Feminist Literary Criticism

D. Feminist Literary Criticism

Critical analysis of literary works based on the feminist perspective, or commonly called as feminist literary criticism, is used to analyze or being used as an

Lewis, 2008, para. 1). On a book entitles Literary Theory: the Basics written by Hans Bertens (2001), he writes about feminist criticism which could be used in analyzing literature, especially related to the black woman issue, which is further developed in African-American criticism.

At the first time feminist literary criticism revolves around the desire to challenge or redefine the literary canon, which is dominated by men, this somehow gives chance and space to women. Debates came from the critics (who were mostly men) who defied the theory as they see literature as literature, and the critics think that there's no need to differentiate the author or the way the works was written. A research suggested different thing because fiction from 18 th and 19 th century was untrue to women's experience, rather the works are male-oriented, and women were seen as the enemy.

Feminist literary criticism is needed as women obviously have different point- of-view with men. Virgina Woolf (1929) in her A Room of One's Own states that women have different style of writing, and there is something unique on female writing. When analyzing female writing, the common theory used for male point-of- view literary works is not really applicable. As male and female point-of-view when writing literary works is different, and if the authors' ideology and background is one of influential factor determining the outcome and the message inside the works, analysis based on female point-of-view is used as the analysis technique.

Criticism”, she states that: When applied to the study of literature, it is used in a variety of contexts

to cover a variety of activities, including (1) any criticism written by a woman, no matter what the subject; (2) any criticism written by a woman about a man's book which treats that book from a "political" or "feminist" perspective; and (3) any criticism written by a woman about a woman's book or about female authors in general (1975, p. 75).

From the essay written by Opperman on Feminist Literary Criticism: Expanding the Canon as Regards the Novel , he states that feminist literary criticism can be applied to any female writing, not only criticism or writings from feminists. Opperman states

that ―female writing can be taken as special female expression of women's perspective on a variety of social, cultural, or political issue without being commited

to the feminist position ‖ (1994, Chapter II para.10). Both novels, The Color Purple and The Keeper of the House are written by women —although being different from their race. Alice Walker has been in the list of black feminist through her literary works, and her obvious writings which invoke black feminism and somehow bring negative image of black males. Shirley Ann Grau can also be considered as feminist, although most of her writings bring the issue of race rather than gender, she empowers women through her writing.

The novels were written in the Woman Rights Movement era by 1964 for The Keepers of the House and 1982 for The Color Purple. The setting of the novels are in 1910-1940s, it is probable that the authors try to portray what happen to black women The novels were written in the Woman Rights Movement era by 1964 for The Keepers of the House and 1982 for The Color Purple. The setting of the novels are in 1910-1940s, it is probable that the authors try to portray what happen to black women

Alice Walker writes The Color Purple with pretty clear portrayal of the struggle of Celie, a black woman who wants to be free from her male counterparts ‘ subordination practice, which she successfully achieves. Through some characters on her novels, Alice Walker encourages all black women to be able to fight back whatever kind of inferiority practice directed to them and to speak what on their mind.

In the other hand, Shirley Ann Grau seems to be focusing her story on Abigail Howland ‘s life and point of view towards black women—and in some parts she also gives remarks on Southern white women. In writing her novel, Shirley implicitly sympathizes black women, she does not necessarily show supportive act towards them. Abigail ‘s point although being supportive and respective towards Margaret, she does not take side to the blacks. Shirley seems to concern more to the Southern white women, in this case Abigail Howland, and to the fact that women are as capable as the men.