“Language to Infinity” by Michel Foucault: Summary and Critique

Introduction: “Language to Infinity” by Michel Foucault

“Language to Infinity” by Michel Foucault was first published in 1963 as “La parole vacante” in the French journal Critique, then later translated into English in 1971 as part of the collection Language, Counter-Memory, Practice. It serves as a critical exploration of the limits and transgressions of language, particularly in the context of literature and silence. This essay holds significant importance in literature and literary theory as it delves into the relationship between language and experience, questioning the traditional notions of authorship and meaning. Foucault’s exploration of silence as a language in itself has profoundly influenced interpretations of literary texts, challenging the boundaries of what can be said and expressed through words.

Summary of “Language to Infinity” by Michel Foucault

• The Enduring Power of Language: The essay posits that both writing and speaking are ancient human endeavors fundamentally aimed at overcoming mortality. It introduces the concept that language serves as a vital mechanism for survival, echoing Blanchot’s notion that “Writing so as not to die, as Blanchot said, or perhaps even speaking so as not to die is a task undoubtedly as old as the word.” This opening sets the stage for a discussion on the intrinsic role of language in human existence and its potential to grant a form of immortality through the preservation and perpetuation of human thoughts and experiences.
• Language as a Conduit to Immortality: The narrative power of language is highlighted through the idea that gods might inflict suffering upon humanity to provide them with tales to narrate, as suggested by Homer. This perspective views language as a means for humans to document and immortalize their experiences, especially the adversities ordained by divine forces. The quote “It is quite likely, as Homer has said, that the gods send disasters to men so that they can tell of them,” underscores language’s pivotal role in transforming personal and collective misfortunes into enduring stories, thus bestowing a sense of immortality on human experiences.
• Ulysses’ Narrative as a Defense Against Death: Ulysses’ strategic use of his own narratives to forge his identity and shield himself from death illustrates language’s protective power. The act of recounting his odyssey serves as a metaphysical armor against the existential threats posed by mortality. The text articulates this defense mechanism through the lens of Ulysses’ adventures, where his storytelling not only preserves his life but also reinforces his identity, as captured in the line, “Ulysses must sing the song of his identity and tell of his misfortunes to escape the fate presented to him by a language before language.”
• Language’s Infinite Mirror: Language, when confronted with death, engages in an infinite process of self-reflection and reproduction. This reflective capacity of language is likened to a mirror facing infinity, continuously generating its own images to evade the finality of death. The essay vividly describes this phenomenon: “Headed toward death, language turns back upon itself; it encounters something like a mirror; and to stop this death which would stop it, it possesses but a single power: that of giving birth to its own image in a play of mirrors that has no limits.” This concept emphasizes language’s unique ability to perpetuate itself and, by extension, human consciousness.
• Language and Writing as Ontological Constructs: The text explores the inherent desire of language to perpetuate itself infinitely, a trait not solely attributable to the fear of death or the advent of writing. Language is described as seeking to extend itself through various forms, far beyond mere words on a page. This pursuit is framed as an ontological characteristic of language, which transcends physical forms to achieve a sort of existential continuity, highlighted in the assertion, “Not only since the invention of writing has language pretended to pursue itself to infinity; but neither is it because of its fear of death that it decided one day to assume a body in the form of risible and permanent signs.”
• The Mirrored Structure of Language: The essay posits that language fundamentally functions as a mirror erected against the inevitability of death, continually reflecting and duplicating itself to leave a lasting legacy. This mirrored structure is essential from the moment language endeavors to leave a trace, creating a virtual space where it can endlessly echo itself. This idea is encapsulated in the notion that “Perhaps the figure of a mirror to infinity erected against the black wall of death is fundamental for any language from the moment it determines to leave a trace of its passage,” suggesting that the existential motive of language is deeply rooted in its structure and function.

