NYU Press

Chapter Title: The Time is Out of Joint

Chapter Author(s): Jacques Derrida

Book Title: Deconstruction Is/In America

Book Subtitle: A New Sense of the Political
Book Author(s): Derek Attridge, Michel Beaujour, Judith Butler, Cynthia Chase, Jonathan
Culler, Jacques Derrida, Peter Eisenman, Rodolphe Gasché, Anselm Haverkamp, Peggy
Kamuf, Perry Meisel, J. Hillis Miller, Avital Ronell, Gayatri Spivak, Barbara Vinken,
Elisabeth Weber, Samuel Weber and David Wills
Book Editor(s): Anselm Haverkamp
Published by: NYU Press. (1995)
Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt9qfqqx.6

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Deconstruction Is/In America

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The Tim e i s Out of Join t

Jacques Derrid a

"So long? . . . "

(Hamlet)

I
Forgive m e fo r thankin g yo u i n m y language . I am ver y gratefu l t o
you, i n th e firs t place , fo r allowin g th e foreigne r her e a t Ne w
York University—an d thi s i s hospitality itself , with whic h yo u ar e
unstinting—to than k yo u i n hi s language . T o than k yo u all , an d
especially th e tw o friend s an d colleague s wh o ha d th e fortunat e
idea o f thi s colloquium , To m Bisho p an d Ansel m Haverkamp .
I than k the m i n m y name , o f course , sinc e the y hav e don e m e
the hono r o f confidin g thi s perilou s tas k t o me : t o addres s t o th e
experts an d th e redoubtabl e reader s tha t yo u are , a key word, a
keynote, a t th e halfwa y point , righ t i n th e middl e o f th e collo -
quium, a t th e ver y tim e whe n th e colloquiu m seem s t o pivo t o n
itself. Lik e time , lik e deconstructio n perhaps , lik e a doo r o n it s
hinges, ou r colloquiu m woul d tur n i n thi s way , an d folding bac k
on itself , i t woul d als o bend to an d obe y itself , withou t th e leas t
certainty.
As fo r deconstruction , i t ha s neve r bee n a t peac e wit h it s
hinges—which i s perhap s it s wa y o f tirelessl y remindin g u s o f
disjointment itself , th e possibilit y o f an y disjunction . Sinc e I a m

14

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 The Tim e i s Out o f Joint 1 5

speaking i n m y language , I underscor e her e tha t "disjoncter," i n a

kind o f moder n slang , ca n als o mea n "delirer, " t o becom e m a d o r
deranged. Whethe r Hamle t playe d o r live d hi s madness , whethe r
he was abl e t o mimi c i t onl y in order to thin k i t (i n view o f thinkin g
it an d becaus e alread y h e though t o f himsel f o n th e basi s o f mad -
ness), the on e wh o sai d "Th e tim e i s out o f joint" kne w i n an y case ,
as nearl y a s possible , wha t "disjoncter" means . Wha t happen s i f
time i s mad ? An d wha t i f wha t tim e give s i s first o f al l th e mea -
surelessness o f all madness ?
To b e hors de ses gonds, of f one' s hinges , ma y b e translate d b y
"out o f joint. " "Th e tim e i s ou t o f joint" : thi s i s th e m a d thinkin g
that I will ofte n spea k abou t thi s evening .
I ough t t o begi n b y rereadin g a passag e tha t yo u al l kno w
by heart :

Hamlet: . . . . Swea r
Ghost [beneath] : Swear
[They swear]
Hamlet: Rest, rest perturbed Spirit ! So Gentlemen ,
With all my love I do commend m e to you;
And what s o poor a man as Hamlet i s
Do t'express his love and friending t o you,
God willing, shall not lack: Let us go in together ,
And still your fingers on your lips, I pray.
The time is out of joint: Oh cursed spight ,
That ever I was born t o set it right .
Nay, come, let's go together. [Exeunt ]

I than k yo u thu s i n m y n a m e — I insis t o n thi s point—an d no t

at al l i n th e n a m e o f som e entit y nickname d "Deconstruction. " I
have neve r claime d t o identif y mysel f wit h wha t ma y b e desig -
nated b y thi s name . I t ha s alway s seeme d strang e t o me , i t ha s
always lef t m e cold . Moreover, I have neve r stoppe d havin g doubt s
about th e ver y identit y o f wha t i s referre d t o b y suc h a nickname .
Finally, an d especially , presumin g tha t it exist s an d tha t it ca n b e
identified, ther e i s n o wa y on e ca n giv e thank s i n it s nam e sinc e
deconstruction wil l alway s maintai n a relatio n tha t i s a s enig -
matic a s i t i s disjointed t o gratitude , mor e precisely , t o commerce ,
to th e market , an d t o th e thankfulnes s o f thanking . O n th e on e
hand, i t i s th e mos t thankles s thin g i n th e world , a kin d o f ethic s

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16 Jacque s Derrid a

of ingratitude (elsewher e and a t length , I have tried t o justify this ,

if on e ma y stil l sa y that) , a practic e o f implacabl e ingratitude ,
without thanks , sans merci. Deconstructio n i s merciless . O n th e
other hand , a s a thinkin g o f the gift , o f a gift beyon d th e deb t an d
a justic e beyon d th e law , deconstructio n should , o n th e contrary ,
be devote d t o grac e an d gratitude , thu s t o a gratitud e withou t
thanks, withou t exchang e or , i f yo u prefer , accordin g t o a n ex -
change tha t carrie s beyon d exchange . I t shoul d b e onl y a t th e
moment—and o n th e condition—of openin g itsel f t o the possibil -
ity of the gift, a s to a kind of ecstatic and boundless caress of mut e
gratitude. I t learn s onl y b y receiving/I t teache s onl y t o receiv e
[Elle riapprend qua recevoir]. I t cultivate s th e experienc e tha t
consists i n receivin g fro m th e othe r th e ver y thin g tha t i t ca n
never be a question o f restituting an d inscribin g i n th e commerc e
of thanks or the market o f commodities.
Enough on the thanks and th e thanksgiving of deconstruction .
Now, afte r th e merciles s gift , th e reques t fo r forgiveness . Yes ,
forgive m e if I severely limi t m y remarks thi s evening t o the risk y
interpretation o f a single word .
A very littl e word , th e minuscul e couplin g o f two letters, a cop -
ula or copule, a minuscopule.
I am , therefore , speakin g m y language , a s i f I ha d already , o n
the ev e of m y comin g departure , lef t t o return t o France . And ye t
the tw o chose n letter s wil l b e thos e of an Englis h word , o f a ver b
in truth . Politenes s requires , a s doe s hospitality , tha t Englis h b e
the chosen language of this verb.
Such a passwor d migh t pas s unnotice d becaus e i t i s s o com -
mon. I t belong s t o th e mos t commo n languag e an d i t i s commo n
to two littl e phrases tha t see m t o turn o n it as on a hinge. What i s
this word? It is "is." Here it is:
"The time is out of joint"
says Hamlet and , to cite the title of our colloquium ,
"Deconstruction is/i n America. "
How i s on e t o understan d thi s copula ? Doe s th e "is " have th e
same meaning ? Doe s i t perfor m th e sam e function , o r rathe r th e
same dysfunctioning , i n bot h propositions ? Wh y shoul d w e cros s
these tw o quotations—becaus e the y ar e bot h quotations—a t th e
disjointed juncture , a t th e crossroad s o r th e crossin g o f thi s littl e

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 The Time is Out of Joint 1 7

