Proverbial Mimesis -- Mimetic Theory and Literary Study

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Date Posted: 18:19:21 01/29/08 Tue
Author: Erin Risch
Subject: Proverbial Mimesis

Yesterday I happened to read these three verses alone out of all of Proverbs, and I couldn't help but be reminded of several parts of our discussions about mimetic theory (providential, huh?):

"Under three things the earth trembles,
under four it cannot bear up:

a servant who becomes king,
a fool who is full of food,

an unloved woman who is married,
and a maidservant who displaces her mistress. "
-Proverbs 30:21-23

Three of the four seem to hint at the sort of mimetic rivalry that leads to lack of differentiation that we read so much about in the Scapegoat. Class lines blur and social roles become indistinguishable. Most of the commentary I found implied that people of humble beginnings ought not to be let their behavior become intolerable. But Proverbs says that "the earth trembles" and cannot bear up. What violent imagery . . . could it possibly relate to intense mimetic rivalry?

The last two describe situations that often produce mimetic rivalry. The maidservant who displaces her mistress specifically reminds one of Hagar and Sarai. Genesis 16:4 says, "[Abram] slept with Hagar, and she conceived. When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress." And of course, Sarai becomes outraged at Abram for "letting all this happen," too. Both Sarai and Hagar are obstacles to each other for Abram's affection and favor, as well as that of the community.

This whole post may be a bit of a stretch, but I thought I'd throw it out there.

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