Deconstruction

Poststructuralism, emerging in the mid-20th century, was a response to the perceived limitations of Structuralism. Instead of viewing language and culture as fixed systems, Poststructuralists argue that meaning is always shifting and unstable, influenced by a multitude of factors. 

Key thinkers like Jacques Derrida and Michel Foucault championed the concept of 'deconstruction,' which questions the idea of fixed meanings and identities. It reveals how our understanding of texts (and the world) is shaped by language, power dynamics, and cultural biases. 

Deconstruction is a philosophical critical approach to textual analysis that is most closely related to the work of Jacques Derrida. He gives the concept of binary opposition. 

The deconstructive method is used to show that a literary text is not fixed or stable. Jacques derrida states that every communication is characterized by uncertainity because there is no definitive link between a signifier (word) and signified (object). 

Once a text is written, it ceases to have a meaning until a reader reads it. There is no solid meaning to the text, that is no possibility of absolute truth.

In literature, Poststructuralism encourages readers to question assumptions and to recognize that a text's meaning isn't fixed or straightforward. It's about seeing beyond the surface, understanding that every text is open to endless interpretation.

While complex, Poststructuralism challenges us to see the world and literature in a new light. It's a reminder that meaning isn't just handed to us but something we actively construct and negotiate.