 The Death of the Author

"The Death of the Author" is an essay written by French literary critic Roland Barthes and published in 1967. In this influential text, Barthes argues against the traditional practice of interpreting a work of literature based on the intentions and biography of its author. He posits that once a piece of writing is created and published, it becomes an independent entity, and its meaning should be derived from the text itself rather than the author’s background, motivations, or personal context.