"is"? Should w e also inscribe i t under som e erasure i n the form of

a cross ?
These are , w e wer e saying , tw o quotations . Tw o quotation s i n
English. And doubtless there were those who were surprised t o see
me announc e wit h a n Englis h titl e a lectur e concernin g whic h i t
was mad e clear , a t m y request , tha t i t woul d b e give n i n m y
language, French . Thi s wa s no t don e t o b e intriguing ; no r wa s i t
done out of playfulness, no r out of courtesy. Why then ?
First o f all, in orde r t o signa l tha t i f ther e i s a proble m aroun d
"Deconstruction i n America, " o r "Deconstructio n bein g America ,
as America , o r in America, " i t i s a n adventur e o f translation , a t
the ver y leas t i t i s a histor y fro m whic h on e canno t effac e th e
singular experienc e o f translation an d transference . Le t us under -
stand thes e word s i n al l thei r sense s an d al l thei r dimensions ,
which ar e no t onl y linguistic . A t stak e i s presenc e an d event : o f
what comes to pass or what take s place.
(I hav e ofte n ha d occasio n t o defin e deconstructio n a s tha t
which is—fa r fro m a theory, a school, a method, even a discourse ,
still les s a techniqu e tha t ca n b e appropriated—a t botto m what
happens or comes to pass [c e qui arrive]. It remains then to situate,
localize, determin e wha t happen s wit h wha t happens , when i t
happens. To date it. Has deconstruction happened ? Has it arrived ?
Of course i t has , if you like , but then , i f i t has , so many question s
arise: How ? Where? When ? O n what dat e exactly ? Wa s i t s o long
ago, already? O r perhaps no t yet ? Supposin g tha t deconstructio n
has a shibboleth, I remin d yo u tha t th e questio n o f th e dat e i s
inseparable fro m i t an d tha t th e lin k betwee n shibboleth an d date
is a n insisten t them e o f wha t i s calle d decon s tractive readings ,
one of the most apparent theme s of deconstruction.)
Now, Hamlet i s mad abou t dates . His phrase ("Th e tim e i s ou t
of joint") doe s no t betra y onl y th e symptomati c anxiet y o f some -
one whos e memor y i s suffering . Hi s memor y i s sufferin g i n fac t
from a death , an d a deat h i s never natural . His memor y i s suffer -
ing fro m th e deat h o f a king , a father , an d a homonym , bu t i t i s
suffering first o f al l an d b y tha t ver y token , as memory, fro m
amnesia, from a n amnesi a tha t i s not natural either . It is sufferin g
because i t canno t remember , thu s becaus e i t canno t thin k th e
event o f thi s s o unnatural death , becaus e i t i s not a memor y tha t

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18 Jacque s Derrid a

is sur e o f bein g abl e t o situate , date , determine , objectif y th e

event tha t th e so n mus t accoun t fo r an d t o whic h h e mus t rende r
accounts i n renderin g justice , i n makin g justic e o f a crime ,
through th e vengeanc e an d punishmen t t o whic h h e ha s commit -
ted himsel f wit h a n oath . Tha t th e even t ha s take n plac e an d tha t
he remember s it , tha t i t concern s th e violen t deat h o f hi s father ,
that ther e seem s t o be unimpeachabl e testimon y i n thi s regard , al l
of thi s doe s no t rul e ou t madness . Thi s structurin g even t ma y
still belon g t o wha t Freu d calle d "psychi c reality, " a s oppose d t o
"material reality" ; i t ma y stil l testif y t o th e phantasmati c dimen -
sion o f a repetitio n en abime, o f th e theate r withi n th e theate r tha t
is reflected i n th e hear t o f th e play .
The proof ? Th e proo f tha t "th e tim e i s ou t o f joint" ? On e proo f
at least ? Well , n o on e ca n agre e abou t th e time , abou t th e dat e o f
the King' s death , an d abou t th e tim e tha t separate s presen t speec h
from thi s even t which , i n spit e o f o r becaus e o f al l tha t destine s i t
to repetition , play s a n inaugural , founding , o r institutin g rol e i n
the story . N o on e ca n agre e abou t th e tim e o f mourning , whic h i s
finally th e tru e subjec t o f th e play . I t i s jus t now , upo n rereadin g
the pla y recently , tha t I have notice d this , s o late , to o late , a s i f b y
countretemps. Hamle t i n fac t haunt s th e boo k I hav e jus t written ,
Specters of Marx. Th e phras e "Th e tim e i s ou t o f joint " i s cited ,
recited, analyzed , an d als o love d ther e lik e a n obsession . An d yet ,
after th e fact , I rea d i t toda y differently . Her e the n i s a contre -
temps, on e mor e contretemp s i n contretemp s itself . Unti l today , I
had no t notice d what , lyin g inhume d i n "Th e tim e i s ou t o f joint" ,
in th e subterranea n strat a o f th e text , coul d als o resonat e secretl y
with tha t essentia l patholog y o f mourning . I hav e becom e awar e
of i t to o late ; i t i s to o late , fo r Specters of Marx, wher e mourning ,
the dis - or anachron y o f mourning i s in som e wa y th e ver y subject .
This traged y o f datin g ha s becom e apparen t t o m e today , to o late .
But thi s contretemp s i s a contretemp s withi n th e contretemp s
because i t i s a questio n o f a contretemp s o n th e subjec t o f a n
utterance tha t say s th e contretemps . Repetition , th e la w o f itera -
bility, i s stil l th e la w o f differanc e here . This i s no t th e first tim e I
have give n mysel f ove r t o th e Shakespearia n contretemps . A fe w
years ago , afte r a n unforgettabl e tri p t o Verona , I wrot e a n essa y
on Romeo and Juliet, "Aphoris m Countertime. " Lik e Specters of

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 The Tim e i s Out o f Joint 1 9

Marx, i t crosse d th e theme s o f anachrony , mourning , haunting ,

oath, survival , an d th e n a m e — w h i c h i n th e tha t instanc e a s wel l
is th e nam e o f th e fathe r (Juliet: —" 'Ti s bu t th y nam e tha t i s m y
enemy . . . 0 ! b e som e othe r n a m e / W h a t ' s i n a name ? . . . Den y
thy father , an d refus e th y nam e . . . Romeo , dof f th y name") . T o
analyze "th e fatednes s o f a dat e an d a rendezvous " an d th e "trap s
in contretemps, " I the n trie d t o demonstrat e i n wha t wa y "dates ,
timetables, propert y registers , place-names , al l th e code s tha t w e
cast lik e net s ove r tim e an d space—i n orde r t o reduc e o r maste r
differences, t o arres t them , determin e them—thes e ar e als o con -
tretemps-traps." An d s o a s t o clarif y thi s questio n o f time , o f th e
being o f time, of what the n is, i n it s impossibl e present , tim e itself ,
I continued : "Intende d t o avoi d contretemps , t o b e i n harmon y
with ou r rhythm s b y bendin g the m t o objectiv e measurement ,
they produc e misunderstanding , the y accumulat e th e opportuni -
ties fo r fals e step s o r wron g moves , revealin g an d simultaneousl y
increasing thi s anachron y o f desires : in the same time. Wha t i s thi s
time?" 1
A deliriu m o f th e dat e thu s confer s o n th e incredibl e sentenc e
"The tim e i s ou t o f joint" mor e tha n on e supplementar y meaning ,
to b e sure , bu t at the same time, jus t a s man y mor e madnesses . At
the same time. At once [Su r l'heure] . A s i f ther e wer e a dea d tim e
in th e hou r itself .
Everything i n fac t begins , i n Hamlet, wit h th e dea d tim e o f thi s
"dead hour, " a t th e momen t when , i n a n alread y repetitiv e fash -
ion, th e specte r arrive s b y returning . A t th e firs t hou r o f th e play ,
the first tim e alread y mark s a secon d tim e (Ac t I , sc.i , Marcellus:
"Thus twic e before , an d j u m p a t thi s dea d hour, / Wit h martia l
stalk hat h h e gon e b y ou r watch") . Th e vigilanc e o f th e watchin g
guard, th e ver y watc h o f consciousness , i s als o a maddene d watc h
or timepiec e that , turnin g o n itself , doe s no t kno w ho w t o guar d
or regar d th e hou r o f thi s "dea d hour. " I t i s delivere d ove r t o
another tim e fo r whic h th e timecloc k an d th e calenda r n o longe r
are th e law . They n o longe r ar e th e la w o r the y ar e no t ye t th e law .
Dates hav e com e unhinged .
Then there' s Claudiu s wh o want s t o hav e don e wit h mourning ,
without delay , s o h e begin s b y encouragin g himsel f t o cu t shor t
this tim e o f mournin g an d t o tak e advantag e o f time : "Thoug h ye t

