Re-storied by Beauty: On Self-Understanding in the Ricoeur-Carr Discussions on Narrative
This essay examines the issue of self-understanding, following Paul Ricoeur who characterizes it as one of the three dimensions of a literary work. The essay places the issue in the context of Ricoeur’s discussions with David Carr on self-understanding or selfhood identity, demonstrating where th...
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| Formato: | article |
| Lenguaje: | EN |
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University of Calgary
2015
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| Acceso en línea: | https://doaj.org/article/9c0a2c07a5a747958f49f0d040f72dbe |
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| Sumario: | This essay examines the issue of self-understanding, following Paul Ricoeur who characterizes it as one of the three dimensions of a literary work. The essay places the issue in the context of Ricoeur’s discussions with David Carr on self-understanding or selfhood identity, demonstrating where the two theorists differ, but ultimately proposing how they complement each other to enrich the issue. I argue that the two converge at a significant point – that selfhood-identity is mediated by a host of cultural artifacts, all experienced as narrative. I support this thesis by exploring the way in which the transcultural symbol of sharing a meal can mediate self-understanding, and occasion the narrative re-storying of a life. Attending to the character of General Loewenhielm in Isak Dinesen’s (1993) Babette’s Feast, I describe the feast as an event of beauty, arguing how this worked to restore a sense of unity to the General’s life.
Keywords: Self-understanding, identity, narrative, Paul Ricoeur, David Carr, beauty, Babette's feast
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