The Ventriloquist Behind the Shattered Mirror: A Study of Pessoa's Bilingual Oeuvre
Amidst a vast body of literature focussing on Pessoa's Portuguese-language work, until recently comparatively little attention has been paid to his work in other languages, specifically, English. In this essay I argue that Pessoa's bilingualism becomes a fundamental method of self-dilution...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Brown University
2014-10-01
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| Series: | Pessoa Plural |
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| Online Access: | https://repository.library.brown.edu/studio/item/bdr:757344/PDF/ |
| _version_ | 1831765693432856576 |
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| author | Cearns, Jennifer |
| author_facet | Cearns, Jennifer |
| author_sort | Cearns, Jennifer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Amidst a vast body of literature focussing on Pessoa's Portuguese-language work, until recently comparatively little attention has been paid to his work in other languages, specifically, English. In this essay I argue that Pessoa's bilingualism becomes a fundamental method of self-dilution in his deconstruction of self. In English in particular, a strong presence of other influential voices resonate in Pessoa's language, further reinforcing this process. This ventriloquism leads to a true cacophony of voices in his English work, fulfilling the objectives he sets out for himself in Portuguese. I critique Bloom's conclusion that this made Pessoa's poetry 'weaker'; indeed, in this light his English work asserts itself rather more convincingly than previously considered. Ultimately Pessoa's project(s) of 'deselving' can only be comprehensively appreciated through the careful consideration of all of his work, across voices, heteronyms and languages. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T06:08:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-966e0cf31c1d41eca3c7d245972579e2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2212-4179 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T06:08:18Z |
| publishDate | 2014-10-01 |
| publisher | Brown University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pessoa Plural |
| spelling | doaj.art-966e0cf31c1d41eca3c7d245972579e22022-12-21T18:36:20ZengBrown UniversityPessoa Plural2212-41792014-10-0167810310.7301/Z0TQ601GThe Ventriloquist Behind the Shattered Mirror: A Study of Pessoa's Bilingual OeuvreCearns, JenniferAmidst a vast body of literature focussing on Pessoa's Portuguese-language work, until recently comparatively little attention has been paid to his work in other languages, specifically, English. In this essay I argue that Pessoa's bilingualism becomes a fundamental method of self-dilution in his deconstruction of self. In English in particular, a strong presence of other influential voices resonate in Pessoa's language, further reinforcing this process. This ventriloquism leads to a true cacophony of voices in his English work, fulfilling the objectives he sets out for himself in Portuguese. I critique Bloom's conclusion that this made Pessoa's poetry 'weaker'; indeed, in this light his English work asserts itself rather more convincingly than previously considered. Ultimately Pessoa's project(s) of 'deselving' can only be comprehensively appreciated through the careful consideration of all of his work, across voices, heteronyms and languages.https://repository.library.brown.edu/studio/item/bdr:757344/PDF/BilingualismBilinguismoEnglish languageInglêsInfluence and persuasionInfluênciasVentriloquismVentriloquismoIntertextualityIntertextualidadeHeteroglossiaEnsurdecimento |
| spellingShingle | Cearns, Jennifer The Ventriloquist Behind the Shattered Mirror: A Study of Pessoa's Bilingual Oeuvre Pessoa Plural Bilingualism Bilinguismo English language Inglês Influence and persuasion Influências Ventriloquism Ventriloquismo Intertextuality Intertextualidade Heteroglossia Ensurdecimento |
| title | The Ventriloquist Behind the Shattered Mirror: A Study of Pessoa's Bilingual Oeuvre |
| title_full | The Ventriloquist Behind the Shattered Mirror: A Study of Pessoa's Bilingual Oeuvre |
| title_fullStr | The Ventriloquist Behind the Shattered Mirror: A Study of Pessoa's Bilingual Oeuvre |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Ventriloquist Behind the Shattered Mirror: A Study of Pessoa's Bilingual Oeuvre |
| title_short | The Ventriloquist Behind the Shattered Mirror: A Study of Pessoa's Bilingual Oeuvre |
| title_sort | ventriloquist behind the shattered mirror a study of pessoa s bilingual oeuvre |
| topic | Bilingualism Bilinguismo English language Inglês Influence and persuasion Influências Ventriloquism Ventriloquismo Intertextuality Intertextualidade Heteroglossia Ensurdecimento |
| url | https://repository.library.brown.edu/studio/item/bdr:757344/PDF/ |
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