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20 Jacque s Derrid a

of Hamle t ou r dea r brother' s death / Th e memor y b e green , an d

that i t u s befitted / T o bea r ou r heart s i n grief , an d ou r whol e
kingdom/ T o b e contracte d i n on e bro w o f woe, / Ye t s o fa r hat h
discretion fough t wit h nature / Tha t w e wit h wises t sorro w thin k
on him / Togethe r wit h remembranc e o f ourselves. " Soon , i n th e
same speech he uses words that announc e Hamlet's sentence, "The
time is out of joint." He speaks at thi s point of the State, such as it
appears i n th e dream y eye s o r th e wil d imaginatio n o f th e so n of
Fortinbras, th e on e wh o will , le t u s no t forget , en d u p o n th e
throne. Th e Kin g pretend s t o than k hi s guests : "Fo r all , ou r
thanks,/ Now follows tha t yo u know young Fortinbras,/ Holding a
weak supposa l o f ou r worth, / O r thinkin g b y ou r lat e dea r
brother's death / Ou r stat e t o b e disjoint an d ou t o f frame, / Col -
leagued wit h thi s drea m o f hi s advantage, / H e hat h no t faile d t o
pester us with messag e . . ." (Act I, sc.ii; emphasis added) .
A little later , th e King , onc e again , encourage s Laerte s t o tak e
his time , t o appropriat e i t ("tim e b e thine") , to use th e sea l o f hi s
father, Polonius , an d wit h th e authorizatio n thu s obtained , t o g o
away (th e tim e i t takes , hi s time—i n fac t i n th e logi c an d th e
chronology of the play, all the time it will take for his father t o die
in hi s tur n b y Hamlet' s hand , an d s o forth) : "Tak e th y fai r hour ,
Laertes. Time b e thine, / And thy bes t grace s spen d i t a t th y will. /
But now, my cousin Hamlet, and m y son . . ." (ibid.).
After which , turning t o the one who refuses th e name o f son, he
exhorts Hamle t t o count th e days , to cut shor t th e tim e of mourn -
ing, to measure i t in a measured fashion , "fo r some term," to put a
term to it ; a term , tha t is , at onc e th e engagement , th e term s o f a
mourning contract , s o t o speak , an d th e limit , th e boundary , th e
endpoint, o r th e moderatio n tha t i s appropriate . On e must , h e
tells hi m i n effect , kno w ho w t o pu t a n en d t o mourning . Thi s
presumes (bu t thi s i s on e o f th e enigma s o f th e play , a s i t i s o f
mourning) tha t mournin g depend s o n us , i n us , an d no t o n th e
other i n us . It presume s abov e al l a knowledge , th e knowledg e of
the date . On e mus t indee d kno w when: at what instant mournin g
began. On e mus t indee d kno w at what moment deat h too k place ,
really too k place, and thi s i s always th e momen t o f a murder. Bu t
Hamlet, an d everyon e i n Hamlet, seem s t o b e wanderin g aroun d

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 The Tim e i s Out of Joint 2 1

in confusio n o n thi s subject . Now , when an d i f one doe s no t kno w

when a n even t too k place , on e ha s t o wonde r if i t indee d too k
place, o r i n an y cas e i f it too k plac e i n "materia l reality " a s Freu d
might hav e said , an d no t onl y i n th e fabri c o f som e "psychi c
reality," i n phantas m o r delirium . A date , whic h i s t o say , th e
objectivity o f a presumed reference , stand s precisel y a t th e joinin g
of th e "material" an d th e "psychic. "
To carr y mournin g beyon d it s "normal " ter m i s n o longe r th e
gesture o f a son , say s th e Kin g t o Hamlet ; an d i t i s eve n "un -
manly," thu s perhap s inhuman , h e suggests , no t realizin g tha t h e
has just sai d ver y wel l tha t th e question o f mourning, whic h i s the
very hear t o f an y deconstruction , carrie s beyon d th e h u m a n (o r
the viril ) th e onl y possibilit y o f interrogatin g th e h u m a n (o r th e
viril) a s such :
King: 'Tis sweet and commendable i n your nature, Hamlet ,
To give these mourning dutie s to your father ,
But you must know your father los t a father ,
That father lost , lost his, and the survivor boun d
In filial obligation for some ter m
To do obsequious sorrow. But to persever
In obstinate condolement i s a course
Of impious stubbornness. 'Tis unmanly grief. . . .
. . . 'tis a fault t o heaven,
A fault agains t th e dead, a fault t o nature,
To reason most absurd, whose common them e
Is death of fathers, and who still hath cried ,
From the first corse till he that die d today ,
"This must be so." We pray you throw to earth
This unprevailing woe , and think of us
As of a father . . .
(Act I, sc. ii)
Exhorting hi m t o pu t a term t o hi s grief , t o comprehend hi s
mourning, t o comprehen d i t betwee n tw o dates , th e beginnin g
and th e end, the Kin g propose s t o Hamlet , wit h th e same gesture ,
to replac e hi s father. H e confirms thereb y tha t if , accordin g t o th e
common prejudic e an d on e whic h Freu d (th e Freu d o f The Rat
Man) di d no t escape , a mothe r is , b y universa l testimony , natu -
rally irreplaceable , th e father , o n th e othe r hand , remain s tha t
"legal fiction" tha t Stephe n talk s abou t i n Ulysses, no t fa r fro m a

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22 Jacque s Derrid a

meditation o n Hamlet . A legal fiction , yes , especiall y whe n a fa -

ther i s th e fathe r i n th e figure o f th e king . Fo r on e o f th e king' s
"two bodies" can always, by definition, b e replaced .
It seem s the n al l th e easie r t o pu t a ter m t o mourning : every -
thing happens a s if the father wer e not dead , as if the murde r ha d
not take n place , a s i f i t wer e impossibl e t o testif y t o i t an d t o
assign i t a date . Since , Claudiu s says , th e "deat h o f fathers " i s a
"common theme " o f reason , a fathe r wh o alway s die s neve r dies ,
he i s replace d o n thj s ver y dat e o n whic h h e dies . If thi s deat h i s
always a murder, ther e i s always someone—and occasionall y i t is
the murderer—t o offe r hi s paternit y t o th e orphan . A priori, al -
ways an d withou t delay , o n th e ver y dat e o f a deat h concernin g
which on e immediatel y wonder s i f i t too k place , someon e come s
to say to the orphan: " I am you r true father, b e my son."
Now, you will have noticed, in the same scene, what cannot be a
chronological coincidence : Remainin g alon e on stage after havin g
heard hi s uncle-King, whic h i s to say from no w o n his stepfather ,
or a s on e say s i n Frenc h hi s beau-pere, his lega l father , hi s fathe r
according t o th e la w (o r hi s father-in-law) , Hamle t seem s n o
longer t o know when hi s fathe r died . On what date ? Sinc e when ?
The confusio n seem s t o caus e hi s memor y t o g o astray . Sinc e
when i s h e i n mourning ? Tw o month s o r on e month ? "Tha t i t
should com e t o this:/ But tw o months dead , nay, not s o much, no t
two . . . " An d les s tha n te n line s late r h e say s "an d ye t withi n a
month—/Let m e not thin k on't ; frailty , th y nam e i s woman— . . .
O god , a beas t tha t want s discours e o f reason / Woul d hav e
mourned longer—marrie d wit h m y uncle, / M y father' s brother ,
but n o mor e lik e m y father / Tha n I t o Hercules . Withi n a
month . . . "
When h e accuse s hi s mothe r o f no t respectin g th e terms , th e
dates, an d th e tim e o f mourning , h e return s th e accusatio n o f
inhumanity. The King his stepfather ha d sai d t o him: t o maintai n
mourning beyon d th e norma l time , beyond th e ter m appropriat e
to huma n mourning , i s inhuman , i t i s a crim e agains t th e dea d
and agains t reason . Hamlet, fo r hi s part , accuse s th e woman , th e
mother, he accuses feminine-maternal frailt y o f giving itself u p t o
the replaceability o f a surrogate mother , ther e wher e the father i s
irreplaceable, an d o f conductin g itsel f lik e a beast , tha t is , in a n

