Explain the essay "The Death of the Author" by Roland Barthes.

When evaluating a selection of literature, Roland Barthes
in his 1967 essay, “Death of the Author” felt that the author should be set aside. His
argument emphasizes that the author is the vehicle through which the literature is
related.  The author does not create but rather transmits the story which already
exists.

In addition, Barthes adds that the normal practice
is to give the credit to the author for the success of a piece of literature.  Barthles
believes this idea often causes the failure of a work of literature because it is
ascribed to the author and his weaknesses.

If the analysis
of literature includes both the work and the author, then the evaluation would be
considered limited in scope.  When reading a text and keeping in mind the author and his
importance to the work,  the reader acquires nothing original. He is just taking in a
predetermined explanation provided by the author.  Barthles felt it was important to
ignore the background of the work

Barthles decided to use
the word writing instead of literature. He said that there should
not be any ultimate meaning of a work.  This further frees the writing for the reader. 
Without the author, the writing becomes universal, and it can mean what the reader
interprets it to mean based on his personal reading and
contemplation.

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The explanation of a work is always sought in
the man or woman who produced it, through the more or less transparent allegory of the
fiction…, the voice of a single person, the author ‘confiding’ in
us.

The originality of the
work comes from the reader.  His reading and attempt to understand the meaning brings
new value to the literature.  The reader can interject his own experiences and
knowledge.  This opens up the literature with many potential interpretations because
each reader brings new ideas, vocabulary, and responses. The reader then does not have
to worry about the intent of the author.  Without the limitation of the author, the text
can have enumerable interpretations. 

Barthes bases his
entire principle on this idea claiming that it is only the status of the reader not the
author that should be elevated. This point ultimately leads to Barthes main point: the
reader holds more responsibility to the text than the author.  His final conclusion
states: The birth of the reader must be at the cost of the
author.