About the book
Widely regarded as one of the most profound critics of our time, René Girard has pursued a powerful line of inquiry across the fields of the humanities and the social sciences. His theories, which the French press has termed \"l'hypothèse girardienne,\" have sparked interdisciplinary, even international, controversy. In The Scapegoat, Girard applies his approach to \"texts of persecution,\" documents that recount phenomena of collective violence from the standpoint of the persecutor—documents such as the medieval poet Guillaume de Machaut's Judgement of the King of Navarre, which blames the Jews for the Black Death and describes their mass murder.
Girard compares persecution texts with myths, most notably with the myth of Oedipus, and finds strikingly similar themes and structures. Could myths regularly conceal texts of persecution? Girard's answers lies in a study of the Christian Passion, which represents the same central event, the same collective violence, found in all mythology, but which is read from the point of view of the innocent victim. The Passion text provides the model interpretation that has enabled Western culture to demystify its own violence—a demystification Girard now extends to mythology.
Underlying Girard's daring textual hypothesis is a powerful theory of history and culture. Christ's rejection of all guilt breaks the mythic cycle of violence and the sacred. The scapegoat becomes the Lamb of God; \"the foolish genesis of blood-stained idols and the false gods of superstition, politics, and ideologies\" are revealed.
Editions of Scapegoat
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780801833151
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780801839177
- EBook
- ISBN 9780801896187
Read an Excerpt
Widely regarded as one of the most profound critics of our time, René Girard has pursued a powerful line of inquiry across the fields of the humanities and the social sciences. His theories, which the French press has termed \"l'hypothèse girardienne,\" have sparked interdisciplinary, even international, controversy. In The Scapegoat, Girard applies his approach to \"texts of persecution,\" documents that recount phenomena of collective violence from the standpoint of the persecutor—documents such as the medieval poet Guillaume de Machaut's Judgement of the King of Navarre, which blames the Jews for the Black Death and describes their mass murder.
Girard compares persecution texts with myths, most notably with the myth of Oedipus, and finds strikingly similar themes and structures. Could myths regularly conceal texts of persecution? Girard's answers lies in a study of the Christian Passion, which represents the same central event, the same collective violence, found in all mythology, but which is read from the point of view of the innocent victim. The Passion text provides the model interpretation that has enabled Western culture to demystify its own violence—a demystification Girard now extends to mythology.
Underlying Girard's daring textual hypothesis is a powerful theory of history and culture. Christ's rejection of all guilt breaks the mythic cycle of violence and the sacred. The scapegoat becomes the Lamb of God; \"the foolish genesis of blood-stained idols and the false gods of superstition, politics, and ideologies\" are revealed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Scapegoat about?
Widely regarded as one of the most profound critics of our time, René Girard has pursued a powerful line of inquiry across the fields of the humanities and the social sciences. His theories, which the French press has termed \"l'hypothèse girardienne,\" have sparked interdisciplinary, even international, controversy. In The Scapegoat, Girard applies his approach to \"texts of persecution,\" documents that recount phenomena of collective violence from the standpoint of the persecutor—documents such as the medieval poet Guillaume de Machaut's Judgement of the King of Navarre, which blames the Jews for the Black Death and describes their mass murder.
Girard compares persecution texts with myths, most notably with the myth of Oedipus, and finds strikingly similar themes and structures. Could myths regularly conceal texts of persecution? Girard's answers lies in a study of the Christian Passion, which represents the same central event, the same collective violence, found in all mythology, but which is read from the point of view of the innocent victim. The Passion text provides the model interpretation that has enabled Western culture to demystify its own violence—a demystification Girard now extends to mythology.
Underlying Girard's daring textual hypothesis is a powerful theory of history and culture. Christ's rejection of all guilt breaks the mythic cycle of violence and the sacred. The scapegoat becomes the Lamb of God; \"the foolish genesis of blood-stained idols and the false gods of superstition, politics, and ideologies\" are revealed.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Scapegoat?
Philosophy and Religion > Religion and beliefs > Christianity
Where can I read a sample of Scapegoat?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780801833151
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Scapegoat?
René Girard
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Scapegoat is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780801833151) and paperback(ISBN 9780801839177) and ebook(ISBN 9780801896187)
Where can I buy Scapegoat online or support local independent bookshops?
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