Language and the Dream of a United Society

Through an analysis of the writings of Émile Benveniste, Walter Benjamin, and Julia Kristeva, this thesis investigates the transforming power of language in forming personal identity, societal institutions, and the possibility for a united society. < Benveniste focuses on how words like "I" shape our sense of self and influence how we interact with others. Depending on how language is used, it can either reinforce or challenge existing social structures. Benjamin takes a different approach, seeing language as something almost mystical, with the ability to go beyond social barriers and connect people to deeper universal truths via proper names. Kristeva explores the psychoanalytic and semiotic components of language, revealing how unconscious prejudices and material elements of communication shape social hierarchies and inclusiveness. Together, their ideas show that language is not neutral—it actively shapes the world we live in. This thesis comes to the conclusion that, by addressing unconscious prejudices, extending definitions of communication, and stressing common human experiences, language has potential to facilitate a united society even though it can also reinforce further divisions.