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 The Time is Out of Joint 2 3

inhuman fashion . Mournin g i s human , onl y beast s d o no t wea r

mourning an d kno w nothin g o f dates . And th e rationalis m o f th e
reasonable, th e invocatio n o f reason, o f the "discours e o f reason/ '
is als o o n th e sid e o f thi s inhuma n bestiality ; i t i s a strateg y
of rationalizatio n destine d t o serv e an d t o hid e th e interest s o f
a crime .
Time passes . A s tim e passes , tim e passes . Instea d o f takin g
place, i t disappears , i t cease s t o tak e place . I t mourn s itself . In -
stead o f stretchin g out , instea d o f growin g larger , i t shrinks , i t
recalls mourning t o the chronological paradox of its economy. The
two months, then th e month , th e les s than a month o f the "withi n
a month, " an d the n withou t dela y the y wil l becom e hours , les s
than tw o hours—"within tw o hours"—or els e "twice two months"
depending o n th e plac e mournin g assign s t o on e o r t o th e other ,
Hamlet o r Ophelia . We say that thi s happens "withou t delay" ; w e
could sa y th e opposite: it will "delay, " but withou t delay , becaus e
the mor e i t delays , the les s tim e i s long, thus th e les s i t delays . It
is a matte r o f thinkin g wha t "delay " mean s an d o f puttin g thi s
delay i n relatio n t o th e tim e o f mournin g (i s ther e a tim e tha t i s
not a time of mourning?) and to the time of mourning as messiani c
time of imminence. Here the term o f mourning give s the measure .
But i t i s the impossibl e measur e o f time. And thus th e impossibil -
ity o f a n objectiv e an d stabl e referenc e t o th e violenc e o f th e
founding event—whic h alway s ha s somethin g t o d o with a phan -
tasm. To have said "tw o months," then twic e "within a month," in
a pla y whos e chronology i s so difficult t o follow an d whos e calen -
dar s o difficul t t o reconstitut e (th e play' s actio n stretche s ove r
several months) , wil l no t i n fac t preven t Hamle t fro m reducing ,
much late r (Ac t III, sc. ii) the months int o hours. But one does no t
know then , no more tha n ever , if for th e time being he is speakin g
figuratively, i f he i s trul y ravin g o r i f he i s playing a t madnes s i n
order t o outmaneuve r hi s partners , foo l everybody , an d pu t th e
event bac k o n stage , b y organizin g th e theatrica l repetitio n i n
which it already consists, with the sole aim of ensnaring the crimi-
nal, trappin g him , catchin g hi m wit h hi s sympto m ("Th e play' s
the thing / Wherei n I'l l catc h th e conscienc e o f th e kin g . . ."). To
Ophelia, afte r havin g pretende d t o wan t t o pu t Hamlet' s hea d
between he r legs , a s i f t o mimi c penetratio n o r birth—whic h

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24 Jacque s Derrid a

would have made of his beloved his surrogate mother , his replace-
ment mother , hi s virgi n mother—t o Opheli a wh o say s t o hi m
"You ar e merry , m y lord, " Hamle t respond s a s i f he wer e lookin g
at his watch. And naming survival ("outlive"), he counts the hours:
"What should a man d o but be merry? For look you how cheerfull y
my mother looks , and m y father die d within's tw o hours. Ophelia:
Nay, 'ti s twic e tw o months , m y lord . Hamlet: S o long? Nay , then ,
let th e devi l wea r black , fo r I'l l hav e a sui t o f sables . O heavens!
Die tw o month s ago , an d no t forgotte n yet ? The n there' s hop e a
great man' s memor y ma y outliv e hi s lif e hal f a year . But , by' r
Lady, he must build churche s the n . . ."

II
If I chose thi s title , "The tim e i s out o f joint," woul d i t b e merel y
so a s t o recal l thes e supplementar y disturbance s o f a n abyssa l
mourning o r jus t t o attemp t i n vai n t o mak e u p fo r m y ow n
lateness? No , i t i s als o ou t o f fidelity, ou t o f a tast e fo r memor y
and repetition . I n thi s cas e I wanted t o thematiz e wha t ma y b e a
traditional gestur e o f deconstruction , a t leas t th e deconstructio n
that interest s me . This gestur e woul d consis t i n interrogating , s o
as t o pu t the m bac k int o play , title s i n general : th e titl e o f th e
title, th e justificatio n an d authorit y o f th e title . An d t o d o s o b y
marking a multi-referentiality , whic h i s t o sa y (forgiv e m e thi s
suitcase word ) a differeferentialty [differeferentialite ] o f th e titl e
that i s thu s suspended . Th e referenc e o f the title , that t o which i t
refers, th e thin g i n pla y become s a t onc e multiple , different , an d
deferred. Thu s fo r exampl e "Th e tim e i s ou t o f joint " doe s no t
announce only the dislocations, disjunctions, disjoinings , disartic -
ulations, anachronies, contretemps, all the untimeliness tha t I will
be speaking abou t thi s evening . In othe r words , this titl e doe s no t
anounce only the subject or the content, th e stakes of this discours e
(and thi s subjec t i s alread y a certai n differenc e withi n time , a
temporal an d temporalizin g differance) . "Ou t o f joint " als o de -
scribes i n advanc e wha t wil l b e th e tim e o f thes e remarks . Disor -
ganization, disarticulation : thes e ar e both the thematic stakes and
the form o f these out-of-joint remarks , the dis-junction a t th e hear t
of th e "is " that i s s o poorl y defined , an d wit h s o muc h difficulty ,
by the third perso n singula r present indicativ e of the verb to be.

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 The Time is Out of Joint 2 5

Two quotation s therefore . Tw o reporte d sentence s neithe r o f

which (becaus e I am quotin g them ) is , as on e says , by me , signe d
or countersigned b y me:

1. "Th e time is out of joint."

2. "Deconstructio n is/i n America. "

I signe d neithe r th e on e no r th e other , tha t i s true , bu t I hav e

loved bot h o f them . Moreover , on e ca n neve r lov e anythin g othe r
than that : wha t on e canno t sign , h e o r sh e i n th e plac e o f who m
one neither can nor wants t o sign.
I love d the m fo r a time , and i t i s about them , which I loved fo r
a time , an d whic h therefor e I stil l lov e inasmuc h a s the y ar e no t
mine, that I would like to talk a little.
What d o the y hav e i n common , thes e tw o belove d sentences ?
First o f all , I have love d them , whic h a t leas t fo r m e i s priceless .
This lov e render s the m desirabl y ineffaceabl e withi n me . Next ,
these tw o sentence s preten d t o sa y wha t is , what i s "is, " only i n
order t o en d u p als o b y forcin g m e t o relinquis h th e "is, " b y
dis-locating, discrediting , an d suspendin g th e ver y authorit y o f
the "is."
And perhap s deconstructio n woul d consist , i f a t leas t i t di d
consist, i n precisel y that : deconstructing , dislocating , displacing ,
disarticulating, disjoining , puttin g "ou t o f joint" th e authorit y o f
the "is. " Or yet again , rathe r tha n doin g that , sooner , eve n befor e
doing that , an d doin g i t methodically , i t woul d b e a matte r fo r
deconstruction o f measurin g itsel f agains t th e historical experi -
ence—and thi s i s histor y itself—agains t th e experienc e o f tha t
which in the "is," in time or in the present tim e of the "is," remains
precisely "ou t of joint."
I wil l com e bac k t o thi s late r whil e insistin g o n wha t Hamle t
says to me toda y i n America whe n he pronounces i n Englis h "Th e
time i s ou t o f joint. " An d I wil l sa y wh y I canno t separat e thi s
extraordinary sentenc e fro m th e on e that , modestly , i s murmur -
ing, fa r fro m th e stag e an d th e theater : "Deconstructio n is/i n
America."
Concerning this latter sentence, one of the two quotations there-
fore, forgiv e m e i f I recall, still i n a preliminar y fashion , tha t I i n
fact pronounce d i t bu t withou t assumin g it , withou t subscribin g

