Deconstruction, a theory of literary criticism introduced by Jacques Derrida in the late 1960s, challenges the traditional notion that a text possesses a stable, unified meaning. Central to deconstruction is the critique of logocentrism—the belief that language can directly and accurately represent a central truth or presence. Derrida argued that language is a system of signs where meaning is generated through difference and deferral. For example, a word's meaning is defined by what it is not, a process that ensures that the final meaning of a sentence is always postponed. Critics of deconstruction argue that it leads to a nihilistic view of literature, where communication becomes impossible because no word can be trusted. Proponents, however, see it as a liberating tool that exposes the hidden contradictions and hierarchies within texts. By deconstructing a narrative, readers can reveal how certain concepts are privileged over others, thereby opening up the work to multiple, sometimes conflicting, interpretations.