Walter Benjamin: His Theory of Art in Literature

by Martin Asiner

At the time of his death in 1940, Walter Benjamin was probably the least well known literary theorist in the west. Part of the reason is that much of his writing could not be called literary criticism at all. His writings ran the gamut from philosophy to art to Marxist history. Probably a more compelling reason for his initial lack of public renown was that it was not until years after his death that his various lectures, essays, reviews, and translations were published posthumously. By 1940, Benjamin had been a self-exile from Nazi Germany for several years. Most of this time was spent traveling in Europe and Russia though it was Paris that became his chief residence. He had made plans with fellow Marxists Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer to leave Europe for the United States where they had re-established the Frankfurt School. When the German tank armies began to roll into France in 1940, Benjamin knew that his name was on the Gestapo list for immediate removal to a death camp. He would not allow himself to be taken alive. Between June and September of 1940, Benjamin made plans to leave France for Spain which he hoped to use as a stepping-stone for a flight to America. He was in a group of refugees that had just paid off a border guard who agreed to let them pass; however, at the last minute, this guard changed his mind. Benjamin and his fellow travelers were told to return to France. Benjamin was severely depressed over his immediate fate so on September 27, 1940, he took an overdose of morphine and killed himself. Ironically, the very next day, his group was given permission to cross into France. One more day of hope and Walter Benjamin would have been a free man.

24 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 6, 2020