Feminist Literary Criticism in English Literature Essay

ariseThe aim of this paper is to express feminist literary critical review in English Literature, as critical analysis of literary works found on womens rightist perspective, as well as to uncover the potential dynamics in a novel pertinent to womens interior billet in corporation. Feminist literary Criticism rejects patriarchal norms in literature that privileges manlike steerings of thinking and marginalizes women politically, economically and psychologically.Key voice communicationWomen, feminist literary comment, novel, patriarchy, literature.INTRODUCTIONAs a social movement, feminist criticism highlights the various ways women in particular have been oppressed, stamp d have got and repressed (Bressler 185) One of the most potent aspects of feminist literary criticism is to uncover the latent dynamics in a novel relevant to womens inferior role in society. Feminist Literary Criticism is the critical analysis of literary works based on feminist perspective. In parti cular, feminist literary critics tend to reject the patriarchal norms of literature, which privileges masculine ways of thinking/ microscope stages of view and marginalizes women politically, economically and psychologically. Modern Feminist Literary critics had its roots in the past-World War II, feminist movement that spilled over into the cerebral circles of Americas colleges and universities. However, the true origins of the movement sack up be traced as far back as the late 18th cytosine with bloody shame Wollst superstarcrafts A vindication of the rights of women (1792).Feminist Literary Criticism is assured by feminist theory or by the politics of womens liberation movement more b pathly. Its history has been broad and varied, from classic works of 19th century women authors such as George Eliot and Margaret Fuller to cutting 1 Sanja Dalton, predava, Visoka tehnika kola strukovnih studija iz Uroevca, sa privremenim seditem u Zveanu, E_mail sanja_durlevicyahoo.com Feminist literary criticism in english literature 173 bunt theoretical work in womens studies and gender studies by third base wave authors. In the most general and simple terms, Feminist Literary Criticism before the 1970sin the first and second wave of feminism was relate with the politics of womens authorship and the representation of womens condition in spite of appearance literature.Since the development of more complex conceptions of gender and subjectivity and third-wave feminism, feminist literary criticism has taken a variety of new routes, namely in the tradition of the Frankfurt Schools critical theory. It has considered gender in the terms of Freudian and Lacanian psychoanalysis, as part of deconstruction of existing transaction of power. Feminist Literary Criticism concern with the representation and politics of womens lives has continued to play an active role in criticism.HOW DOES FEMINIST literary CRITICISM APPLY TO PRIDE AND PREJUDICEby Jane Austen Central to the dive rs(a) aims and methods of feminist criticism on Pride and Prejudice are rivet on patriarchy, the rule of society and finish by men. There was a popular question Are not women and men equal in all respects? Feminists studies, feminist theorists, and feminist critics all answered in one accord No (Bressler 167). This question and vehement reply from Bresslers school text emphasizes a gender difference between men and women one guinea pig of this can easily be seen in Pride and Prejudice by means of the manner of entitlements in the novel. Patriarchy can be seen in Jane Austens novel in the form of existing system of entailment. Entailment in Pride and Prejudice, the restriction of future have gotership of real-estate to particular descendants, is limited altogether to male heirs. As Mr white avens has no male children, his estate testament be entailed to Mr Collins as oppose to his own daughters. There is a part in the novel that demonstrates the above stated Oh my God cries his wife, I do think it is hardest thing in the World, that your estate should be entailed away from your own children (Austen 45).With the imposition of entitlement in Austens novel comes a pressure for women to marry and search for a husband to attain a better life. This is the case with Charlotte Lucas accepted Mr Collins solely from the pure and disinterested require of an establishment, cared not how soon that establishment were gained (Austen, 91). In writing that, Charlotte Lucas married for involvement of a future in a male dominant society where the future would not be possible otherwise. Austen can be seen to be criticizing the role of the female in the setting of Pride and Prejudice. As Charlotte goes on to say to Elizabeth in regard to her marriage with Mr Collins, I hope you provide be satisfied with what I have done. I am not romantic you know. I never was. I ask only for sluttish home and considering Mr Collins character, connections, and situations in life, I am convinced that my outlook of happiness with him is as fair as most people can boast on entering the marriage state. (Austen 93)This further demonstrates the point that Charlotte in a male dominant society, felt compelled to marry in order to secure her own future. As one of the most probatory development in literary studies in the second half of the twentieth century, feminist literary criticism advocates equal rights for all women (indeed, all peoples) in all areas of life socially, politically, professionally, personally, economically, aesthetically, and psychologically. Feminist literary criticism advocates equal rights for women, so it would be opt to pay attention to an occasion in which Elizabeth Bennet claims equally with another upper class man, Mr Darcy. Again in the homogeneous quarrel with Lady Catherine de Burgh, Miss Bennet claims I am marrying your nephew, I should not consider myself as quitting that sphere in which I have been brought up. He is a gentleman I am a gentlemans daughter so, for me we are equal. (Austen 258) In this instance Miss and Mr Darcy is to symbolize the very cause of feminist literary criticism-to chiefly advocate for the rights and equation of women. Feminist critics say that women must marshal a variety of resources to assert, clarify, and eventually implement their believes and values. (Bressler 182)In regard to this quote, Elizabeth Bennet indeed clarifies and implements her own beliefs and values. On marrying Mr Darcy, free from social restrictions, Elizabeth said to Lady Catherine de Burgh I am only resolved to act in a manner, which will, in my own opinion, constitute my happiness, without reference to you, or to any person so all in all unconnected to me. (Austen 260) As such Miss Bennet articulates her own role and place in society, although still only as a housewife, notwithstanding a housewife that marries for love and her own values as opposed to the society dictated values of wealth and a vast fortune. E lizabeth is a perfect example of a feminist character. Not only is she contradictory them, but also she does not allow her originality to interfere with her happiness. In this aspect, Austen celebrates the fair sex who can easily be seen as mans equal. Elizabeth is a third wave feminist and head of her time because she does exactly what she wants in the end.CONCLUSIONFeminist critics approach literature in a way that empowers the female point of view instead, typically rejecting the patriarchal language that has reign literature. (Paul Ady, associate professor of English at Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts). Feminist literary criticism in english literature 175 Although the road is rocky, the characters ultimately prevent their debt to society from interfering with any attempt at personal happiness, which in my opinion is the backbone of feminism.REFERENCES1 Austen, Jane, Pride and Prejudice, (1813), Penguin Books, 1992. 2 Coward, Rosalind, Are womens novels Feminis t novel?, in Elaine Showalter (ed.), The New Feminist Criticism render on Women, Literature and supposition, Virago Books, 1986. 3 Eagleton, Mary (ed.), Feminist Literary Theory A Reader, Basil Blackwell, 1986. 4 Sherzer, Dina, Postmodernism and Feminism, in Edmund J. Smyth (ed.), Postmodernism and Contemporary Fiction, B.T. Bats ford Ltd., 1991. 5 BBC-The puffy Read, http//www.bbc.co.uk/arts/bigread/vote/ Retrieved 27 January 2012. 6 Pride and Prejudice, at the internet scene data base, 2005. 7 Dexter, Gary, The Telegraph, How Pride and Prejudice got its name, 10 August 2008. 8 The Daily Telegraph, http//www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/3558295/how pride and prejudice-got-its-name.html