Laforgue and His Philosophers, or the `Paratext' in the Intertextual Maze

This essay tracing and identifying the sources of Schopenhauer, Hegel and Buddhism in the work of Jules Laforgue finds the principal vehicle of transmission to consist of "paratexts" (introductions, commentaries, guides, prefaces, review articles, vulgarisations, as well as anthologies and letters.) It points to the decisive role of these "paratexts" in forming Laforgue's textual universe. Demonstrating with some precision the paths of the poet's exploration of contemporary European philosophy, the study cannot follow Laforgue in his investigation of Buddhism – through an intertextual maze that was already extremely dense and extensive during his days – with the same degree of certainty. It does suggest, however, Laforgue's most likely sources, frequently revealed to the poet by the paratexts that guided him in his exploration of philosophy. (UF)