Each is preceded by a short statement indicating its place in the evolution of Crews's thought since the Freudian heyday of 1966. Only the strongest of the poetic sons can hope to survive the influence of the ever stronger fathers so as to make their own voices heard. In the present book we are indeed shown many parallels between Bloom's esoteric system and the great arcane tradition of the exiled Jews. In psychic terms. . Despite the erudition and the wealth of reference to other systems, Bloom's own system is proudly reductionist and self-enclosed.
Poets interact only with other poets.
None of this would matter very much were it not for the remarkable fact that Bloom's recent work is being hailed by his distinguished colleagues, friends, and disciples as if it were the critical achievement of the century. Bloom symposia are being organized. Poets are hurt at not having been included in Bloom's canon of strong contemporary poets. It is even said that a feminist response is being prepared to Bloom's severely patriarchal scheme. The praise lavished upon the new Bloom conceals, I suspect, a note of dismay.