The Significance of The Palimpsest in Contemporary Literary and Cultural Studies (original) (raw)

This essay explores the concept of 'palimpsest' as formulated in literary and cultural studies, tracing its evolution from a term for manuscript conservation to a powerful metaphor in various theoretical frameworks. Beginning with Thomas De Quincey's foundational essay, it examines how the palimpsest's metaphorical significance has been appropriated in discourses such as deconstruction, psychoanalysis, and queer theory, particularly in relation to complex textual structures that challenge linear narratives. The analysis highlights the implications of this metaphor in understanding identity and culture, culminating in a call to appreciate the interconnectedness between queerness and the palimpsest.