Centre and Margin

'Centre' and 'margin' are two important terms in Deconstruction criticism. In the works of Jacques Derrida, the term 'centre' is used to represent 'a point of presence, a fixed origin'. This imposes a limit on the play of structure in which it is found or placed. Derrida also uses a range of other terms like 'origin', 'end', 'arche' e.t.c. as roughly equivalent to centre. The eminent critic Vincent Crapainzno argues that 'centreing' can operate both precursively and recursively. That is to say a centre can condition or determine the meaning that which preceds and also that which follows the centre.

Jacques Derrida's concept of supplementary is sometimes assocuated with margin or marginality. The logic behind such an association appears to be that if all the representation and interpretation requires a supplementary element, then we need to draw our attention to the margins of that which to be either representative or interpreted. Actually 'margin' is the binary opposition of the deconstructive term 'centre' which indicates the boundary or the periphery of language of a text or even the socio-hariarchial boundaries. Authors from the earlier part of the 20th century occupy a marginal or ambiguous position in social or national identity though they are able to see beyond the accepted or conventional attitudes and beliefs of their time. Modrnist literature is characterised by its relation to its marginal authors as well as its concern with the margin as representative of something central to modern existence.