Girard and the commandments -- Mimetic Theory and Literary Study

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Date Posted: 13:27:02 02/24/08 Sun
Author: Janelle
Subject: Girard and the commandments

In Chapter 1 of "I See Satan Fall Like Lightning" Girard dives right in by analyzing the Ten Commandments, specifically the last five. He points out the differences between these five by saying the first four forbid actions, while the final forbids a desire (p 7). He further asserts that God's forbidding man to covet is used to get at the heart of desire so it cannot be corrupted. He then says "If we ceased to desire the goods of our neighbor, we would never commit murder or adultery or theft or false witness. If we respected the tenth commandment, the four commandments that precede it would be superfluous."(p 12) I understand that such mimetic desire can be and often is at the heart of such crimes,but I think Girard is ignoring the fact that such transgressions can come from origins other than mimesis. I am not so sure that crimes would cease if everyone ceased in desiring other people and objects. I don't think he can say that those previous four commandments are excessive. Does Girard really believe that desire is always at the heart of a crime, or is this just a generalization to get his theory across more effectively?

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