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26 Jacque s Derrid a

to it , withou t eve r believin g it . It wa s i n 1984 ; in America , a t th e

University of California, Irvine, where I had not yet begun to teac h
regularly. At that time , and for some time yet to come, I remaine d
more o f a n East-coas t America n sinc e I wa s teachin g ever y yea r
for severa l week s a t Yal e afte r havin g don e th e sam e thin g a t
Johns Hopkins. In 1984 , then, I had been invited to give the Wellek
Lectures a t Irvine . Davi d Carrol l an d Suzann e Gearhar t ha d sug -
gested tha t I speak—this wa s te n year s ago—o n wha t alread y fo r
some time had bee n called "Deconstructio n i n America." This wa s
also th e titl e o f a boo k publishe d i n 198 3 at Universit y o f Minne -
sota Press , The Yale Critics: Deconstruction in America. I ha d ex -
plained th e reasons—ther e wer e fou r o f them—fo r whic h I
thought I had t o renounce, as I must als o do this evening , talkin g
about "Deconstructio n i n America." I will not recal l thes e reason s
because al l thi s ha s sinc e bee n publishe d i n Memoires for Paul de
Man. Bu t permi t m e t o say , i n th e mos t neutra l fashio n possible ,
that thes e reason s see m t o m e stil l t o withstan d al l th e consider -
able transformation s tha t hav e occurred i n th e las t te n year s and ,
however presumptuou s thi s ma y sound , I woul d no t chang e a
word of what I said then on the subject .
Having arrive d a t th e fourt h o f thes e reasons , I riske d puttin g
forth a n hypothesi s accordin g t o which , i f i t i s impossibl e t o tal k
about deconstructio n i n America , thi s i s becaus e "Americ a is de-
construction [l'Amerique , mais cest l a deconstruction]."
I had tried , then , t o explain wh y i t wa s impossibl e an d illegiti -
mate t o spea k abou t "Deconstructio n i n America, " bu t als o an d
above al l that , i n markin g on e o f th e reason s no t t o spea k abou t
"Deconstruction i n America, " th e sentenc e "Deconstructio n i s
America" formulate d merel y a n hypothesis . Bette r yet , i t form -
ulated a n hypothesi s tha t I finally relinquishe d an d t o which ,
however seductiv e i t ma y remain , I woul d no t i n an y cas e sub -
scribe.
This abandoned hypothesi s was not merely what I called then a
"fiction o f truth. " W e mus t recogniz e i n th e tw o ope n sets , i n th e
"allegorico-metonymical figure" tha t the y describe , th e powe r t o
dislocate an d destabiliz e th e "is" as well as the "in."
This i s wha t put s int o deconstructio n th e ver y thin g tha t con -
fers it s titl e o n th e presen t conference . Th e history o f deconstruc -

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 The Tim e i s Out o f Joint 2 7

tion o r th e deconstructio n o f histor y perhap s roam s aroun d th e

disjointed pivo t o f thi s copul a "is, " this claus e o f inclusio n "in, " o r
this conjunctio n "and " b y whic h on e seek s a t th e sam e tim e t o
couple, enclose , o r conjoi n a subjec t an d a predicate . Fo r exampl e
here," Deconstructio n an d (in , is, as) America." 2
Instead o f prolongin g thes e preliminar y precaution s tha t coul d
go o n infinitely , I a m no t goin g t o dela y jumpin g t o th e secon d
quotation, "Th e tim e i s ou t o f joint. " I t wil l hel p m e t o sa y some -
thing abou t wha t i s happenin g today , te n year s later , fo r me , for
me at least, wit h deconstructio n i n America .
Before makin g th e j u m p, however , allo w m e a fe w step s b y wa y
of take-off . Four little steps th e las t o f whic h wil l lea d m e t o spea k
in English .

1. First step. Th e first ste p passe s b y wa y o f th e passage , namel y

translation. I t i s no t merel y fo r th e sak e o f facilit y tha t I decide d
to spea k severa l language s thi s evening , your s an d mine , an d the n
to announc e i n Shakespeare' s Englis h tha t I wa s goin g t o spea k
French. I do i t fo r a t leas t thre e reasons :

a) Deconstruction , a s w e kno w it , wil l hav e bee n first o f al l a

translation o r a transferenc e betwee n Frenc h an d America n
(which i s t o sa y also , as Freu d ha s reminde d u s abou t transfer -
ence, a lov e story , whic h neve r exclude s hatred , a s w e know) .
b) I n th e passag e fro m Memoires for Paul de Man tha t turn s
around Deconstructio n i n America , i s th e onl y definitio n tha t I
have eve r i n m y lif e dare d t o giv e o f deconstruction : "mor e
than on e language " (p . 15) . But I insiste d the n o n a n obviou s
point tha t ha d t o b e take n int o account : "mor e tha n on e lan -
guage" doe s no t constitut e a sentence , i t i s no t a propositio n o f
the kin d S i s P . I n th e sens e i n whic h Austi n understand s
meaning, therefore , thi s phras e doe s no t hav e a meaning . I t
was the n necessar y fo r m e t o underscor e that , contrar y t o wha t
is ofte n thought , deconstructio n i s no t exporte d fro m Europ e
to America . I t ha s i n thi s countr y severa l origina l configura -
tions tha t i n thei r tur n produc e singula r effects . I said tha t thi s
American radiatio n o r hegemon y mus t b e interrogated , whic h

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28 Jacque s Derrid a

sometimes mean s contested , i n al l it s dimension s (political ,

technical, economic , linguistic , academic , editorial) . Decon -
struction i s ofte n perceive d i n Europ e a s a n America n bran d o f
theorems, a discourse , o r a school .

Is ther e a n irreplaceabl e plac e an d a prope r histor y fo r thi s

thing, deconstruction ? I s ther e anythin g els e i n i t bu t transferenc e
in al l th e sense s thi s wor d assume s i n mor e tha n on e language ,
and firs t o f al l i n th e sens e o f transferenc e amon g languages ?
Allow m e onc e agai n thi s quotation : "I f I ha d t o ris k a singl e
definition o f deconstruction , on e a s brief , elliptical , an d economi -
cal a s a password , I would sa y simpl y an d withou t overstatement :
plus d'une langue —both mor e tha n on e languag e an d n o mor e o f
just on e language . I n fac t i t i s neithe r a statemen t no r a sentence .
It i s sententious , i t make s n o sens e if , a t leas t a s Austi n woul d
have it , word s i n isolatio n hav e n o meaning . Wha t make s sens e i s
the sentence . Ho w man y sentence s ca n b e mad e wit h 'deconstruc -
tion'?" (ibid; trans , modified) .

2. Second step. Thi s translativit y o f deconstructio n destine s i t t o

erring an d voyage , whic h i s t o say , t o a destinatio n an d des -
tinerrance. Now , whe n I discovered wit h som e surpris e th e titl e o f
this colloquium , th e titl e suc h a s i s i t wa s chose n no t b y m e bu t
by To m Bisho p an d Ansel m Haverkamp , I le t mysel f drea m abou t
all th e reading s on e coul d giv e o f it . I rea d i t suddenl y a s i f i n a
newspaper, a trave l diary , o r a pres s release : Hey , deconstruction ,
on thi s date , finds itsel f her e thes e days , i t i s i n America , i t lande d
yesterday a t JF K an d i s jus t passin g through , mor e o r les s incog -
nito an d fo r a littl e while . Today , deconstructio n is , happen s t o
be; i t turn s ou t tha t i t i s i n America . Wher e wa s i t yesterday ?
Where wil l i t b e tomorrow ? etc . With tha t slas h i n th e middl e (is /
in America ) whic h interrupt s th e reveri e an d give s u s a star t b y
marking clearl y wit h a n implacabl e injunctio n tha t w e hav e t o
choose: eithe r is o r els e in.
Here the n agai n th e differenc e o f a singl e letter , n o r s. I t mark s
for u s ver y well , in the first place, tha t i f deconstructio n is in
America, "in " can indicat e inclusio n a s well a s provisional passage ,

