Here's what it means in detail:
* Focus on Authorial Intention: The cult of the author believes that the author's intentions when creating the work are crucial to interpreting it. The author's life, experiences, and beliefs are considered to be the "source" of meaning in the text.
* Author as Authority: The author is seen as the ultimate authority on their work, and their interpretation is considered the definitive one.
* Biographical Context: The author's biography and historical context are considered essential for understanding the text.
* Text as a Reflection of the Author: The work is viewed as a direct expression of the author's thoughts, feelings, and worldview.
Barthes' Critique:
Barthes argued that this approach to literature was limiting and ultimately meaningless. He believed that the text itself should be the focus of analysis, not the author's intentions or biography.
He proposed that the "death of the author" meant that the reader should be free to interpret the text according to their own understanding and experiences, without being bound by the author's intentions.
The Legacy of the Cult of the Author:
While Barthes' ideas were controversial at the time, they have had a significant impact on literary criticism. Today, many critics acknowledge that authorial intention can be helpful but should not be the sole basis for interpreting a text.
Key takeaways:
* The cult of the author is a traditional approach to literary interpretation that focuses on the author's intention and biography.
* Barthes argued for a "death of the author" to free readers from the constraints of authorial control and allow for a more open and individualistic approach to interpretation.
* The concept of the cult of the author continues to be debated today, with some critics arguing that it is still relevant, while others see it as outdated.