Feminist literary criticism Gullivers Travel - Essay Example

? Feminist literary criticism – Gulliver’s Travel Contemporary criticism is the study, evaluation and interpretation of literature. There are several theories propose by different authors to discuss methods and goals of literature. These theories vary with the subject of the discussion and pattern (Green and Kahn). The main objective of these theories are to analyze and criticize various aspects of the literature through different subjects, it may be analyzed through social, political, economic perspectives (Eagleton). The main five theories that are discussed in the contemporary criticism are new histories, critical history, feminist and deconstruction (Green and Kahn). This paper shall discuss feminist literary criticism in detail. It shall further emphasis on the feminist literary criticism and further illustrate the concepts and interests through example. Overview Feminist literary criticism is an approach in literature to analyze and criticize representation of women. The theory aims to discuss the role of women and discuss the literature with feminist point of view (Green and Kahn). The main focus of the theory is to analyze the role of women in the particular literature and examine gender politics in the sociopolitical perspectives (Green and Kahn). Feminist critics have always been an interesting topic as it has always analyzed the role of women in the sociopolitical aspects of the society (Green and Kahn). The theory determines the role of a women in particular literature and further analyze it through several social patterns (Eagleton). It determines the positioning, masculinity and femininity, status and marginalizing within a work (Green and Kahn). The main objective of the theory is to challenge the male centered look of the society. It is concern with the stereotype representation of gender through which the literature is analyzed. Feminist literary criticism involves various forms and aspects to analyze the literature. Certain feminist authors are incline to discuss the masculinity and challenge it with women, some authors aims to discuss the role of women and analyze work with women’s perspective and attitude (Eagleton). The goal of the theory is to promote equality by ensuring fair representation of women in the literature and text (Eagleton). According to Judith Fetterley, “feminist criticism is a political act whose aim is not only to interpret the world but to change it, by changing the consciousness of those who read and their relation to what they read.” Feminist theory aims to interpret and divert consciousness of people about masculinity and promote equality in the society (Green and Kahn). Books, authors and literature have been challenged for unfair gender representation of women. According to the feminist criticism, Gulliver travels have anti-feminist approach (Green and Kahn). The role of women in the literature has been overlook, whereas the role of women is not appreciate and prominent in the book. Objective of the feminist criticism is to expose women in versatile way in order to overcome the discrimination for the gender therefore; the criticism involves patriarchy approach to determine the masculinity in the political perspectives. Feminist criticism has always been a part of the history. Writing and literature are evidence to the historical facts that humans are inclined the masculinity and male dominant society (Green and Kahn). The role of women in the society has been suppressed and overlook by authors and writers. Education, publication and literatures are dominant by males (Eagleton). Our literary text consists of traditional male concerns, adventures, wars, expeditions, explorations and heroic patterns (Green and Kahn). Whereas, women writers have constrain their contribution during the times. Furthermore, the demonstration of women in the literature by male writer has been either overlooked or underestimated (Green and Kahn). The male have always been the prominent part of the history, contrary women have been associated with the narrow band of stereotypes. Personal interest Feminist literary criticism has several aspects that divert interests to the particular critical approach. The feminist criticism promotes equality and delivers a broader view of a women in the literature and texts (Green and Kahn). It aims to provide fair and equality to gender in the male dominant society. It further provides understanding a woman a part of society and illustrates its contribution in the literature. Literature has been dominated with the masculinity and manhood; the text has associated women with stagnant, narrow and inferiority perspectives. Among all the approaches, feminist theory has provides a broader view regarding equality and to abolish stereotype pattern of women in the literature (Eagleton). It aims to provide information about several aspects of women in the society and further allow the develop understanding about women role in the society. Jonathan swift has been accused by several feminist as the literature adopts an anti-feminist approach in this text Gulliver’s travel. The context of the book cast an adverse impact on the readers regarding women by portraying negativity regarding females. The female character of women “Yahoo” in the text is as nursing women who has an animal like behavior who has been nursing and caring as a mother (Eagleton). The text depicts a negative impact of a mother on the readers. He author has associated the role of a mother with a nurse having animal like sexual instincts. It blurs the image of motherhood and sexuality I womanhood in the mind of readers (Eagleton). Therefore, the text has been criticized by several feminist as it castes a negative impact of a women in the book. Motherhood has a divine respect and value in almost every culture and religion. Swift in the text has associated motherhood with the sexuality in the womanhood. This draws attention of several feminist to criticize the text and the character in Gulliver’s travel. The main focus of the critics is to defend values of motherhood that have been blurred with the sexuality and negativity. Swift in his autobiography have been through family disputes and lost his mother in an early age. The text of the book reflects the affiliation of author’s personal life that has been interpreted in the book in a character of Yahoo. According to the feminist literary critic, the text of the Gulliver’s travel reflects masculinity and has abandoned the contribution of women in any aspect. Further, women character of book caste an adverse impact of womanhood on the readers. Analyzing the theory and the literature it come to understanding that contemporary literary criticism has been always been a part of literature. It has caused the literature to grow and enhance the potential. Several theories have distinct subject through which the literature is criticized. Feminist literary criticism is one of the interesting literary criticisms, as it promotes equality to the gender without sexual, political and social discrimination. It aims to provide equality to women. The literature of Gulliver travel can be analyzed through feminist critics, as it demonstrated women with negativity. In the text, swift has associated several negative aspects with the womanhood. The context of Gulliver’s travel has been criticized by several women as he blurred the image of feminism in the society. Through feminist approach one can determine the role of women in the society and can contribute to promote women as a part of a society. It allows broadening the stereotype image of women that has been portrayed by Swift in the text of Gulliver’s Travel and several other literature. It allows one to understand versatility of women in the society and not to associate women as a sign of inferiority. It further challenges and stereotype believes of masculinity that has been demonstrated through past literature. Works Cited Eagleton, Mary. Feminist literary criticism. London: Longman, 1991. Print. Green, Gayle and Coppelia Kahn. Making a Difference: Feminist Literary Criticism. London: Taylor & Francis, 2004. Print. Read More