Fictions of Dignity: Embodying Human Rights in World Literature

273 Pages·2012·1.67 MB·English

by  Elizabeth S. Anker

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Fictions oF Dignity

Fictions
n
oF Dignity
Embodying
Human RigHts
in WoRld litERatuRE
Elizabeth S. Anker
cornell University Press
Ithaca and London
this book has been published with the aid of a grant from
the Hull Memorial Fund of cornell University.
copyright © 2012 by cornell University
All rights reserved. except for brief quotations in a review,
this book, or parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any
form without permission in writing from the publisher.
For information, address cornell University Press, sage
House, 512 east state street, ithaca, new york 14850.
First published 2012 by cornell University Press
Printed in the United states of America
library of congress cataloging-in-Publication Data
Anker, elizabeth s. (elizabeth susan), 1973–
Fictions of dignity : embodying human rights in world
literature / elizabeth s. Anker.
p. cm.
includes bibliographical references and index.
isBn 978-0-8014-5136-2 (cloth : alk. paper)
1. Human rights in literature. 2. social justice in
literature. 3. Postcolonialism in literature. 4. literature,
Modern—20th century—History and criticism. i. title.
Pn56.H79A55 2013
809'.933581—dc23
2012015418
cornell University Press strives to use environmentally
responsible suppliers and materials to the fullest extent
possible in the publishing of its books. such materials
include vegetable-based, low-voc inks and acid-free
papers that are recycled, totally chlorine-free, or partly
composed of nonwood fibers. For further information,
visit our website at www.cornellpress.cornell.edu.
cloth printing 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
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Contents
Acknowledgments vii
introduction: constructs
by Which We live 1
1. Bodily integrity and its exclusions 15
2. embodying Human rights: toward
a Phenomenology of social Justice 47
3. constituting the liberal subject of rights:
salman rushdie’s Midnight’s Children 79
4. Women’s rights and the lure
of self- Determination in nawal
el saadawi’s Woman at Point Zero 115
5. J. M. coetzee’s Disgrace: the rights
of Desire and the embodied
lives of Animals 149
6. Arundhati roy’s “return to the
things themselves”: Phenomenology
and the challenge of Justice 186
coda: small Places, close to Home 220
Notes 225
Works Cited 243
Index 259

