THE REPRIEVE: WEAK MESSIANISM AND THE EVENT IN PRIMO LEVI'S "MOMENTS OF REPRIEVE"
In this article, I analyse Primo Levi's work on Auschwitz, in particular his Moments of Reprieve. Against the overdetermined inhuman economy of the camp, I find that 'the reprieve' is what philosopher John D. Caputo has described as an Event, a stirring prompted by a call from alterit...
| Veröffentlicht in: | Literature and Theology. - Oxford University Press. - 25(2011), 2, Seite 172-184 |
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| 1. Verfasser: | |
| Format: | Online-Aufsatz |
| Sprache: | English |
| Veröffentlicht: |
2011
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| Zugriff auf das übergeordnete Werk: | Literature and Theology |
| Schlagworte: | Law Social sciences Philosophy Religion Applied sciences Arts Political science |
| Zusammenfassung: | In this article, I analyse Primo Levi's work on Auschwitz, in particular his Moments of Reprieve. Against the overdetermined inhuman economy of the camp, I find that 'the reprieve' is what philosopher John D. Caputo has described as an Event, a stirring prompted by a call from alterity. Because it does not redeem or provide salvation, the reprieve is a weak form of messianism, suspending but not cancelling the camp. Because every other Other remains ultimately incomprehensible, I argue that even in the most repressive of the circumstances there remains the possibility of the reprieve. |
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| ISSN: | 14774623 |