. He can be a bit heady but it is interesting to see Midsummer taken in such a bizarre/unique way. Proceed with caution with these articles, my feelings won't be hurt if you decide they are not for you."
In reading this know that Girard has reinterpreted the word "mimesis" (which usually means mimicry). For Girard, people desire objects not for their value, but because they are desired by someone else – we mime or imitate their desires. This envy – or "mimetic desire" – he sees as one of the foundations of the human condition. So, the lovers in A Midsummer Night’s Dream don’t compete with each other because they accidentally desire the same person, but they desire the same person because they imitate one another.
If this super interests you the chapters I didn't include are:
"Genesis of Myth"
"The Craftsmen"
"Mimetic Punning"
Let me know if you would like to read them.
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