Question

What was ironic about Marcel Mauss?

Answer 1

Marcel Mauss was ironic in his argument that there is always a reciprocal obligation in gift exchange, while some gifts given by a mother to a child expect no reciprocation.

Step-by-step explanation:

Marcel Mauss was ironic in his argument that there is always a reciprocal obligation of some sort in gift exchange. However, Hélène Cixous argues that gifts given by a mother to a child, for example, expect no reciprocation. This contradicts Mauss' argument and highlights the irony in his theory of exchange.