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Acknowledgments
like many, the story of this book follows a cir-
cuitous intellectual odyssey that, however, both begins and ends with the
influence of my parents, who bear foremost responsibility for cultivating the
intellectual curiosities and commitments that it has tried to bring to fruition.
the opportunity to work with Martha nussbaum at the law school at the
University of chicago was central to my scholarly development. in many
ways, my independent studies on law and literature as a third-year law student
remain foundational to the core philosophical questions that have motivated
this book.
i can hardly conceive of a more intellectually stimulating or vibrant envi-
ronment than the one i encountered as a graduate student in the english
department at the University of virginia. i remain especially grateful to my
primary advisors—rita Felski, Michael levenson, and Peter Brooks—for
providing multiple kinds of encouragement and inspiration. An especially
warm thanks to rita for her continued support and friendship over the
years. Her astute and thorough feedback on my essay “Elizabeth Costello,
embodiment, and the limits of rights,” published in New Literary History
42.1 (2011), helped to guide this book into its present form. i’d additionally
like to acknowledge the many other faculty then at virginia, as well as my
former peers whose guidance and friendship have nourished me. i worry that
i’ll inadvertently exclude many, but my deep thanks to steve Arata, elizabeth
Fowler, eleanor Kaufman, Jahan ramazani, caroline rody, Jennifer Wicke,
and the late greg colomb, as well as to my friends Michael lewis, Justin
neuman, eric song, and Joanne vander Woude. omaar Hena deserves a sep-
arate statement of appreciation for the camaraderie he has offered and credit
for being the first to urge me to frame my ideas in terms of human rights.
My two years as an assistant professor at Wake Forest University were
immeasurably rewarding. the english department at Wake Forest not only
provided dear colleagues but also supervised the most profound transforma-
tions in this project. i am especially appreciative of, among others, Jeff Hold-
ridge, scott Klein, Jessica richard, and olga valbuena. Herman rappaport
vii
viii Acknowledgments
has been more influential than he may be aware, as it was Herman who
first suggested that i look to Merleau-Ponty for an optic through which to
theorize embodiment. And an especially heartfelt thank you to Dean Franco,
who facilitated innumerable kinds of intellectual dialogue and exchange.
not only were those conversations crucial to this book’s evolution but Dean,
perhaps more than anyone, also modeled to me how to comport myself as a
fully engaged teacher and scholar at a key stage in my own career.
the english department at cornell has offered an ideal home in which
to compose the majority of and ultimately complete this book. indeed, the
community at cornell has often felt closer to family than mere colleagues,
allowing me to integrate my professional and personal lives in profoundly
satisfying ways. if space allowed, i would enumerate almost every faculty
member in my department. But i feel especially indebted to the thoughtful
support and intellectual engagement of neil saccamano, Dan schwarz, satya
Mohanty, and tim Murray. shirley samuels has been an invaluable mentor
and friend, shepherding me through highs and lows alike. i am also extremely
grateful for my friendships with Bernie Meyler, simone Pinet, samantha
Zacher, and lyrae van clief-stefanon, which are some of the things i cherish
most about ithaca. And i would be remiss if i did not attempt to acknowledge
at least some of the many others who have made ithaca more than a stopping
place. thanks to Kevin Attell, Mary Pat Brady, laura Brown, cynthia chase,
eric cheyfitz, Margo crawford, Jonathan culler, grant Farred, ellis Hanson,
rayna Kalas, Jenny Mann, natalie Melas, Masha raskolnikov, nick salvato,
lily sheehan, Matt smith, and Dag Woubshet.
Beyond those within my different home departments, i’d also like to thank
the many other people who have engaged this project at different stages.
First, thanks to my co-fellows at the cornell society for the Humanities
during the 2010–11 academic year: Jennifer Bajorek; Bruno Bosteels; Kay
Dickenson; James McHugh; Adam t. smith; and Joshua clover, who is
owed an especially warm statement of gratitude. While i fear that i omit the
names of too many, thank you to Homi Bhabha, cynthia Bowman, Pheng
cheah, simon During, Karen engle, Peter Fitzpatrick, Peter gilgen, elizabeth
swanson goldberg, David golumbia, Paul Kahn, Dominick lacapra, Bruce
robbins, camille robcis, lisi schoenbach, Alexandra schultheis, chantal
thomas, and Patricia yaeger for contributing to the project over the years in
various ways. in addition, Anna Kornbluh and renee newman Knake are
dearly valued friends with whom i can share not only scholarship and ideas
but also other confidences. i’ve also been privileged over the years to be able
to rely on highly adept research assistants; much appreciation to rose casey,
stephanie Degooyer, emily Moore young, and Krupa shandilya.
Acknowledgments ix
this book has also benefited enormously from the various conferences,
workshops, and symposia at which i have presented material based on its con-
tent. thank you to hosts at cornell University, the cornell law school, the
national Humanities center, Penn state University, the University of Mis-
souri, the University of virginia, Wake Forest University, and yale University,
as well as to audiences at the annual meetings of the American comparative
literature Association, the Modern language Association; the Association for
the study of law, culture, and the Humanities; and the international society
for the study of narrative literature. conversations with other national
Humanities center summer institute Fellows in new Haven and Berlin,
with participants in the cornell Mellon interdisciplinary Writing group
on “human rights and cosmopolitanism,” and with members of the cornell
Mellon Humanities seminar on “the human” were also extremely beneficial.
in addition, a Faculty Fellowship at the society for the Humanities provided
irreplaceable support when i was in the final phase of finishing the manu-
script.
By no means last or least, i can’t imagine a more involved or helpful editor
than i discovered in Peter J. Potter. Many, many thanks to Peter for multiple
kinds of careful guidance, criticism, and advice as this project has traveled the
route to publication. in addition, i’d like to thank Joseph slaughter and two
other anonymous readers for cornell University Press for their indispensable
feedback and many rigorous and perceptive comments. A version of chapter 5
appeared as “Human rights, social Justice, and J. M. coetzee’s Disgrace,”
in Modern Fiction Studies 54.2 (2008), and i’d like to thank that anonymous
reader for his or her comments. this manuscript also benefited enormously
from the help of candace Akins, romaine Perin, and rest of the production
staff at cornell University Press.
Finally, let me return to thank my family—my parents, roy and ellen;
David and his wife, Milay; christina; and my dog, Jefferson (yes, thanking
a dog is fully within the spirit of this book’s intellectual project)—for their
sustenance and affirmation. needless to say, this book would not have been
conceived or undertaken or completed without them. Apart from being
ever-ready proofreaders even at the last of last minutes, my parents created in
me both an abiding sensitivity to matters of social justice and an unflinch-
ing belief in the redemptive capacities of literature. this book has, above all,
attempted to fuse as well as to pay tribute to those twinned passions.