Dialogism and Polyphony in Literature

Dialogism

Definition

Dialogism is the process by which a text reveals the presence and influence of other works within itself. It exists in both written works and the act of reading. Rather than a breakdown in communication, dialogism represents a continuous interplay with similar or immediate texts. This occurs during the reception and perception of an utterance, occupying a space shared by both speaker and listener. In conversational settings, participants develop dialogical positions through the flow of language during face-to-face interaction.

Bakhtin’s Perspective

According to Bakhtin, dialogue encompasses any oral transmission. This concept is central to his linguistic theory. He believed that all elements within language are social and historical, shaping the meaning and structure of fictional works and expressing perspectives on reality.

Hybridization and Styling

Bakhtin identifies dialogism in its pure form within the novel, as well as through dialogized interrelationships and hybridization—the mixing of two languages. Hybridization, a key aspect of how thought is expressed, clarifies language with the aid of another, creating a more natural and vivid representation. The use of multiple languages further illuminates the original text.

Bakhtin also emphasizes styling, where internal dialogue generates new, significant styling. This language carries unique echoes; some aspects are highlighted while others remain obscured.

Parody and Temporality

Parody is another feature of dialogism, figuratively unveiling the text. The spectrum between stylization and parody encompasses various languages shaped by interrelationships, aspirations, and oral expressions. Dialogue unfolds not only socially but also temporally, reflecting the dynamics of life and death. The relationship between people and the progression of time exists within a paradoxical unity of multiplicity, manifested through diverse languages.

Polyphony

Definition

Polyphony, a concept also attributed to Bakhtin, refers to the presence of multiple voices within a text. It acknowledges the existence of other works within a speech’s internal organization, influencing its ideas. While heterogeneity refers to the potential development of existing voices, polyphony encompasses the various threads within the text. Bakhtin contrasts the polyphonic novel with the monologic novel.

Dostoevsky’s Influence

Bakhtin’s concept of polyphony draws heavily from Dostoevsky’s works, such as Crime and Punishment and The Idiot. In the polyphonic mode, each character acts freely, possessing a unique perspective, voice, and posture within their context.

Irony and Polyphony

Polyphony is marked by controversy, contrasting with the single-voiced nature of monologic dialogue. Some scholars, like Beth Brait, consider irony inherent to polyphony. Conversely, a single dominant voice precludes debate.

Polyphony in Dostoevsky’s Work

The polyphonic novel is populated by diverse social expressions that clash and reveal differing opinions. Bakhtin considered Dostoevsky a prime example of a polyphonic novelist. In Dostoevsky’s works, dilemmas persist unresolved, without dialectical solutions.

Bakhtin argues that the autonomous, multiple voices and personalities constitute the essential virtue of Dostoevsky’s polyphonic novels. Each character’s rationality is revealed through the consciousness of others, yet they remain perpetually free, never becoming mere objects of the author’s reason.