Perec and Bénabou

Marcel Bénabou’s first two sentences of “Rule and Constraint” really seemed to call out my manner of thinking. While I do understand the necessity for constraints, I am very much about the emotional authenticity in writing; therefore, the idea of putting constraints on emotions seems to be counteractive to the emotional release the literature often embodies. However, Bénabou makes good argument against my opinions heavily marinated in emotions. His idea that constraints are “a commodious way of passing from language to writing” (41) provides a perspective on constraints that is in a much better light than the word’s general connotation. People tend to want to fight constraint. Telling someone what they can’t do only makes them want to do just that. Bénabou acknowledges this desire in the human condition, but also implies that anarchy in writing benefits no one. When a writer is completely unrestrained, he or she begins to talk in chaotic, senseless circles, and if the author is confused by his or her work, imagine the reaction of the audience. Writing and language aren’t completely synonymous. Writing is a means of conveying a language. Therefore, some sort of limits need to be placed serve properly and effieciently.