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 The Time is Out of Joint 2 9

the being-in-transit o f the visitor (Deconstruction i s just visiting —

and fro m visitatio n on e passe s quickl y t o th e visor , t o th e viso r
and hauntin g effec t i n Hamlet—retur n t o Hamlet' s father. ) If ,
then, Deconstruction is in America, tha t mean s also , in the second
place, that i t is not America. If D is in A, it is not A; if D is A, it is
not in , etc. The slash indee d inscribe s o r incise s a disjunctio n i n
the copul a "is, " in th e couplin g o f th e presen t tha t interest s m e
here. How can the is itself be disjoined fro m itself , out of joint?
When Hamlet say s "The time is out of joint," he says, to be sure,
many thing s (w e will com e back t o that); but he says at leas t and
first o f al l this , b y foldin g th e propositio n bac k o n itsel f i n ad -
vance: tha t tim e itself , th e present indicativ e o f the verb t o be in
the third person singular, the "is" that say s what time is, this tens e
of tim e i s ou t o f joint , itsel f an d b y itsel f ou t o f joint . An d th e
shock wave s o f such a disjoinin g doubtles s affec t th e heart o f the
question "t o be or not to be." The essence o f Being i s often deter -
mined, i n a non-fortuitou s fashion , a s Heidegge r ofte n insists , on
the basis o f the third perso n singula r o f the present indicative , so
that wha t happen s t o "is" happens t o the bar that separate s t o be
and/or no t to be. There woul d n o longer eve n be a question with -
out this disjoinng o f the "is."
Perhaps deconstructio n ha s neve r don e anythin g bu t interpret
this extraordinar y phras e o f Hamlet's; t o interpret i t in the sense
in whic h th e hermeneu t interprets , interpre t i t i n th e sens e i n
which th e actor interprets , interpre t i t in the sense of the play o r
the performance, interpre t i t in the sense i n which on e must still ,
beyond reading and theater, interpret interpretation .
And if this interpretation i s neither America nor in America, not
only Americ a no r in America, the n wha t i s America today ? Wha t
is deconstructio n doin g a t thi s ver y momen t i n America ? Befor e
outlining a partial and preliminary response to that question , here
is a third step .

3. Third step. I f th e slas h betwee n "is " and "in " says i n silenc e
something abou t wha t "Th e time is out of joint" may mean, if that
is th e ver y affirmatio n o f deconstruction , the n th e goo d an d th e
wicked fairies tha t fo r more tha n thirt y year s have been followin g

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30 Jacque s Derrid a

its destiny, proliferating teleologica l verdicts, eschatological prog -

noses, o r organicis t diagnose s concernin g th e birth , growth ,
health, sickness , an d deat h o f deconstruction , al l thes e volubl e
fairies begi n b y no t knowin g wha t the y ar e talkin g about . Thi s
does no t mea n tha t n o historia n o r sociologis t o f deconstructio n
ever say s anythin g pertinent . No r tha t on e has t o reduce al l thei r
plotted curve s t o so much silliness—whic h the y are sometimes. It
remains necessary , n o doubt, t o attempt t o analyze th e becoming ,
the genesis, and th e decline of what i s thus reduced t o a fashion, a
school of thought, an academic current, a theory, or a method. But
even ther e wher e the y d o no t fal l int o unfortunat e stereotypes ,
even ther e wher e the y ar e mor e rigorou s an d mor e lucid , thes e
historico-sociological analyse s encounte r severa l limits : a ) The y
miss the mos t acut e aspec t o f deconstruction, tha t whic h exceeds ,
in their very deconstructibility, th e themes, objects, methods, an d
especially th e axiomatic s o f thi s historica l o r sociologica l knowl -
edge; b) they already incorporat e an d impor t fro m deconstructio n
what the y attemp t t o objectify ; c ) the y mos t ofte n resembl e per -
formatives disguise d a s constatives: they would lik e to make hap -
pen wha t the y clai m t o describ e i n al l neutrality . Fo r mor e tha n
twenty-five years , in fact, we have been told that deconstructio n i s
dying or that i t is "on the wane." And in a certain way this is true!
Since i t ha s bee n tru e fro m th e beginning , an d that' s wher e th e
question is , sinc e deconstructio n begin s b y bein g i n poo r shap e
(being ou t o f joint ) an d eve n b y dying , sinc e tha t i s al l anyon e
talks about , on e mus t sto p believin g tha t th e dea d ar e jus t th e
departed an d tha t th e departe d d o nothing . On e mus t sto p pre -
tending t o kno w wha t i s mean t b y "t o die " an d especiall y b y
"dying." On e has , then , t o tal k abou t spectrality . Yo u kno w ver y
well wh o pronounce s th e sentenc e "Th e tim e i s ou t o f joint" :
Hamlet, th e hei r o f a specte r concernin g whic h n o on e know s
any longe r at what moment an d therefor e if deat h ha s happene d
to him.
The diagnose s an d th e prognose s ar e her e a t onc e mor e tru e
and (a s man y sign s als o attest ) les s tru e tha n ever . Thi s implie s
that th e teleologica l schem a (birth , growth, ol d age , sickness, end
or death ) ca n b e applie d t o everything , an d t o everythin g abou t
deconstruction, except , in all certitude an d in the mode of a deter -

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 The Tim e i s Out o f Joint 3 1

minant knowledge , t o tha t whic h i n i t begin s b y questioning ,

displacing, an d dislocatin g th e machin e o f thi s teleology , an d thu s
this oppositio n betwee n healt h an d sickness , normality an d anom -
aly, lif e an d death .

With tha t I undertak e m y fourth step, t o sa y a fe w word s abou t

what i s going o n i n America today . No t abou t wha t deconstructio n
may represen t there , here , now , today , bu t what , fa r mor e mod -
estly, I a m doin g there , myself , o r believ e I a m doin g ther e i n thi s
very moment .
To tak e a shortcu t an d ge t ver y quickl y t o th e point , I wil l
distinguish tw o time s i n m y work , tw o recen t upheavals . Th e on e
and th e othe r ha d thei r place , thei r landscape , a s wel l a s thei r
language, i n thi s country , i n th e Eas t an d the n i n th e West , i n Ne w
York an d i n California . Suc h a s I first fel t the m i n myself , thes e
upheavals wil l no t hav e faile d t o b e announced , lik e al l phenom -
ena o f thi s type , by long-rang e wave s whos e trace s ca n b e foun d i n
my wor k fo r th e las t thirt y years . But thi s doe s no t mea n tha t the y
were an y les s irruptiv e an d sudden .
The first, abou t whic h I wil l sa y onl y a word , wa s o n th e occa -
sion o f a colloquiu m organize d b y Drucill a Cornel l a t th e Cardoz o
Law Schoo l aroun d th e them e "Deconstructio n an d th e Possibili -
ties o f Justice. " I n "Forc e o f Law, " I trie d t o demonstrat e tha t
justice, i n th e mos t unheard-o f sens e o f thi s word , wa s th e unde -
constructible itself , thu s anothe r nam e o f deconstructio n (decon -
struction? deconstructio n is justice). This suppose d a decisiv e dis -
tinction an d on e o f incalculabl e scop e betwee n la w an d justice .
Such a distinctio n o f principle , joine d t o a certai n thinkin g o f th e
gift ( a thinkin g whic h h a d als o begu n lon g ag o an d i n a mor e
visible fashio n i n recen t publications ) wil l hav e allowe d m e t o
knot o r unknot , i n a mor e politica l boo k o n Mar x whic h I have jus t
finished, a grea t numbe r o f thread s tha t wer e alread y crossin g
throughout al l th e earlie r texts , fo r exampl e o n th e gif t beyon d
debt an d duty , o n th e aporia s o f the wor k o f mourning, spectrality ,
iterability, an d s o forth .
And las t Spring , onc e agai n i n th e Unite d States , o n th e othe r
side, on th e othe r coast , o n th e occasio n o f a keynot e addres s tha t I

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32 Jacque s Derrid a

was generousl y invite d t o deliver a t a large colloquium, "Whithe r

Marxism" a t th e Universit y o f California, Riverside , I wa s finally
able t o hazard a discours e tha t woul d hav e like d t o be somethin g
other tha n a Marxist discourse , something othe r tha n a discours e
on Mar x o r a readin g of Marx , i n th e conventional , academic , o r
exegetical sense of this word. What I try to make understood ther e
corresponds first t o a political position-taking : i t was uttered first
of al l in America , bu t surel y als o on the subject of America , an d
doubtless, t o a n exten t tha t remain s t o b e determined , against a
certain Americ a i n th e ne w worl d orde r tha t i s attemptin g t o
impose itself today. 3

