Mimesis Means to Imitate. Forms of Imitation

Mimesis" means "to imitate." Forms of imitation are diverse and include imitation, the presentation of the self, representation, resemblance, and mimicry. Mimesis, in psychology, illustrates a stage in human development that infers a child's ability to learn, socialize, and adapt. Mimesis is a philosophical and critical idea that numerous thinkers across history, culture, and location upon which many thinkers have theorized. Erich Auerbach is one such thinker that ponders the significance and explains the function of mimesis as part of the human condition and the human conception of reality. Auerbach endeavors to provide for the reader a comprehensive understanding as to why and what representations of reality are in western literature. Auerbach's writing style is interesting in that he demonstrates awareness of the reader as a reader of his work, as a writer of the text we read, as joins with readers as a reader of the text to which he refers. It is a complex perspective to maintain, yet Auerbach achieves this simultaneity indirectly, perhaps as an afterthought. This paper will briefly reflect upon Auerbach's chief points and themes as well as offer reflections and reactions upon the text and its implications in areas of society such as behavior, media, education, and technology.

Auerbach begins with elucidation of epic poetry, specifically, Odyssey by Homer. He communicates the power and the depth of this epic poem. He describes the quality of the writing and thus, the quality of the representation of reality or mimesis:

"…the pulse of the Homeric style: to represent phenomena in a fully externalized form, visible and palpable in all their parts, and completely fixed in their spatial and temporal relations. Nor do psychological processes receive any other treatment: here too nothing must retain hidden and unexpressed. With the utmost fullness, with an orderliness which even passion does not disturb, Homer's personages vent their inmost hearts in speech, what they do not say to others, they speak in their own minds, so that the reader is informed of it." (Auerback, 1953)

Homeric epic poetry is an avalanche of reality and of detail. Because of the style of writing, the reader is omniscient, like the mythical Greek Gods in the poems. The reader has access to the minds of the characters, and they also have access to each layer of the characters' psyches: their ids, egos, superegos, and unconsciouses. The density and quantity of detail pushes the reader to the brink of sensory overload. The representation of reality in the Odyssey is exceptionally thorough; the mimesis is both realistic and hyperbolic.