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The Body in Pain Elaine Scarry (Associate Professor of English, Associate Professor of English, University of Pennsylvania)

The Body in Pain By Elaine Scarry (Associate Professor of English, Associate Professor of English, University of Pennsylvania)

Summary

Part philosophical meditation, part cultural critique , this explores the nature of physical suffering.

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The Body in Pain Summary

The Body in Pain: The Making and Unmaking of the World by Elaine Scarry (Associate Professor of English, Associate Professor of English, University of Pennsylvania)

Part philosophical meditation, part cultural critique, this profoundly original work explores the nature of physical suffering. Elaine Scarry bases her study on a wide range of sources: literature and art, medical case histories, documents on torture compiled by Amnesty International, legal transcripts of personal injury trials, and military and strategic writings by such figures as Clausewitz, Churchill, Liddell Hart, and Henry Kissinger. Scarry begins with the fact of pain's inexpressibility. Not only is physical pain difficult to describe in words, it also actively destroys language, reducing sufferers in the most extreme cases to an inarticulate state of cries and moans. Scarry goes on to analyse the political ramifications of deliberately inflicted pain, specifically in the cases of warfare and torture, and she demonstrates how political regimes use the power of physical pain to attack and break down the sufferer's sense of self. Finally she turns to examples of artistic and cultural activity; actions achieved in the face of pain and difficulty.

The Body in Pain Reviews

A philosophical and beautifully written book. * Brock Bastian, BBC Focus *
First published in 1985, the book is not easy reading, but it certainly is fascinating. * Star *

Additional information

CIN0195049969VG
9780195049961
0195049969
The Body in Pain: The Making and Unmaking of the World by Elaine Scarry (Associate Professor of English, Associate Professor of English, University of Pennsylvania)
Used - Very Good
Paperback
Oxford University Press Inc
1988-01-28
396
N/A
Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
This is a used book - there is no escaping the fact it has been read by someone else and it will show signs of wear and previous use. Overall we expect it to be in very good condition, but if you are not entirely satisfied please get in touch with us

Customer Reviews - The Body in Pain