Ill
An epilogue fo r today , a word fo r th e en d o n al l th e possibl e end s
of th e Nation-Stat e an d o f tha t whic h i n th e Nation-Stat e wil l
have alway s been , n o doubt , "ou t o f joint. " Fo r Hamlet' s phras e
must als o describ e an d interpre t tha t Stat e whic h wa s th e rotte n
state of Denmark .
This wor d fo r th e en d bring s m e bac k agai n t o th e Unite d
States. I t reawaken s i n me , moreover , th e livin g and , i n man y
regards, happy memor y I retain o f tha t momen t i n Octobe r 196 6
when I was s o generously invite d t o speak ther e fo r th e first time .
I a m referrin g t o th e conferenc e a t John s Hopkin s Universit y o n
Critical Language s an d th e Science s o f Man . I wil l recal l merel y
that m y remark s o n tha t occasio n concerne d th e concep t o f inter -
pretation. The y opene d wit h a quotatio n fro m Montaign e ("W e
need t o interpre t interpretation s mor e tha n t o interpre t things" )
and the y close d wit h th e distinctio n betwee n tw o interpretation s
of interpretation, mor e precisely, with a "second interpretatio n o f
interpretation, t o whic h Nietzsch e pointe d th e way, " althoug h I
then adde d that , betwee n thes e tw o interpretations , i t i s no t a
question for us today of "choosing."
Returning i n conclusio n t o Nietzsche, t o Nietzsche' s testimon y
concerning Hamlet' s phrase , I woul d lik e t o weav e togethe r th e
eschatological motif s o f interpretation , th e las t word , testimony ,
and th e work .

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 The Tim e i s Out o f Joint 3 3

Bearing witnes s fo r itself , bu t n o les s fo r al l th e shoahs o f

history, "Aschenglorie, " the poe m b y Cela n (wh o was a grea t trans -
lator o f Shakespeare) , declare s th e enigm a itself :
Niemand
zeugt fur de n
Zeugen.

No one
bears witness fo r
the witness.
In th e semina r o n testimon y I hav e bee n conductin g fo r severa l
years, w e ar e tryin g t o interpre t al l th e possibl e interpretation s o f
these thre e lines . The y sa y t o us , amon g s o man y othe r things ,
both th e eschatolog y o f a witnes s wh o i s alway s a las t survivor , o r
even a las t man , an d th e absolut e immanence , tha t o f a testimon y
without outsid e othe r tha n th e infinite , irreducible , an d spectra l
alterity o f anothe r witness , o f th e witnes s o f th e witnes s a s other .
There i s n o witnes s fo r th e witness , bu t ther e ar e onl y witnesse s
for th e witness .
Now, i n Hamlet, th e dramatizatio n deploy s a spectacula r an d
supernaturally miraculou s mise en abime o f testimonies . Each wit -
ness i s alway s alone in bearing witness i n genera l (thi s i s o f th e
essence o f testimony ) an d thu s o f testifyin g t o th e impossibl e pos -
sibility o f testimony , thereb y "testifyin g fo r th e absenc e o f attesta -
tion" a s Blancho t put s it. 1 Hamle t i s alon e i n bein g abl e t o bea r
witness i n thi s wa y t o th e testimony . Th e pla y name d Hamlet
thus becomes , lik e "Aschenglorie, " a testimon y o n th e essenc e o f
testimony, whic h als o become s th e absenc e o f testimony .
For thi s final wor d today , I would thu s lik e t o retur n onc e mor e
to Hamlet . T o Hamle t a s rea d b y Nietzsche . No t t o wha t I ma y
have sai d abou t bein g "ou t o f joint " i n Specters of Marx, bu t t o
what I adde d a momen t ag o when , concernin g th e disorde r o r
the inadequatio n tha t marke d th e dating , th e calendar , o r th e
timetable, namely , th e impossibilit y o f assignin g a rea l date , thu s
an external , objectiv e reality , t o th e deat h o f Hamlet' s father ,
we considere d th e impossibilit y o f measurin g tim e an d thu s o f
measuring th e measur e o f al l things .

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34 Jacque s Derrid a

Measurelessness thu s become s th e law . Th e la w o f th e la w i s

what measurelessnes s wil l alway s hav e been . Fo r justic e an d fo r
injustice, justl y an d unjustly . Thi s inadequatio n i s a dismember -
ing, a n essentia l disjoining , an d firs t o f al l o f time , o f th e presen t
that i s als o ou t o f joint . Amon g al l th e consequence s an d th e
interpretations tha t ma y thu s b e authorized , le t u s limi t ourselve s
to one, whose trai l I have jus t picke d u p thank s t o a recen t reread -
ing o f The Birth of Tragedy. Hamle t make s a strang e apparitio n
there. The latte r apparitio n seem s t o disturb al l th e grea t interpre -
tations, notabl y th e psychoanalyti c reading s (Freud , Jones ) o f
Hamlet an d o f Oedipus .
Nietzsche want s t o se e i n thi s apparitio n o f Hamle t a Dionysia c
figure, whic h i s alread y od d i n itself . Bu t h e als o see s ther e some -
one wh o renounce s actio n (thi s tim e i t i s th e classi c visio n o f a
paralyzed Hamlet , unabl e t o decide , th e neuroti c Hamle t wh o n o
longer know s wha t t o d o an d become s a witness , merel y a power -
less witness , a profoundl y indifferen t observe r beneat h al l hi s
apparent passions) . I n th e withdrawa l tha t immobilize s him , thi s
witness i s no w bu t a spectato r o f th e play : passiv e an d apathetic ,
pathetically patien t an d apathetic , pathologicall y apatheti c i n hi s
very passion . I t i s i n thes e term s that , mos t often , th e witnes s i s
determined, th e witness-witness , th e on e wh o attend s [assiste] bu t
does no t intervene , th e on e wh o n o longe r eve n bear s witnes s t o
what h e ha s bee n a witnes s to . I t i s alway s suppose d tha t th e
"good" witness, th e on e wh o attends , finds himsel f i n thi s situatio n
of th e spectato r wh o i s neutra l o r neutralized , tha t is , paralyzed ,
turned t o stone , stupefied , stunned , struc k b y lightning , thunder -
struck b y th e flash o f lucidity .
When w e spea k o f testimon y a s activ e o r performative , w e ar e
talking abou t bearin g witness , th e declaration , th e oath , an d s o
forth. Bu t th e witness-witness , th e on e wh o sees , i s i n principl e
passive, a s passiv e a s th e camer a tha t h e ca n neve r be .
Now wha t doe s Nietzsch e say ? Ho w doe s h e see Hamlet ? Be -
cause th e latte r wa s abl e t o se e wha t h e saw , becaus e h e sa w a s a
witness, an d becaus e h e sa w absolut e disorder , th e worl d ou t o f
joint, measurelessness , monstrosit y (th e ghost , hi s murdere d fa -
ther, hi s mothe r a s merr y widow , th e politica l disorde r tha t ac -
companies al l thi s an d pervert s al l th e reason s o f famil y an d

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 The Tim e i s Out o f Joint 3 5