Literary Terms/Concepts in “Language to Infinity” by Michel Foucault

Literary Terms/Concepts	Explanation
Transgression	The act of going beyond or violating limits, especially in language and expression. Foucault explores how literature pushes the boundaries of language.
Silence	Not merely the absence of speech but a form of language itself. Foucault investigates the significance of silence in literature and its relation to meaning.
Interiority/Exteriority	The division between inner thoughts and feelings (interiority) and outward expression (exteriority). Foucault questions the relationship between language and experience.
Literature as Transgression	The idea that literature challenges and disrupts established norms and conventions. Foucault examines how literature explores taboo subjects and pushes the boundaries of acceptable discourse.
The Author Function	The role of the author in shaping the meaning of a text. Foucault challenges the traditional notion of authorship, suggesting that meaning is not solely determined by the author’s intentions.
Discourse	A system of language and representation that shapes how we understand and interpret the world. Foucault analyzes how discourse influences our perceptions of literature and its meanings.
The Unsaid	That which is implied or suggested but not explicitly stated in language. Foucault explores the significance of the unsaid in literature, emphasizing its role in conveying meaning and challenging interpretations.
Language and Power	The relationship between language and power dynamics. Foucault investigates how language can be used to exert control, shape perceptions, and influence social relations.

Contribution of “Language to Infinity” by Michel Foucault in Literary Theory

• Language as a Resistance to Mortality: Foucault posits that language serves not just as a means of communication but as a fundamental human strategy to counteract and transcend death. This idea broadens the scope of literary theory by framing language not only as a tool for narrative or poetic expression but as a vital existential act. The notion that “speaking so as not to die” aligns linguistic expression with a profound, almost sacred, quest for immortality, redefining the stakes of literary creation.
• Narrative as a Means of Identity Construction and Survival: Through the lens of Homer’s Ulysses, Foucault illustrates how narrative serves as a mechanism for identity construction and survival. Ulysses’ recounting of his own stories, where he continually redefines and asserts his identity through his tales, showcases the protective and constructive power of narrative. This analysis enriches literary theory by highlighting how narratives function as more than mere stories; they are essential tools for character survival and identity formation within texts.
• Infinite Regress and Reflection in Language: Foucault’s exploration of language as an infinite mirror—where language reflects upon itself endlessly—introduces a complex structural idea into literary analysis. This concept of language engaging in a ceaseless self-referential process contributes to theories of deconstruction and post-structuralism, where the instability and multiplicity of meanings in texts are emphasized. Foucault’s ideas anticipate and resonate with Derrida’s notions of différance and the endless deferral of meaning in language.
• Ontological and Epistemological Implications: “Language to Infinity” ventures into the ontological and epistemological implications of language. Foucault suggests that the very act of language speaking of itself opens up a virtual space where it can endlessly represent itself and its potentialities. This contributes to literary theory by providing a framework for understanding how texts can create their own metaphysical and conceptual spaces, influencing reader interpretation and the theoretical approaches to texts’ meanings and functions.
• The Relationship between Language and Writing: Foucault differentiates between the spoken word and written language, examining how each contributes to the infinite pursuit of language. This distinction is crucial for literary theorists, particularly in analyzing the transition from oral to written traditions in literature and how these forms affect the dissemination, interpretation, and preservation of literary works.

Examples of Critiques Through “Language to Infinity” by Michel Foucault

Literary Work	Critique Through Foucault’s “Language to Infinity”
The Odyssey by Homer	Narrative as Identity Construction: Ulysses’ use of storytelling to assert his identity and evade death exemplifies Foucault’s idea of language as a survival tool. The critique could explore how Ulysses’ repeated recounting of his adventures not only ensures his survival but also reinforces his heroic identity, reflecting Foucault’s concept of language turning back upon itself in an endless mirroring process to combat the finality of death.
Hamlet by Shakespeare	Language and the Imminence of Death: Hamlet’s soliloquies can be critiqued through Foucault’s perspective on language’s response to mortality. The famous “To be, or not to be” soliloquy reflects Hamlet’s contemplation of death and existence, paralleling Foucault’s notion that language rushes forth at the imminence of death. The analysis could delve into how Hamlet uses language to navigate his existential crisis, mirroring Foucault’s idea of language engaging with and against death.
Beloved by Toni Morrison	Infinite Narrative Regress: Morrison’s narrative technique of revisiting the past through memory and storytelling aligns with Foucault’s views on the infinite regress of language. The critique could focus on how the characters’ repeated recounting of their traumatic experiences acts as a means of confronting and processing their pasts, similar to Foucault’s idea of language as a mirror reflecting back upon itself to grapple with death and survival in a symbolic and literal sense.
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez	Language as Ontological Construct: This novel’s magical realism and the cyclical nature of its narrative reflect Foucault’s concept of language and narrative constructing their own reality. The critique could explore how the Buendía family’s story, perpetually retold and mirrored through generations, illustrates Foucault’s idea of language’s infinite self-representation and the creation of a virtual space where narrative and identity continually redefine themselves against the backdrop of time and death.

