Feminist Literary Theory

• Feminist literary theory questions traditional interpretations of literature and seeks to understand gender's influence on the creation and reception of texts.

Key Feminist Literary Critics and Concepts

• Virginia Woolf, in "A Room of One’s Own" (1929), emphasizes women's need for financial independence and the space to write, noting patriarchy's historical restrictions on women in literature and culture.
• Woolf argues women’s voices have been suppressed in literature because of a lack of resources and space, advocating for a literal and metaphorical "room" for women’s literary development.
• Elaine Showalter, in “Feminist Criticism in the Wilderness” (1981), defines feminist criticism as an interrogation of both women’s writing and the dominant (male) literary traditions.
• Showalter develops gynocriticism, which focuses on studying women’s literature and their unique experiences.
• Hélène Cixous, in “The Laugh of the Medusa” (1976), discusses "écriture féminine," feminine writing that challenges patriarchal structures.
• Cixous suggests writing should reflect women’s experiences and bodies to express feminine subjectivity and break free from male-dominated language.
• Gayatri Spivak’s “Three Women’s Texts and a Critique of Imperialism” (1985) examines the intersection of colonialism and gender oppression.
• Spivak focuses on how gendered and racialized narratives are silenced by imperialism.
• To fully understand the dynamics of oppression, especially in postcolonial contexts, feminist theory must address both gender and imperialism.

Intersectionality

• Intersectionality, coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, explores how race, class, gender, sexuality, and other identities intersect to create overlapping discrimination.
• In "Wide Sargasso Sea" and "Nervous Conditions," race and gender are linked; Antoinette is oppressed by patriarchy and her colonial identity.
• In "Nervous Conditions," Tambu’s gender and race shape her experience of colonial oppression.

Feminist Critique of the Canon

• Feminist literary criticism critiques the traditional literary canon for being overwhelmingly male and dismissing women’s contributions.
• Feminist critics aim to recover forgotten or marginalized women’s voices by revisiting and challenging the canon.
• "Wide Sargasso Sea" reinterprets "Jane Eyre" to address the lack of narrative for Bertha Mason.

Key Themes in Novels

• Key themes to consider are gender and agency, marriage and patriarchy, and mental illness and social oppression.

Gender and Agency

• "Jane Eyre" showcases Jane's struggle for autonomy in a patriarchal society, challenging Victorian gender norms through emotional and financial independence.
• "Wide Sargasso Sea" shows Antoinette struggling with both gender and colonial identity, with her agency constrained by expectations, leading to a mental breakdown that symbolizes undermined autonomy.
• "Nervous Conditions" explores how gender and colonialism affect Tambu’s agency as she resists patriarchal control and finds her voice, despite facing significant barriers.

Marriage and Patriarchy

• In "Jane Eyre," marriage challenges patriarchal norms, maintaining moral independence and balancing romantic desire with personal integrity.
• In "Wide Sargasso Sea," marriage represents a loss of identity for Antoinette, symbolizing subjugation within patriarchy and colonialism, leading to mental collapse.
• In "Nervous Conditions," marriage is portrayed as a patriarchal institution limiting women’s freedom, with characters like Nyasha struggling against traditional expectations.

Mental Illness and Social Oppression

• In "Jane Eyre," Bertha Mason’s mental illness challenges the Victorian ideal of femininity, resulting from personal trauma and oppressive social structures.
• In "Wide Sargasso Sea," Antoinette’s mental illness is tied to her isolation as a woman of mixed race, critiquing colonialism and patriarchy's role in driving women mad.
• In "Nervous Conditions," Nyasha’s struggles with eating disorders reflect the pressures of colonialism and patriarchy, critiquing how these dynamics shape women's self-perception and agency.

Useful Terms

• Key terms to understand are agency, patriarchy, gender ideology, gynocritics, and intersectionality.

Suggested Essay Approaches

• Identify key feminist themes in both texts (gender, marriage, agency, race).
• Examine critical readings supporting your analysis.
• Draw comparisons between the novels.

Final Tips

• Focus on major themes: gender, race, marriage, mental illness, agency, and colonialism.
• Link feminist theory and novels, using critics to support your reading.
• Take a clear stance on essay prompts.
• Practice quick comparisons between the novels.

Feminest Literary Criticism & Theory Essay Prompts

• Representations of gender, agency, and mental illness.
• Feminist literary theory and gynocriticism.
• Representation of marriage and patriarchal views.
• Portrayal of gender and race in postcolonial contexts.
• Feminist critique of the literary canon.
• Portrayal of mental illness and female protagonists.
• Theoretical connections to feminist theories.
• Summarization of key feminist themes.