Alterity in Literary Theory

Etymology of Alterity

The term “alterity” traces its origins to the Latin word alter, meaning “other” or “different.” It emerged in philosophical discourse during the 20th century, notably associated with the works of philosophers such as Emmanuel Levinas and Jacques Derrida.

Alterity refers to the concept of encountering and recognizing the inherent otherness or difference in individuals, cultures, or entities beyond oneself. It serves as a foundational concept in existentialism and post-structuralism, highlighting the importance of acknowledging and engaging with the distinctiveness of the other as a means to understand the self and navigate complex intersubjective relationships.

Meanings of Alterity

Aspect	Description
As the State of Being Different or Other:	– Alterity refers to the fundamental concept of being different or distinct from something else. – It encapsulates the idea that entities or experiences can be perceived as “other” in relation to one’s own identity or perspective.
Philosophical Notions:	– In philosophy, alterity delves into the existential experience of encountering the Other as a separate and distinct entity. – Philosophers often explore questions related to how individuals perceive and engage with the Other, reflecting on the nature of self and otherness.
Social and Cultural Contexts:	– Alterity is frequently used to describe the experience of difference and otherness in social and cultural settings. – It encompasses how individuals and groups perceive and interact with those who have distinct cultural, social, or personal backgrounds.
Alterity in Postcolonial Theory:	– Postcolonial theory employs alterity to analyze how colonized peoples and cultures are constructed as “other” by the dominant culture. – It examines power dynamics, stereotypes, and narratives that contribute to the marginalization and subjugation of colonized groups.
Marginalization and Exclusion of Marginalized Groups:	– Alterity can also be applied to elucidate how marginalized groups are systematically excluded or treated as different within larger social structures. – It highlights the mechanisms that perpetuate discrimination and inequality based on perceived differences.
Linguistic Usage of Alterity:	– In linguistics, alterity manifests through the use of second-person pronouns to address someone as “other” or “different” from oneself. – This linguistic phenomenon underscores the role of language in expressing and reinforcing notions of alterity.
Challenging Dominant Narratives and Emphasizing Difference:	– Alterity serves as a tool for challenging or destabilizing dominant narratives and identities. – It emphasizes the importance of recognizing and valuing differences, promoting inclusivity, and resisting homogenizing or hegemonic perspectives in society.

Definition of Alterity

In literary theory, alterity refers to the representation of “otherness” in literature, where authors depict characters or cultures as distinct from the norm, often to explore themes of difference, identity, and power dynamics. This concept examines how texts portray and engage with the unfamiliar or marginalized, shedding light on the broader societal implications of these representations. Alterity plays a pivotal role in deconstructing dominant narratives and fostering critical analysis of literature’s socio-cultural and political dimensions.

Theorists on Alterity

Theorist	Work	Explanation of Alterity
Emmanuel Levinas	Totality and Infinity	Levinas explores ethical responsibility in relation to the Other, emphasizing the irreducibility of the Other and the demand for radical ethical responsibility.
Jacques Derrida	Of Grammatology	Derrida deconstructs binary oppositions and hierarchies in language and thought using alterity, challenging traditional structures and opening new possibilities for thought and language.
Homi Bhabha	The Location of Culture	Bhabha uses alterity to examine colonialism, identity, and hybridity, asserting that alterity challenges the dominance of imperial power and offers avenues for cultural and political change.
Mikhail Bakhtin	Rabelais and His World	Bakhtin explores language, dialogism, and carnival through alterity, highlighting the ambivalent nature of the world of carnival and the creation of new meanings through interaction.
Martin Heidegger	Being and Time	Heidegger delves into being and authenticity, positing that alterity is essential to understanding one’s own existence and the potential for authentic being.

