Feminist Literary Criticism and Death of a Solider (From Hospital Sketches)
Having read the following: Archetypal/Myth Literary Criticism http://www(dot)kristisiegel(dot)com/theory.htm Feminist Literary Criticism http://bcs(dot)bedfordstmartins(dot)com/virtualit/fiction/critical.asp?e=2 Alcott, Louisa May (1863). “The Death of John.” a/k/a “Death of a Soldier.” From Hospital Sketches. Retrieved from http://www(dot)online-literature(dot)com/alcott/1977/. Also available at http://www(dot)classicreader(dot)com/book/2580/1/ and http://grammar(dot)about(dot)com/od/classicessays/a/Death-Of-A-Soldier-By-Louisa-May-Alcott.htm Howell, William Dean (1907). “Editha.” From Between the Dark and the Daylight. New York: Harper and Brothers. Retrieved from http://www(dot)online-literature(dot)com/william-dean-howells/4110/ . Also available at http://public(dot)wsu(dot)edu/~campbelld/howells/editha.htm Please proceed to the discussion instructions. Then, in a reply post of no fewer than 250 words, analyze and describe how a character is portrayed in either Alcott’s “Death of John” or in Howell’s “Editha,” applying at least one (1) concept of “Feminist Literary Theory” or “Archetypal/Myth Literary Theory.”
Feminist Literary Criticism and Death of a Solider (From Hospital Sketches)
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Feminist literary criticism refers to a literary evaluation which develops from the perspective of feminist politics, feminism or feminist theory. The literary identifies female characters as a way of challenging masculine perception of male authors. It proposes that in the past women were prejudiced and portrayed as objects in literatures presented from male perspectives. Feminist literary criticism questioned the manner in which male authors presented literatures that valued males, but looked females as inferiors. It criticized against traditional assumptions used in reading, which favored male characters, but portrayed females as objects. Feminist literary criticism acknowledged and appreciated women’s knowledge and experience in literature.
A good example of feminist critique is an excerpt (Death of a Solder) written by Louisa May Alcott. In this critique, Alcott shows women’s contribution and their gender role in the society. This critique challenges literary cannon developed by male authors in the past. Alcott created rhetorical strategies to exhibit the significance of emotion in human life. She expressed compassion that strengthened John who was almost dying. She disclosed altruistic attitude to John and uttered words of encouragement to him. She applied these tools to develop great compassion and emotional feelings of how the situation was. John was so sick a...