About this title: "His fascinating and ambitious book provides a fully developed theory of violence as the `heart and secret soul' of the sacred. Girard's fertile, combative mind links myth to prophetic writing, primitive religions to classical tragedy."--Victor Brombert, 'Chronicle of Higher Education.'
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Description: Good. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: The Johns Hopkins University Press 1979
Date Published: 1979
ISBN-13:9780801822186ISBN:0801822181
Description: ISBN 0801822181. Trade Paperback. Later Printing. Very Good Condition. Tight sound unmarked copy with minor rubs and creases to edges and corners of covers, slight browning to edges of interior pages. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: The Johns Hopkins University Press
Date Published: 1979-01-01
ISBN-13:9780801822186ISBN:0801822181
Description: New in None as issued. jacket. New, unread copy with very light shelf wear. We ship 6 days a week, generally within 24 hours; single CDs and DVDs upgraded to 1st class! read more
Description: Good. 0801822181 Good condition. May have some markings & or shelfwear. All pages intact. Used items may not include extras such as infotrac, CD or other web access codes. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: The Johns Hopkins University Press
ISBN-13:9780801819636ISBN:0801819636
Description: Fair. 0801819636 This book is in ACCEPTABLE Used Condition. The Book shows a CONSIDERABLE amount of wear and there may be Markings throughout of the book. The pages' edges are Dusty and Dirty. There are Rips on the dust cover. A Great Book! 100% Money Back Guarantee! ! ! read more
Edition: First American Edition
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore and London
Date Published: 1977
ISBN-13:9780801819636ISBN:0801819636
Description: Very Good with Exception. A Very Good Hardcover in a Very Good unclipped Dust jacket. Book is clean, crisp, tight, bright, with markings into the first third of the book. read more
"In a highly innovative book that studies the mechanisms and structures behind violence, Girard's Violence and the Sacred presents his unique insights into violence in literature and society.
From the bible to Oedipus Rex to various indigenous tribes throughout the world, Girard attempts to cover all bases in his arguments. He finds interesting psychological sources for the various sacrifices of humankind, talks of the victim and the scapegoat, and analyzes the way humans fight, block, and stop violence. His ideas, while they may be quite offensive or at the least controversial to some, definitely present new perspectives on why humans give in to primal instincts.
Girard discusses, in complicated and yet fairly understandable terms, common literary elements of sacrifice, plagues, dealing with crisis, and generative and reciprocal violence. Another interesting topic Girard analyzes in his novel is that of desire. In presenting the idea that human desire is mimetic and external, he eventually comes to the conclusion that desire invariably becomes violent.
The tried and tried again theory behind the title character of Oedipus Rex gets a revamping in Girard's second chapter with the suggestion that Oedipus, rather than being led into fate, himself took the deliberate steps to end up where he was. Every aspect of Oedipus, as well as many other stories and novels, can be analyzed under Girard's theory with the result of a highly different perspective.
Other literary analyses are of great interest, including the idea of the "monstrous double" in literature, the literary elements of mirroring and repetition, and the historical significance of twins in society. Girard's novel gives a new and large perspective not only on literature, but on society."
We guarantee every item's condition, as described on Alibris. If you are not satisfied that an item is as described, return your purchase for a refund.
rating
