

Denise Rileys observation of Louis Althussers theory of ideologyits focus on the simultaneity and apparent perversity of interpellationinvites a deeper exploration into how literary theories conceive identity and subjectivity. Althusser's essay, *Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses* (1970), provides the foundation for understanding how ideology operates by "hailing" individuals, turning them into "subjects" in a pre-determined social framework. This notion, while seminal, has elicited critiques and reinterpretations across literary theory, as scholars grapple with its implications for human agency, historical context, and the construction of identity. In light of Rileys critique, this essay will explore how Althussers model of subjectivity influences literary criticism, especially when juxtaposed with other frameworks such as psychoanalysis and poststructuralism. These theories illuminate the text-reader relationship, interrogate notions of fixed identity, and reveal the role of ideology in shaping interpretations.

Althussers interpellation describes the process by which individuals are "hailed" into social roles and identities by ideology. A classic example he provides is that of a police officer calling out, "Hey, you there!"the individual who turns is already positioned as a subject within ideological structures. Althusser argues that this process is simultaneous: the moment of being addressed and recognizing oneself in the address happens in an instant, collapsing cause and effect. For Althusser, ideology functions unconsciously, providing a "representation of the imaginary relationship of individuals to their real conditions of existence."  

When applied to literary criticism, Althussers ideas suggest that readers approach texts not as autonomous individuals but as already interpellated subjects. The act of reading is itself ideological, shaped by the interpretive frameworks and subject positions imposed by cultural and historical contexts. This undermines the Romantic conception of the reader as an independent arbiter of meaning, emphasizing instead the preconditioned nature of interpretation.  

Critics influenced by Althusser might analyze a texts ideological underpinnings, interrogating how it reinforces or subverts dominant modes of thinking. For instance, feminist critiques of Victorian literature often explore how novels like *Jane Eyre* or *Middlemarch* reflect and resist patriarchal norms. Such analyses reveal how characters are subjected toand sometimes challengethe ideological constructs of their time, mirroring the reader's own negotiation of ideology.

Riley highlights the "perversity" of Althussers simultaneous temporality, questioning how this model undermines the very processes it seeks to elucidate. By erasing the temporal gap between being hailed and becoming a subject, Althusser appears to deny individuals any agency in their subject formation. This simultaneity also risks portraying ideology as inescapable, a totalizing force that forecloses the possibility of resistance.  

Literary theories that respond to Althusser often seek to reintroduce temporality and agency into discussions of subjectivity. Poststructuralist thinkers, such as Jacques Derrida and Michel Foucault, complicate Althussers model by emphasizing the fluid, unstable nature of identity and the contingency of ideological systems. Similarly, psychoanalytic theories, particularly those drawing on Jacques Lacan, offer a way to reconsider the "timing" of subject formation, exploring the role of unconscious processes and symbolic structures in shaping identity.  

Lacans reinterpretation of Freud provides a powerful counterpoint to Althussers simultaneity. For Lacan, subjectivity emerges through a developmental process, notably the "mirror stage," where the infant misrecognizes itself in its reflection, forming an "I" that is both unified and fragmented. This misrecognition introduces a temporal dimension to subjectivity, as the subject is always "becoming," perpetually alienated from its idealized self-image.  

When applied to literature, psychoanalysis invites readers to explore the unconscious dimensions of texts, examining how language, symbols, and narrative structures reflect the anxieties and desires of both characters and authors. For instance, a Lacanian reading of *Hamlet* might focus on the protagonist's divided self, exploring how his oscillations between action and inaction reflect deeper conflicts in subjectivity.  

Moreover, psychoanalysis challenges Althussers deterministic model by highlighting the potential for resistance within the subject. While the unconscious is structured by language (and thus ideology), it is also a site of disruption, where repressed desires and contradictions surface. In literary criticism, this translates to uncovering moments where texts destabilize their ideological coherence, offering alternative readings and possibilities for critique.  

Poststructuralist theories, particularly those influenced by Derrida and Judith Butler, further complicate Althussers conception of subjectivity. Butlers theory of performativity, for example, suggests that identity is not fixed but constituted through repeated acts that align with societal norms. This echoes Althussers notion of being "hailed" into subjectivity but introduces a crucial element of iteration and potential subversion. If identity is performative, then it can also be disrupted or reconfigured through alternative performances.  

In literary criticism, performativity opens new avenues for analyzing character development, narrative structure, and genre conventions. A poststructuralist reading of Virginia Woolfs *Orlando* might explore how the protagonists shifting gender identities challenge the binary norms imposed by ideology. By foregrounding the fluidity of identity, poststructuralism enables critics to deconstruct hegemonic narratives and explore the interplay between power, language, and representation.  

Both Althusserian and poststructuralist theories have significant implications for reader-response criticism. Althussers model suggests that readers are interpellated by texts, encountering characters and narratives through pre-existing ideological frameworks. Yet, poststructuralist insights reveal that readers can also resist interpellation, interpreting texts in ways that diverge from dominant norms.  

For example, in *Beloved* by Toni Morrison, the act of reading becomes a site of ideological struggle. The novel confronts readers with the traumatic legacy of slavery, forcing them to reckon with the historical and cultural ideologies that shape their understanding of race, memory, and identity. While some readers might approach the text through a lens of liberal humanism, emphasizing themes of redemption and resilience, others might adopt a Marxist or postcolonial perspective, critiquing the economic and imperial systems that underpin the narrative.  

Rileys critique of Althussers simultaneity underscores the need for literary criticism to engage with diverse theoretical frameworks, each offering unique insights into identity and subjectivity. Althussers theory of interpellation provides a compelling starting point for analyzing the ideological dimensions of texts, but its deterministic overtones are tempered by the temporal and fluid models proposed by psychoanalysis and poststructuralism. Together, these theories enrich the practice of literary criticism, enabling readers to interrogate how texts construct and contest notions of identity, agency, and ideology.  

Ultimately, the interplay between these frameworks demonstrates that subjectivity is not a static state but a dynamic process, shaped by historical, cultural, and psychological forces. In examining this process, literary criticism becomes a site of ideological negotiation, where texts and readers engage in an ongoing dialogue about the possibilities and limitations of human agency.

