Feminists- they do not have the best reputation today. Many view them as women starved for attention and trying to twist everything they hear in order to confirm their own self imposed victimization. I have always grouped feminists in the same category that I do people involved in New Age and the sort, and I do not always understand the point of their arguments and insight. I do however believe that women have been oppressed just as much as any other minority. Yet in today’s world it sometimes seems that they try to create imaginary discrimination or fight for rights in ridiculous and petty situations.
Reading the first essay I found it hard to hold the feminist criticism on the same level as Marxist and cultural, but that is just my personal opinion. To me it feels as though the feminist critics go out on a limb to link their concepts with those in the books that they critique. The idea that women need to “write their bodies” in order to “realize their sexuality” sounds a little bizarre. When they use terms like “female power” and the like, it just seems to glorify the female sex, or rather just pull an awkward attention to it.
As far as the second essay is concerned though, I do not feel like Pykett stretches the truth since the period in which Wuthering Heights takes place is one of blatant restrictions for women. The novel is quite obviously centered around Catherine’s choice between Heathcliff and Edgar. It is also apparent that Catherine’s strong personality and power over the men in her life only seems to cause trouble for herself and others. It is interesting that she points out that the novel explores the “dangers involved in women thinking of themselves, or their love, as gifts to be bestowed”. I did not fully understand where she was going with this point, so I would like further insight on it.
I think when Pykett says the "dangers involved in women thinking of themselves, or their love, as gifts to be bestowed," she is being fairly sarcastic. Perhaps the word "dangers" should have been italicized? These are gifts as much as they are tools to be utilized. They are part of the woman's repertoire that, at the time at least, were not available to be utilized.
ReplyDeleteI can agree with you about some modern forms of feminism. There's the idea of female empowerment, which is totally supportable, and militant feminism which seems to stray off course. I think if you take any ideology to extremes it becomes unidentifiable. Thankfully, I don't think this essay went too far off the rails.
I have to agree with your initial evaluation of feminism. Terms like "female power", as you point out, can often times do more damage than good. I get the overall impression that what is really being said is something along the lines of, "Men have willfully oppressed feminine culture, so now women should willfully oppose masculine culture." It seems to me that such an attitude does not so much solve the problem as intensifies it.
ReplyDeleteFortunately, this article acknowledges the potential threats of extreme ideology. This allows for a more balanced criticism that includes both grounded ideas, and those that are less tangible.
"glorify[ing] the female sex, or rather just pull[ing] an awkward attention to it." That is exactly how I felt. Even after reading both essays, I have to admit that my initial opinion of Feminist criticism hasn't changed. They always seem like they're bending the novel to fit their point.
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