Great Literary Works, Their Authors Not So Much

Analysis of the Connections Between Controversial Writers and Their Literary Creations

What connections can be made between Aristotle and artificial intelligence; Greek mythology and Albert Camus; John Lennon and poet Ezra Pound? Probably you never thought about it. I already. I like to connect opposing ideas, with no relationship between them and distant in time. That is why I am creating Paulo Drama Connections. In this inaugural article I address the following question:

Is it Possible to Separate the Author from The Work because his conduct is morally unacceptable?

The poet Ezra Pound (1885-1972) supported Italian fascism and admired Mussolini. Martin Heidegger (1889-1976) was a member of the Nazi Party and never distanced himself from these associations. Knut Hamsun (1859-1952), Nobel laureate of 1920, ruined his reputation by supporting Nazism. Gabriele D'Annunzio (1863-1938), Italian poet and playwright, was also a fascist. German filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl (1902-2003) made propaganda for Hitler and the Nazi Party.

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Gertrude Stein (1874-1946), American writer, was accused of collaborating with the Nazis during the Vichy regime. Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) had his works manipulated by his sister Elisabeth Förster-Nietzsche to support Nazism, but he died long before the emergence of the Nazism. Richard Wagner (1813-1883) expressed anti-Semitic views, appropriated by Nazism. Ayn Rand (1905-1982) defended objectivism, criticized for its insensitivity to social inequalities.

Historical, biographical, and cultural context of some of these authors

In 1945, Ezra Pound faced public controversy when he was imprisoned in an open-air cage on a US military base, accused of treason for his pro-fascist and anti-Semitic radio broadcasts in Rome criticizing US participation in the war. Pound was one of the main defenders of Imagism, a movement that emphasized the precision of language and the clarity of poetic expression. He played a crucial role in promoting other modernist writers, editing, and publishing important works.

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Martin Heidegger, German philosopher best known for his work Being and Time (1927), in which he analyzes ontology and introduces the concept of "Dasein" (being-there), which refers to the concrete experience of human beings in the world, emphasizing the importance of temporality and awareness of mortality in understanding being. He criticized traditional metaphysics and defended a phenomenological and existential approach. His influence on continental philosophy is vast.

However, in 1933, following Adolf Hitler's appointment as chancellor, German universities came under pressure to support the Nazi regime. Heidegger was elected rector of the University of Freiburg and became a member of the Nazi Party, implementing Nazi educational programs and supporting their policies. In 1945, he was banned from teaching until 1950 for his support of Nazism, but he never repudiated his past.

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Norwegian writer Knut Hamsun is widely recognized as one of Norway's most important writers. His work profoundly influenced modern literature. They often address topics such as human psychology, the nature and existential condition of the individual. Hamsun not only supported the Nazi occupation of Norway but also authored articles favorable to the Nazis. He went as far as to donate his 1920 Nobel Prize for Literature medal to Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi minister of propaganda.

His book entitled Hunger (South - 1890), considered Hamsun's first great novel and a landmark in modern literature, is a deep dive into the main character's psychology, his existential anguish, and the fight for survival. Hamsun uses an introspective narrative and a fragmented style that anticipates modernist techniques, influencing writers such as Franz Kafka and James Joyce.

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Is it Possible to Separate the Author From His Work?

Taking the case of Ezra Pound as an example, I will try to find an answer to this question that has no end. Pound was an American poet and literary critic considered a key figure in the modernist movement. Born in Hailey, Idaho, he is noted for his influence on 20th-century literature, both through his own poetry and through his role as a mentor to other writers such as T.S. Eliot, James Joyce, and Ernest Hemingway. Despite his significant literary contributions, Pound's life was marked by serious controversies, due to his political positions and actions during World War II, such as:

Support for fascism – Pound was a fervent admirer of Benito Mussolini and the Italian fascist regime as he believed that fascism could solve the economic and social problems he perceived in the Western world. Admiring fascism also meant admiring Nazism.

Radio Broadcasts – During World War II, Ezra Pound made radio broadcasts in Rome in which he expressed support for fascism and anti-Semitism, as well as criticizing the United States and the Allies, which led to treason charges against him in the post-World War II period.

