“Can the Subaltern Speak?” is the famous question posed by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak in her article on how historians’ study and ultimately engage in the nature of Subaltern peoples. In this, Spivak argues that no the historian cannot access the past and the true, full nature of the Subaltern shall remain outside our grasp. Fundamentally, this question, and to an extent Spivak’s answer which I remain divided on, fascinates me as it more truly is asking about the nature and efficacy of the practice of historians more broadly.
For a struggle I have maintained throughout my entire time studying history at St. Andrews, and I must admit this may sound a combination of cheesy, pessimistic, and strongly self-indulgent, is why? What is the worth of studying figures of the past whose nature we can at best guess at, and whose picture we willingly acknowledge is un-filled and torn? Are we merely grasping at our creations of the mind, that hold no bearing on reality except that which we assign? Spivak clearly maintains that position to be a yes, at least in part, but I am not fully convinced.
For I do believe that some sort of truth, however flawed, can be realized with enough cleverness and work. I also would firmly argue that historic interpretations, while always colored by the perspective of those that observe and analyze, may at least hold some piece of an image of the past. A whole one, I do not believe so, but at least something. In this though a lot of doubt remains about where that line stands and to what extent is it worth even maintaining contemplation of.
Now, this may be the part where you expect me to come to some grand notion to bring this all to some satisfying end or some lesson that I may have learned in contemplating this subject, but I am afraid I am fresh out. All I can say is that I am still thinking about it, and that I think you should too. This is our discipline that we champion, and hope to contribute to, and to do so we must know we believe possible. Ask yourself then can the historian speak, and what can they say?