Criticism Against “Language to Infinity” by Michel Foucault

• Obscurity and Jargon: Some critics find Foucault’s writing style in this essay to be overly dense and filled with philosophical jargon, making it difficult for non-specialists to comprehend his arguments.
• Lack of Empirical Evidence: Foucault’s analysis is largely theoretical and lacks concrete examples or empirical evidence to support his claims about the nature of language and literature.
• Overemphasis on Transgression: Some critics argue that Foucault’s focus on transgression and the limits of language overlooks other important aspects of literature, such as its aesthetic qualities and emotional impact.
• Neglect of Reader’s Role: Foucault’s essay tends to focus on the author and the text, neglecting the role of the reader in interpreting and creating meaning.
• Limited Scope: The essay’s analysis is primarily focused on Western literature and may not be applicable to other cultural contexts or literary traditions.

Suggested Readings: “Language to Infinity” by Michel Foucault

1. Derrida, Jacques. Writing and Difference. Translated by Alan Bass, University of Chicago Press, 1978.
2. Dosse, François. History of Structuralism: The Sign Sets, 1967-Present. Vol. 2, University of Minnesota Press, 1997.
3. Eribon, Didier. Michel Foucault. Translated by Betsy Wing, Harvard University Press, 1991.
4. Foucault, Michel. Language, Counter-Memory, Practice: Selected Essays and Interviews. Edited by Donald F. Bouchard, Cornell University Press, 1977.
5. Rajchman, John. Michel Foucault: The Freedom of Philosophy. Columbia University Press, 1985.
6. Sheridan, Alan. Michel Foucault: The Will to Truth. Routledge, 1980.

Quotations with Explanation from “Language to Infinity” by Michel Foucault

Quotation	Explanation
“Writing so as not to die, as Blanchot said, or perhaps even speaking so as not to die is a task undoubtedly as old as the word.”	This quote reflects Foucault’s examination of language as a means to transcend mortality. The statement aligns with his broader philosophical narrative that language serves not just for communication but as a vital existential tool to defy the finality of death, linking to Blanchot’s existential and literary theories.
“It is quite likely, as Homer has said, that the gods send disasters to men so that they can tell of them.”	Foucault uses this concept to suggest that language and narrative are divine gifts necessitated by misfortune. This interpretation posits that storytelling is inherently linked to human suffering, serving as both a record and a catharsis, thus providing a deeper purpose and infinite resourcefulness to human discourse.
“Ulysses must sing the song of his identity and tell of his misfortunes to escape the fate presented to him by a language before language.”	This illustrates the protective power of narrative against existential threats. Foucault highlights how narrative construction, particularly in mythological contexts like that of Ulysses, serves as a means for characters to secure their survival and cement their identities against predestined fates.
“Headed toward death, language turns back upon itself; it encounters something like a mirror; and to stop this death which would stop it, it possesses but a single power: that of giving birth to its own image in a play of mirrors that has no limits.”	Here, Foucault discusses the self-reflective nature of language as it confronts mortality. This notion suggests that in the face of death, language and literature engage in infinite replication, creating and recreating narratives that defy temporal and mortal constraints.
“Before the imminence of death, language rushes forth, but it also starts again, tells of itself, discovers the story of the story and the possibility that this interpenetration might never end.”	Foucault explores the regenerative capability of language to continually renew itself. This quote emphasizes language’s capacity to endlessly narrate and re-narrate, thus perpetually delaying its conclusion and the finality of death through a recursive narrative structure.
“Perhaps there exists in speech an essential affinity between death, endless striving, and the self-representation of language.”	This statement posits a fundamental relationship between the constructs of language and the concept of mortality. Foucault suggests that language inherently grapples with and reflects upon its own limitations and potentials, particularly through its ability to endlessly articulate and re-articulate itself against the backdrop of death.