Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 15.djvu/722

 7o8 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

infancy, of puberty, of initiation, of ordination, of coronation, of betrothal, of marriage, of burial, of the seasons, etc. To bring all of these into one group and to demonstrate their identity is a syn- thesis of extraordinary boldness. In every rite of passage Van Gennep recognizes three secondary categories to which he applies the names rites of separation, of marge, and of aggregation. These are not necessarily equally developed in each and every passage rite ; one may be reduced almost to the point of disappear- ance. In closing his preliminary treatment the author distinguishes between theory (religion) and practice (magic) and for him all ritual falls under magic.

The body of the book is devoted to the consideration of the rites of passage. One after another. Van Gennep aims to demon- strate that they are rites of this class, to analyze them into their elements, and to distinguish the three subordinate categories of separation, marge, and aggregation. In his discussion he constantly comes into contact with well-known theories and writers upon special topics. Thus in initiation rites he must consider the views of Schurtz and Webster, in marriage the theories of Crawley and Grosse, etc. When he finds himself in conflict with them, which he often does, it is due to the fact that they have confined their attention to detail elements, neglecting the to him so im- portant sequences. To enter into detailed consideration of Van Gennep's discussion is impossible within our limits of space. We will only say that it gives room for many a lively tilt.

An abstract from his closing chapter will adequately show the author's own view of the purpose and significance of his work. He says:

It is not the rites in their detail which have interested us, but their essential significance and their relative situation in ceremonial ensembles, their sequence. Hence we have given certain rather lengthy descriptions to show how separation, marge, and aggregation rites, as well preliminary as definitive, are situated with reference to one another in view of a determined end. Their place varies according to whether the ritual has to do with birth or death, initiation or marriage, etc., but only in detail. Their tendency dis- position is ever the same and under the multiplicity of forms there is ever found, consciously expressed or potential, one sequence type ; the scheme of the rite of passage.

The second fact to mention and of which no one seems to have seen the generality is the existence of "marges," which sometimes almost acquire