SOURCE: Abrams, M. H. “The Deconstructive Angel.” Critical Inquiry 3, no. 3 (spring 1977): 425-38.

In the following essay, which many critics consider the strongest and most influential critique of deconstruction, Abrams points out the limitations of deconstruction in literary criticism.

DEMOGORGON:

                              —If the Abysm 

Could vomit forth its secrets:—but a voice 

Is wanting … 

—Shelley, Prometheus Unbound

We have been instructed these days to be wary of words like “origin,” “center,” and “end,” but I will venture to say that this session had its origin in the dialogue between Wayne Booth and myself which centered on the rationale of the historical procedures in my book, Natural Supernaturalism. Hillis Miller had, in all innocence, written a review of that book; he was cited and answered by Booth, then re-cited and re-answered by me, and so was sucked into the vortex of our exchange to make it now a dialogue of three...