Notes from The Philosophy of Literary Form, in On Symbols and Society, Ch. 21

21.From The Philosophy of Literary Form, 39-51.

Aspects of the Scapegoat in Reidentification

Symbolic transformation involves killing. To “kill” (or should we say “die”?) is to change from one state to another. When killing (i.e. changing), there must be a scapegoat, a sacrificial animal, a vessel of unwanted evils, someone on whom the burden is placed. This becomes charismatic. This is tragedy. This vessel or animal or thing or god must be worthy of the sacrifice in 3 ways:

1.   Legalistically. Justice requires the sacrifice.

2.   Made worthy. Led to the sacrifice. Prophecies, omens.

3.   Poetic justice. Too good for this world.

Changing from old identity to new requires a rebirth, a change in substance. Charity, familistic consubstantiality.

The Sacrifice and the Kill

There’s a sacrifice and a kill in literary works, but some works stress sacrifice, while others stress kill.