“Here are no Jeremy Bentham Panopticons, none of Mr. Owen's impassable Parallelograms (Rob Roy would have spurred and poured a thousand curses on them), no long calculations of self-interest -- the will takes its instant way to its object, as the mountain-torrent flings itself over the precipice…”

Select the aspect that can be noted here:

Correct option is A

Explanation:

This passage is taken from William Hazlitt's essay "On the Pleasure of Hating", where Hazlitt reflects on the complexity of human emotions, especially the irrationality of hate and the nature of human sentiments. The mention of Jeremy Bentham’s Panopticon and Robert Owen’s impassable Parallelograms are intertextual references to philosophical ideas that were contemporary during Hazlitt’s time. The references to these figures create multiple layers of meaning, invoking the philosophies of social control and idealism in contrast to human emotion, in particular hostility and instinctual behavior. This approach is a hallmark of intertextuality, where the text relies on prior knowledge of historical, philosophical, and literary ideas to enrich its meaning.

By incorporating these intertextual references, Hazlitt invokes both Bentham's utilitarianism (focused on logic and calculation) and Owen’s utopian social theories, contrasting them with the uncontrollable and impulsive nature of human desire and malevolence (represented by the “mountain-torrent”). This allusion enriches the reader’s understanding of the complex relationship between reason and instinct.

Information Booster:

Intertextuality refers to the relationship between different texts and how they influence, echo, or reference each other. It can be explicit, where one text directly mentions or quotes another, or implicit, where the influence is more subtle.

William Hazlitt and On the Pleasure of Hating:

- William Hazlitt was an English essayist, known for his critical writings on human nature, philosophy, and society. "On the Pleasure of Hating" reflects his deep exploration into human emotions, particularly hatred and irrationality.

In this essay, Hazlitt suggests that human nature contains contradictory feelings of hostility that, despite being irrational, have an intrinsic appeal.

He critiques philosophical ideals that try to rationalize human behavior and instead celebrates emotional authenticity.

The essay explores the pleasure that people derive from hatred, suggesting that emotions like anger and bitterness give humans a sense of control, especially when they rebel against structured or idealistic philosophies that attempt to impose order.

In this passage, the references to Jeremy Bentham and Robert Owen are examples of implicit intertextuality, where the author assumes that the reader will be familiar with these figures and their ideas.

• Intertextuality is often used to enrich a text by drawing on the reader’s cultural and literary knowledge, which creates multiple layers of meaning.
  
• Julia Kristeva is credited with coining the term intertextuality in the 1960s, expanding on the ideas of Mikhail Bakhtin and Roland Barthes.
  
  

Historical and Philosophical Allusions:

• Jeremy Bentham’s Panopticon was a design for a prison with a central watchtower, symbolizing surveillance and control.
  
• Robert Owen, a social reformer, had ideas about social justice and cooperative communities, and the reference to “impassable Parallelograms” might symbolize the rigidity or structural challenges of certain philosophical ideas or systems.
  
  

How Intertextuality Enhances Meaning:

• By referencing these figures and ideas, the text deepens the reader's understanding of freedom, control, and societal structures, implying a contrast between rigid systems and the unrestrained nature of the human will.
  
• The mention of “self-interest” versus “the mountain-torrent” evokes an immediate contrast between human reason (Bentham’s calculated approach) and instinctual action, adding layers to the message of liberation or resistance.
  
  
  

​Additional Knowledge:

"Psychoanalysis" → 
Psychoanalysis focuses on the unconscious mind and how repressed desires or psychological conflicts influence behavior.

"Sociology" → 
Sociology looks at the structure of society and human behavior within that context, particularly focused on institutions, social dynamics, and relationships.

"Linguistic" → 
Linguistics involves the study of language, its structure, and its use.