“The world is my provocation”: Pathicity in Gaston Bachelard

Abstract

This article explores the role of pathicity in Bachelard’s notion of reverie. Through the concept of provocation, four images from The Poetics of Space are investigated. “House, soul, and the corner” tackles the relationships between spaces and reveries. “The smell of raisins” highlights the active side of pathicity. “The hostility of the city” scrutinises how imagination can smooth urban sounds. “The ménage” is dedicated to engagement and care, where pathicity is embodied in daily tasks.