Table Of ContentOF
Decon-
struction
and the
Fall of
Paul
deNan
LEHMAN
DAVID
$21.95
Signsofthe Times is abrilliant, witty, and provoca-
tiveaccountofdeconstruction—the mosthotly con-
troversial French import since existentialism—and
the scandalous fateofits fallen idol, Paul de Man.
Deconstruction, whichregards wordsas mislead-
ing "signs" and reduces history and literature to
"linguistic predicaments," has had a tremendous
(many would say destructive) influence in our uni-
versities and among the best and brightest of our
students. Toitsdetractors, deconstructionisaperni-
ciousandantihumanistdoctrine; nevertheless, many
areuncertainofitsimplicationsandthefullextentof
its sway. In Signs of the Times David Lehman
explains deconstruction in terms that finally render
it intelligible. He also gives us the riveting story of
the major scandals—pro-Nazi writings during
WorldWarII, abigamousprivatelife—surrounding
de Man, the reveredYaleprofessorwho wasdecon-
struction's foremostguru inthe United States.
Lehmanpresentsafascinatingandenigmaticpro-
tagonist and charts the ironies and reversals that
makede Man's story resemble agothic melodrama.
Details ofde Man's past began to leak out after his
death in 1983. Rushing to his defense, his followers
used their esoteric method to "prove" that his war-
timejournalismwasnotwhatitseemed. Indoingso,
they dramatized the dangers inherent in a system of
logicthatturnsthewordandtheworldupsidedown.
What is deconstruction? Why did a generation of
students find it so seductive? Why are so many pro-
fessors up in arms about it, while for others it holds
the key that unlocks the meaning of language and
literature? Howhasittransformedthewaybooksare
interpreted and taught? What arc deconstruction's
merits? Its future? Was de Man's case the crucial
turning point in the history ofan idea?
Addressing these questions in this spirited and
engaging book, David Lehman turns the tables on
deconstruction, demystifying its forbiddingjargon.
Inmasterly fashion, herelatesthebattleoverdecon-
struction to the crisis in higher education today. He
shows why deconstruction is so vital an issue—one
that has itselfbecome adisturbing sign ofthe times.
He has written an important book, sure to be dis-
cussed and debated foryears tocome.
ALSO BY DAVID LEHMAN
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The Perfect Murder
Operation Memory
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SIGNS
O
H
F T E
TIMES
DECONSTRUCTION
AND
THE FALL
MAN
OF PAUL DE
D A V D
LEHMAN
I
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Copyright 1991 by David Lehman
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Library ofCongress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Lehman, David, date.
Signs ofthe times : dcconstruction and the fall ofPaul de Man / David Lehman.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Dcconstruction. 2. De Man, Paul. L I'itlc.
B809.6.L44 1991 90-25825
j49—dc20 CIP
ISBN 0-671-68239-3
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Deconstruction, the first time you hear the word, sounds hke what
happens when your four-year-old has a temper tantrum with his
erector set. Or maybe it reminds you of the mayhem in the museum
scene inBatman, in which theJoker and his henchmen deface paintmgs
and knock over sculptures with manic delight and much giddy laugh-
ter. Deconstruction doesn't altogether shed such fanciful connotations
as these when you get to know it better and start gauging its impact
on the study ofthe humanities in America. As an academic phenome-
non, deconstruction is unquestionably so divisive and arguably so
pernicious that it would (I told myself as I embarked on this book)
surely be a worthy goal to render it intelligible to the common reader.
I was convinced as well that the case of Paul de Man may come to
be considered the most significant academic controversy ofour period.
But I would be lying if I didn't admit that I sometimes felt about
writing this book as Jonah felt about going to Nineveh; there were
times when I'd have much rather stayed inside the whale. At such times
in particular I benefited from the counsel and the support ofnumerous
friends and well-wishers, including my agent, Glen Hartley, and my
editor, Elaine Pfefferblit. I am grateful as well to John Ackerman,
Lynn Chu, Wolfgang Holdhcim, Ron Horning, Robert Polito, and
John H. Weiss, all ofwhom made valuable suggestions for improving
the manuscript. Lauren Oppcnhcim copycditcd it skillfully. Others
were liberal with their time, thoughts, and recollections; a partial list
includes M. H. Abrams, Ian Balfour, Joel Black, Linda Brooks, Ste-
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
8
phen G. Crane, Roger Gilbert, John Gordon, Nathanael Greene,
David Grossvogel, Donald Hall, John Hollander, Lawrence Joseph,
Roger Kimball, Richard Klein, Charlotte Levrard, Alison Lurie,
Steven Marcus, Michael R. Marrus, Edward Said, and Renee and
Theodore Weiss. The views of the people with whom I spoke or
corresponded sometimes conflicted with my own but were appreciated
no less for that. Finally, my collective thanks go to the professors,
students, writers, and critics who allowed me to interview them, in
some cases on condition ofanonymity to protect them from the wrath
of their academic adversaries.
FOR MY MOTHER
CONTENTS
Part One: The Rise ofDeconstruction 15
Chapter 1: The End ofthe Word 17
Chapter 2: Crazy About Deconstruction 43
Chapter 3: Archie Debunking 65
Chapter 4: To the Linguistic Abyss 93
Chapter 5: A Key Idea 115
Part Two: The Fall ofPaul de Man 141
Chapter 6: The Fallen Idol 143
Chapter 7: The Stolen Evening 163
Chapter 8: Like Uncle, Like Son 185
Chapter 9: A Scandal in Academe 209
Chapter 10: Signs ofthe Times 245
Appendix: '*TheJews in Contemporary Literature''
by Paul de Man 269
Notes 273
Bibliography 295
Index 301