Alterity in Different Literary Theories

Literary Theory	Extract and Work	Explanation of Alterity
Postcolonial Theory	Edward Said – Orientalism	Postcolonial theory examines how colonized peoples and cultures are constructed as “other” by the dominant culture. Said’s work shows how alterity is used as a tool of power and how it can challenge dominant discourses and representations.
Feminist Theory	bell hooks – Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center	Feminist theory explores questions of identity, power, and difference using alterity. hooks’ work demonstrates how alterity has historically been used to create and reinforce dominant narratives and identities, and how it can be used to challenge these structures.
Psychoanalytic Theory	Jacques Lacan – Écrits	Psychoanalytic theory delves into identity, desire, and the unconscious. Lacan’s work emphasizes how alterity is central to the formation of identity and subjectivity, allowing exploration of the complexities of human experience.
Reader-Response Theory	Wolfgang Iser – The Act of Reading: A Theory of Aesthetic Response	Reader-response theory explores how readers engage with texts and negotiate their identities and experiences. Iser’s work highlights how alterity is central to the reader’s experience of the text and interpretation.
Queer Theory	Judith Butler – Gender Trouble	Queer theory investigates sexuality, gender, and identity. Butler’s work reveals how alterity is used to construct and police dominant norms of gender and sexuality, as well as how it can challenge these structures.
Marxist Theory	Louis Althusser – Lenin and Philosophy and Other Essays	Marxist theory examines power, class, and social change. Althusser’s work illustrates how alterity is used to construct and reinforce dominant power structures and can be used to challenge these structures.
Cultural Studies	Stuart Hall – Cultural Identity and Diaspora	Cultural studies explores identity, representation, and cultural production. Hall’s work argues that cultural identity is constructed through a process of difference and othering, influencing how individuals perceive themselves and others.

Examples in Literature

Literary Work	Full Extract	Explanation of Alterity
1. Heart of Darkness	“The horror! The horror!” – Kurtz’s last words	In Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, the character Kurtz embodies the enigmatic and foreign aspects of colonial Africa. Kurtz’s final words allude to his confrontation with a reality beyond human understanding, pushing him into madness.
2. Beloved	“She is a friend of my mind. She gather me, man. The pieces I am, she gather them and give them back to me in all the right order.”	In Toni Morrison’s Beloved, Beloved represents the haunting legacy of slavery. This quote illustrates Beloved’s ability to connect with Sethe on a profound level, transcending conventional boundaries of identity and experience.
3. The Metamorphosis	“He lay on his armor-hard back and saw, as he lifted his head up a little, his brown, arched abdomen divided up into rigid bow-like sections.”	In Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, Gregor Samsa’s transformation into an insect symbolizes alterity. The description of his unfamiliar body emphasizes his alienation from his humanity and identity.
4. The Stranger	“I felt that I had been happy and that I was happy again.”	In Albert Camus’s The Stranger, alterity is explored through Meursault’s detachment from societal norms. This quote suggests that Meursault discovers a peculiar form of happiness in his indifference to conventional values.
5. The Sound and the Fury	“They endured.”	In William Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury, the Compson family grapples with their past and the relentless passage of time, reflecting alterity. This quote underscores their ability to persevere despite their alienation.
6. Waiting for Godot	“Nothing to be done.”	Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot” explores alterity through the absurdity of waiting and uncertainty. The quote highlights the characters’ powerlessness to change their situation, emphasizing the fundamental alterity of their existence.

Suggested Readings

1. Bhabha, Homi K. The Location of Culture. Routledge, 1994.
2. Butler, Judith. Bodies That Matter: On the Discursive Limits of Sex. Routledge, 1993.
3. Derrida, Jacques. Of Grammatology. Translated by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, Johns Hopkins University Press, 1976.
4. Fanon, Frantz. Black Skin, White Masks. Translated by Charles Lam Markmann, Grove Press, 2008.
5. Foucault, Michel. The Birth of Biopolitics: Michel Foucault’s Lecture at the Collège de France on Neo-Liberal Governmentality. Palgrave Macmillan, 2010.
6. Freud, Sigmund. The Uncanny. Translated by David McLintock, Penguin, 2003.
7. Kristeva, Julia. Powers of Horror: An Essay on Abjection. Translated by Leon S. Roudiez, Columbia University Press, 1982.
8. Levinas, Emmanuel. Totality and Infinity: An Essay on Exteriority. Translated by Alphonso Lingis, Duquesne University Press, 1969.
9. Said, Edward W. Orientalism. Vintage, 1979.
10. Spivak, Gayatri Chakravorty. The Post-Colonial Critic: Interviews, Strategies, Dialogues. Edited by Sarah Harasym, Routledge, 1990.