state, etc.) , bu t als o becaus e h e perhap s saw , throug h al l o f this ,

something tha t h e canno t eve n sa y o r admi t t o himself , Hamle t
glimpsed [entrevu ] suc h a terrifyin g thing , th e Thin g itself , tha t h e
decides t o mak e n o furthe r move : h e wil l remai n bu t a discour -
aged witness , paralyzed , silent , mad e desperat e b y th e bein g "ou t
of joint " o f time , b y th e disjoining , th e discord , th e terribl e dis -
membering o f th e worl d i n it s present : originar y Dionysianism ,
the Dionysia c itself .
But thi s witnes s wil l hav e bee n th e witnes s o f a witness , an d
the oat h o f secrec y bindin g al l thes e testimonies . I f Hamle t re -
solves no t t o decide , i f h e resign s himsel f t o remainin g th e mut e
witness o f th e nake d an d monstrou s trut h that , i n th e blin k o f a n
eye, has bee n give n t o him i n a blinding , thundering , traumatizin g
intuition, i t i s becaus e h e wa s first o f al l th e witnes s o f tha t wit -
ness tha t wa s hi s ghos t o f a father , o f th e violen t deat h an d th e
betrayal o f whic h th e latte r claim s h e ha s bee n th e victim , i n th e
course o f a supernatura l an d spectra l attestatio n (which , i n thi s
regard, i s lik e ever y attestation) . Havin g know n this , havin g be-
lieved it , having pu t fait h i n it , but havin g perhap s glimpse d some -
thing stil l wors e behin d it , th e wors t whic h th e pla y woul d thu s
have activel y silenced , Hamle t ca n n o longe r act . A mor e tha n
lucid knowledg e ha s kille d of f th e actio n i n him . H e i s fro m the n
on a pur e witness , h e i s alone , alon e an d inconsolable ; h e cease s
to ac t ther e wher e h e i s alon e i n havin g seen , known , alon e i n
being abl e t o bea r witness .
He i s alone i n bearing witness .
Like ever y witness—an d h e bear s witnes s als o fo r ever y wit -
ness. H e say s n o mor e tha n that , whil e keepin g i t secret : I a m
alone i n bein g abl e t o bear witnes s t o it . A witness i s alway s alon e
in bein g abl e t o bea r witness . Lik e a prophe t wh o give s u p speak -
ing an d actin g o r causin g t o act , precisel y becaus e h e ha s see n to o
much. Thi s "to o much, " tha t whic h goe s beyon d measure , i s th e
"out o f joint " (aus den Fugen i n German , whic h i s th e commo n
expression fo r "ou t o f joint, " somethin g I notice d i n Heidegger' s
text o n th e Dike i n Der Spruch des Anaximander).
In th e lon g passag e tha t I wil l no w read , I a m no t sur e whethe r
the Nietzschea n interpretatio n o f Hamle t an d o f th e experienc e o f
being "ou t o f joint" coul d no t b e dissociate d fro m th e theor y o f art ,

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36 Jacque s Derrid a

of salvatio n throug h art , o f th e sublim e an d th e comi c tha t

Nietzsche nevertheles s manifestl y attempt s t o attac h t o it . I wil l
thus leav e tha t questio n provisionall y supended .

In this sense the Dionysian man resembles Hamlet: both have once looked
truly int o th e essenc e o f things , the y hav e gained knowledge, and nause a
inhibits action ; fo r thei r actio n coul d no t chang e anythin g i n th e eterna l
nature o f things ; the y fee l i t t o b e ridiculou s o r humiliatin g tha t the y
should b e aske d t o set righ t a worl d tha t i s out o f joint. Knowlegd e kill s
action; action requires the veils of illusion: that i s the doctrine of Hamlet ,
not tha t chea p wisdo m o f Jack th e Dreame r wh o reflects to o much , and ,
as i t were , from a n exces s o f possibilitie s doe s no t ge t aroun d t o action .
Not reflection , no—tru e knowledge , a n insigh t int o th e horribl e truth ,
outweights an y motiv e fo r action , bot h i n Hamle t an d i n th e Dionysia n
man.
Now n o comfor t avail s an y more ; longin g transcend s a worl d afte r
death, even th e gods; existence i s negated alon g with it s glittering reflec -
tion i n th e god s or i n a n immorta l beyond . Conscious o f the trut h h e ha s
once seen , ma n no w see s everywher e onl y th e horro r o r absurdit y o f
existence; now he understands wha t i s symbolic in Ophelia's fate; now he
understands th e wisdom of the sylvan god, Silenus: he is nauseated .
Here, whe n th e dange r t o hi s wil l i s greatest , art approache s a s a
saving sorceress , exper t a t healing . Sh e alon e know s ho w t o tur n thes e
nauseous thoughts about th e horror or absurdity of existence into notion s
with whic h on e ca n live : thes e ar e th e sublime a s th e artisti c tamin g o f
the horrible , an d th e comic a s th e artisti c discharg e o f th e nause a o f
absurdity. Th e satyr choru s o f the dithyram b i s the saving dee d of Gree k
art; face d wit h th e intermediar y worl d o f thes e Dionysia n companions ,
the feelings describe d here exhausted themselves. 4

In sum , Hamlet , survivin g witness , i s als o th e on e wh o ha s see n

death. H e ha s see n th e impossibl e an d h e canno t surviv e wha t h e
has survived . Afte r havin g see n th e worst , afte r havin g bee n th e
witness o f th e wors t disorder , o f absolut e injustice , h e ha s th e
experience o f surviving—whic h i s th e conditio n o f witnessing —
but i n orde r t o surviv e wha t on e doe s no t survive . Becaus e on e
should not survive . And tha t i s what Hamle t says, an d tha t i s wha t
Hamlet, th e work , does. Th e wor k alone , bu t alon e wit h us , i n us ,
as us .
This i s wha t on e ha s t o know : I t i s agains t th e backgroun d o f
this disaster , i t i s onl y i n th e gapin g an d chaotic , howlin g an d

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 The Tim e i s Out o f Joint 3 7

famished opening , i t i s ou t o f th e bottomles s botto m o f thi s ope n

mouth, fro m th e cr y o f this khaein tha t th e call o f justice resonates .
Here the n i s it s chanc e an d it s ruin . It s beginnin g an d it s end. I t
will alway s b e give n thu s a s th e commo n lo t [en portage]\ i t wil l
always hav e t o b e a t onc e threatene d an d mad e possibl e i n al l
languages b y th e being out of joint: aus den Fugen.
—Translated b y Pegg y Kamu f

Notes
1. Trans . Nicholas Royle , in Jacques Derrida , Acts of Literature, ed. Derek
Attridge (New York: Routledge, 1992) , p. 419.
2. "Th e fourth reaso n i s that o f a singular circle , one which i s 'logical' or
'vicious' i n appearanc e only . I n orde r t o spea k o f 'deconstructio n i n
America,' one would have t o claim t o know what on e is talking about ,
and first o f al l wha t i s mean t o r define d b y th e wor d 'America. ' Jus t
what i s America i n thi s context ? Wer e I no t s o frequently associate d
with thi s adventur e o f deconstruction , I woul d risk , wit h a smile , th e
following hypothesis : America is deconstruction [VAmerique, mats c'est
la deconstruction]. I n thi s hypothesis , Americ a woul d b e th e prope r
name of deconstruction i n progress, its family name , its toponymy, it s
language an d it s place , it s principa l residence . An d ho w coul d w e
define th e Unite d State s today withou t integratin g th e followin g int o
the description: It is that historical space which today, in all its dimen-
sions an d throug h al l it s powe r plays , reveal s itsel f a s bein g undeni -
ably th e mos t sensitive , receptive , o r responsiv e spac e o f al l t o th e
themes and effects o f deconstructon. Since such a space represents an d
stages, i n thi s respect , th e greates t concentratio n in the world, on e
could no t defin e i t withou t a t leas t includin g thi s sympto m (i f we ca n
even spea k o f symptoms ) i n it s definition . I n th e wa r tha t rage s ove r
the subject o f deconstruction, ther e i s no front; the r ar e no fronts. Bu t
if ther e were , the y woul d al l pas s throug h th e Unite d States . The y
would defin e th e lot , and , i n truth , th e partitio n o f America . Bu t w e
have learne d fro m 'Deconstruction ' t o suspen d thes e alway s hast y
attributions o f proper names . My hypothesis mus t thu s b e abandoned .
No, 'deconstruction' i s no t a prope r name , no r i s America th e prope r
name o f deconstruction . Le t u s sa y instead : deconstructio n an d
America ar e tw o ope n set s whic h intersec t partiall y accordin g t o a n
allegorico-metonymic figure. In this fiction of truth, 'America' woud be
the titl e o f a ne w nove l o n th e histor y o f deconstructio n an d th e
deconstruction o f history " (Memoires for Paul de Man, rev . ed . [Ne w
York: Columbia Universit y Press, 1989), pp. 17-18.

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38 Jacque s Derrid a

3. Sinc e then , this reading has become a book. It wil l appea r thi s year i n
France an d nex t yea r i n th e Unite d States . Onc e agai n Pegg y Kamu f
did me the favor o f translating it , a favor I will never be able to matc h
with my gratitude .
4. Lepas au-dela (Paris: Gallimard, 1973) , p.107.
5. Friedric h Nietzsche , The Birth of Tragedy, trans. Walte r Kaufman n
(New York: Random House, 1967) , p.60.

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