Sign, Signifier, Delivered, I’m Not Yours

Sign, Signifier, Delivered, I’m Not Yours

So in spite of having read Havey’s thrilling introduction to neoliberalism, not having many prior knowledge of economy systems other the what I scarcely can recall from high school, I wanted to focus on more on looking at Kelman’s Sammy with a sort of Post-Modern lens.   

Last class we discussed several concepts of Post-Modernism and I could not help but think of my reading experience with Kelman’s Sammy Samuels. First off, I did not like Sammy. I understand that Kelman is trying to portray a certain type of person/class/way of life through Sammy’s character; however the novelty of his writing style only crossed my mind for the first few pages. Afterwards the reading experience as slow and choppy for me possibly due to the fact that I could not get past how many time he said “fuck” on one page. It would always jar me and I never got used to it.

My main interest from last week’s class discussion in relation to Kelma’s novel was in connection with Saussure’s idea of the sign/signifier/signified. The idea of a thing only having meaning in relation to other things or that meaning comes from the relationship between the signifier and the signified made me think of Sammy’s situation.

In the novel, after Sammy goes blind he is directed to go to the Department of Social Services to register for a Dysfunctional Benefit. However the intake officer spends just as much time discussing football with Sammy as he does asking him about his blindness. He refers Sammy to have a doctor examine his eyes which is where my thoughts on Saussure’s concepts are relevant. When Sammy goes in to have his eye checked the doctor questions Sammy about his history of anxiety and then says,

“I’ve sated that it would be wise to proceed on the assumption that should the alleged dysfunction be found….”

Here Sammy interrupts him saying, “‘Aye sorry for interrupting doctor but see when you say ‘alleged’?

Yes?

Are ye saying that you really don’t think I’m blind?

Pardon?

Ye saying ye don’t think I’m blind?

Of course not.

Well what are ye saying?

I told you a minute ago.

Could ye repeat it please?

In respect to the visual stimuli presented you appeared unable to respond.

So ye’re no saying I’m blind?

It isn’t for me to say.

Aye but you’re a doctor’” ( Kelman 225).

In this example the presents his reading of Sammy’s blindness to be “alleged” and possibly based off his history of anxiety so Sammy’s disability becomes the “sign” in this reading. To Sammy his blindness is real but it only has meaning to him and his inability to see. However, the doctor, who is part of the society, deems his disability “alleged” it lose power. In theory, Sammy’s disability only has meaning in accordance with how his society defines it. Thus the sign: blindness, in relation to its signifier: someone who cannot see and therefore cannot contribute to his society, over the signified: the law which states being blind is a disability which must be accounted for within a society. So with this reading, Sammy’s blindness has meaning to him, however the society in which he lives refuses to verify his claim and therefore his disability is not seen as such in their eyes. This takes away the meaning of “blindness” as a disability for Sammy since meaning is a socially created construct.