"Death of the Author"

Today for class we read “Death of the Author” and “From Work to Text” by Roland Barthes. I found both readings difficult to understand and after reading them I was still confused about the argument presented in the text. I felt better once I got to class and discovered that everyone was in somewhat the same position that I was in.

In class we got into groups to focus on a passage from “Death of the Author.” Our group discussed how individuals reading an author’s work may have different interpretations of what the author is trying to convey and therefore there is disconnection between the author and reader. Barthes believes that this disconnection leads to the author’s loss of identity. I believe that readers can never know the exact intentions of an author, but knowing information about the author’s background or current life may facilitate understanding. Along with several of my classmates, I think that knowing the author makes reading much more enjoyable and relatable.

I’m hoping that after class on Friday I will have a better understanding of these texts by Barthes!!