The Autonomy Of Literature-Blanchot's Philosophical Approach

Blanchot sees literature from the aspect of philosophy,and regards autonomy as the origin of literature's being and existence.The autonomy of literature first turns the question of “what is literature” to “ how is literature possible”,and through this transformation,the focus is laid on literature itself.Then,literature regains the right to interpret.What's more,literature's autonomy challenges the authority of the author.The author's voice is no longer at the center of literary texts,and literature exists in itself in the space of autonomy.Therefore,Blanchot's discussion about literature's autonomy brings the question of literature back to itself,and thus reveals questions more about the origin.The autonomy of literature can be seen mainly from three aspects.One is the self-reflexiveness of literature,which is literature's self-questioning which makes it possible.One is the unfinishedness of literature.One is the anonymity of literature,which demands that whoever holds the pen should answer the call of the work in an anonymous way.The voice of the writer is erased,and the author is dead.Then “the other” enters,and with a neutral voice,opens and holds the space of literature,where the infinite possibility of literature is presented.This thesis will explore the three aspects of Blanchot's autonomy of literature,and from the hermeneutic circle,the relations between literature's autonomy and other key thoughts in Blanchot's works will be looked into.Through the analysis of the self-reflexiveness,unfinishedness and anonymity of literature,it is found that Blanchot thinks about literature in a philosophical way,and it is the continuing of Heidegger's philosophy.The ongoing questioning,developing and reflecting are in essence ontological and historical,which pushes literature to its origin.Literature exists for itself,moves towards itself and presents its own ideas.Literature exists as it is;it is its own possibility.Blanchot's philosophical approach to literature focuses more on literature's meaning and characteristics presented by itself.It denies the functionality and purposiveness of literature,overthrows the authority of author and refuses the certainty of meaning in literary works.Hence,under the Heiddegerian horizon,Blanchot's autonomy of literature is both ontological and historical in its nature.