Meaning: The quote "We must wash literature off ourselves. We want to be men above all, to be human" by Antonin Artaud, a French dramatist, encompasses a profound sentiment about the nature of literature and its relationship to our humanity. Artaud was a key figure in the theatre of the absurd and a prolific writer, known for his radical ideas about the purpose of art and the role of the artist in society. This quote reflects his belief that literature and the constructs of language can act as barriers to our true human experience, and that in order to fully embrace our humanity, we must cleanse ourselves of these constraints.

Artaud's statement can be interpreted in several ways. On one level, it suggests a rejection of the artificiality and constraints of literary conventions. Artaud was known for his criticism of conventional theatre and literature, believing that they often served to distance people from their authentic emotions and experiences. By advocating for the washing off of literature, he may be urging individuals to strip away the layers of societal and cultural conditioning that literature can impose, in order to reconnect with their primal, instinctual human nature.

Furthermore, Artaud's quote can be seen as a call to transcend the limitations of language and literary expression in order to access a more primal and authentic form of human existence. He believed that the true essence of human experience could not be captured or contained within the confines of traditional literary forms, and that language itself was often inadequate in conveying the depth and complexity of human emotion and experience. In this sense, the act of "washing literature off ourselves" may be a metaphor for shedding the constraints of language and embracing a more primal, instinctual form of human expression.

In a broader context, Artaud's quote can also be viewed as a rejection of the intellectual and artistic elitism that often accompanies literature and literary pursuits. By emphasizing the importance of being "men above all, to be human," he may be advocating for a return to a more fundamental, unadorned form of human existence, free from the pretensions and artifices of the literary world. This sentiment aligns with Artaud's broader philosophy, which sought to challenge established norms and break down the barriers between art and life.

Artaud's own life and work reflect his commitment to shaking off the constraints of literature and conventional artistic forms. His "Theatre of Cruelty" sought to create intense, visceral experiences for audiences, aiming to bypass the intellect and tap into the raw, subconscious emotions of the human psyche. Through his radical approach to theatre and his rejection of traditional literary and artistic norms, Artaud embodied the principles expressed in his quote, striving to wash literature off himself in pursuit of a more authentic, unmediated form of human expression.

In conclusion, Antonin Artaud's quote "We must wash literature off ourselves. We want to be men above all, to be human" encapsulates his radical philosophy of rejecting the constraints of literature and language in order to access a more primal, authentic form of human existence. It challenges us to reconsider the role of literature in shaping our understanding of ourselves and the world, and to strive for a more direct, unmediated connection to our humanity. Artaud's ideas continue to provoke and inspire artists and thinkers to question the limitations of language and embrace a more fundamental, unadorned form of human expression.