Legal Consequences – In 1945, Pound was arrested by American forces in Italy and interned in a prisoner of war camp. Tried in Washington, he escaped the death penalty only because he filed an appeal alleging insanity. He was kept at Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital, a judicial asylum, for the next twelve years.

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Despite this, Ezra Pound managed to create some of his best poems within the asylum. The Pisan Cantos, published in 1948, was hailed by many as his best work to date and awarded the prestigious Bollingen Prize, despite public protests the choice.

Debate on the separation of the work and the author

The figure of Ezra Pound exemplifies the difficulty of separating the work from the author. His poems are acclaimed for their innovation and literary impact, but his political beliefs and actions during the war raise ethical questions about how we should read and interpret his work.

Arguments in favor of separation – the richness and innovation of his poetry can be appreciated regardless of his political views. His influence on literary modernism is undeniable and deserves recognition for his aesthetic contributions.

Arguments against separation – Ezra Pound's fascist and anti-Semitic ideas are present in some of his writings, which may affect the interpretation of his work. Supporters of the critical view argue that consuming his work without acknowledging the context can perpetuate harmful ideologies.

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The central question in a sociologist's mind

In her book Peut-on dissocier l’œuvre de l’auteur? (Can we dissociate the work from the author?) French sociologist Gisèle Sapiro does not give the answer but analyzes the question. The book is a comprehensive study that analyzes the complex and current issue of the separation between an author's work and his personal life. The discussion gains relevance considering recent social movements and revelations about the conduct of several public figures.

The question: is it possible to dissociate the work from the author? serves as the guiding thread of the book. Sapiro approaches this question from multiple perspectives, examining historical, philosophical, and sociological contexts. The main objective is to understand whether and how the public perception of an author can and should influence the reception and interpretation of his work.

Historical Contexts

Sapiro traces a timeline that goes back to Antiquity, where the lives and works of authors were often seen as inseparable. However, during the modern era, especially with the advent of Romanticism, the originality and individuality of artists began to be valued, which led to a greater emphasis on the author's biography.

The 20th century, particularly with the rise of structuralism and post-structuralism, brought the idea of "the death of the author" (proposed by Roland Barthes), which argues for the independence of the work in relation to its creator.

Philosophical and sociological approaches

In her book Peut-on dissocier l’œuvre de l’auteur? (Can we dissociate the work from the author?) French sociologist Gisèle Sapiro does not give the answer, but analyzes the question. The book is a comprehensive study that evaluates the complex and current issue of the separation between an author's work and his personal life. The discussion gains relevance in light of recent social movements and revelations about the conduct of several public figures.

Sapiro uses the theories of philosophers such as Michel Foucault, who questions the role of the author as a social function, and Jacques Derrida, who deconstructs the idea of authorship. Sapiro also investigates the sociology of literature, observing how the dynamics of power, market and literary institutions shape the perception of the work and the author.

The book does not shy away from analyzing contemporary cases of authors whose personal lives have caused controversy, such as accusations of sexual harassment against prominent figures. Gisèle Sapiro discusses how these revelations affect the reading and appreciation of these authors' works. She questions whether it is possible to appreciate a literary or artistic work without considering the ethical behavior of its creator.

Conclusion

Gisèle Sapiro explores two main questions: can we separate the work from the author? The answer is ambiguous: yes and no. This duality leads to the next question: can we suppress the author and/or work? The answer is no if one distinguishes between apology and representation. The restriction should not nullify the public debate, which is driven by feminist, anti-racist and anti-discrimination, and incitement to hatred movements.

These movements help reveal hidden issues and promote tolerance over time. To understand the current controversies, we must reflect on our response: do we censor authors and their works, suppress their creations, or discuss them and hold the authors responsible? The debate about how to deal with these issues is essential and ongoing. There is no shortage of material to start this discussion.

What do you think about these issues? Are you for or against separating the work from the author? Do you want to make a comment or add something that was not covered? Make yourself at home.

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