Simplifications: An Introduction to Structuralism and Post-Structuralism

Simplifications brings to the Indian reader a comprehensive overview of Western literary theory of the post-1960s. A compendium of the dominant trends of that period, it introduces the reader to the thoughts and ideas of important thinkers like Saussure, Lacan, Foucault and Derrida, among others. To introduce the readers to the existing body of work in the field, the book discusses the writings of Freud and Heidegger and a few other thinkers. Saussure’s Linguistics…. and subsequent development stemming from it, which influenced Western literary theory are dealt with at length. There is also a brief exposition of pre-Saussurian philosophy. One of the unique features of the book is the illustration of the various concepts discussed with references to Shakespeare’s Hamlet especially in the sections on Lacan, Foucault and Derrida. The book also gives a brief introduction to post-colonial theory and the question of politics, quoting extensively from several important thinkers. It encapsulates structuralism, post-structuralism and post-colonialism and is a valuable reference for post-graduate students of literature and the social sciences and anyone who is interested in the subject.