feminism

                Feminism

         Here my view about the what is Feminism?

Definition:-

According to Universal Dictionary,

“feminism is a social movement that seeks to change the traditional role and image of a women to eliminate sexism and to heighten appreciation of the experience and qualities unique to the female sex….”

             Feminism has very slow development around 1880s. the French lady Hurbatine Aucclet had used the words ‘feminist’ and ‘feminine’ for the first time later on it becomes feminism in sociology and literature . French feminist Toril Moi had defined and differentiated  three terms which are at the centre of entire feminist movement.

1)          Female

2)          Feminism

3)          Feminist

·    History of Feminism:-

-       The 1^st wave of feminism began in the late 17^th century. Aphra Behn  considered to be the first published women writer other words that followed with feminist ideas are as under;

·    ‘a vindication of the right of women’

            Mary Woolstone Craft

·    ‘the subjection of women’

                    John Start Mill

 These words talk about equality and the need for change. Later, more women writers had started writings.

Example:

 Bronte Sisters , Jane Austen and George Eliot

          Majority of the works by this writers focused on the domestic problems and affairs of the home.

-       The 2^nd wave of the feminism came in 1960-70 was characterized by political movement for equality suffrage and employment opportunities. During this wave the older women fought for individual right and liberty while the younger women fought for collective rights. After discussing the above waves of feminism , the critics have divided feminist into two categories:

1)          Activist

2)          Academics

      The activist fought for political rights where as the academics have write feminist theory and feminist writing.

   Literature is concerned with the academic feminism. Literature can be studied from a feminist prospective. A feminist reading of any work in literature generally examine the place of women in literature and in society. Moreover the feminist reading of any work check-out the style and structure of society.  Where female is considered weak and insignificant.

·    The Academic Feminism

       Academic feminism is divided into two feminist’s theory , feminist writing and feminist’s criticism. In academic feminism the writers have written about those aspects which are practiced by activist through their action, according to Kathleen.B.Jones,

“feminist theory is a philosophical analysis of concept of gender and the meaning of sexual different”

             There are some of the world famous feminist works in English literature. There are as  below

“ A room of one’s own”

                         ~ Virginia Woolf

      This work is considered as “the bible of feminism”.

 “ thinking about women”

                          ~ Mary Ellman

       This book discusses the stereotype  of women in literature written by male writers.

“second sex”

            ~ Simon-de-Beauvoir

     This work radically critic the treatment of women as secondary and negative object.

·    Types of Feminism

   There are main six type of feminism like,

1} Eco-feminism

2} Marxist feminism

3} liberal feminism

4} Radical feminism

5} Psychoanalytic feminism

6} Mythic feminism

       However, Marxist feminism takes about inspiration from the work of Bebel. The title of the book,

“women under socialism”

        Marxist feminism fights for equal economic right.

      In mythic feminism the women writers studied the ancient myths and create their own interpretation. They give a new explanation and development  to the mythic female characters. Even they prove that myths are “Andocentric”.

Example:-

       “Dropdi”

                     ~ Maha Swetadevi 

Symbolism

                 Symbolism

        The word ‘symbolism’ is derived from the Greek  word ‘symballein’  which means “to throw together”, “mark”, “emblem”, “token” or “sign”. The verb symbol is an object which can be ‘animate’ or ‘inanimate’ symbol represent or stand for something different.

        The definitive manifesto of symbolism was published in September 1886 in an articles “le Figaro” written by Jean Moreas. He founded the symbolist school whose member were Baudelaire , Mallarme , Verlaine , etc other famous followers include Rome Ghil , Griffith and Gustave Khan. According to M.H.Abrams,

“In the usage of literary historian, symbolist movement  designates specifically a group of French writers beginning with Charles Baudelaire”

 Now there  might question that what can be effective an universal symbols in literary writing. To answer the question critic J.A.Cudden suggest that any object and action can be symbol writing.

EX.

     In literature there are many objects commonly used as symbols by writers. E.g.

1)           Scale-symbol of justice

2)           Monarchy-symbol of rule

3)           A dove- symbol of peace

4)           A goat- symbol of lust

5)           The lion -  symbol of strength and courage

7)           The lily – symbol of purity

8)           Cross- symbol of Christianity

9)           The swastika- symbol of Nazi in German

10)    Blood – symbol of violence

        As critic J.A.Cudden rightly quote that:

   “ Action and gesture are also symbolic”

e.g,..

* the clenched fist is symbol of aggression and anger

* beating of breast signifies remorse and pain

* arms raised denotes surrender

* hands closed suggests prayer or request

        While talking about symbols in literature critic. J.A.Cudden says:

“ A literary symbol combines an image with a concept. It may be public or private , universal or local”

         Public and universal symbol are almost similar to one another they are known everywhere . e.g. dove and peace , red rose and love etc,…….. the history of English literature , the master of using public symbol are Virgil , Dante , James Joyce,……

          While private symbols are limited to particular class , community state or country. Some literary works know for symbolism. Dante is master of using various symbols in effective way.

E.g.    “Divina Commedia”        - this work is structurely  symbolic in the history of English literature.

         “ Macbeth”

         “King Lear”

         “Hamlet”

  In “Macbeth”, there is  recurrence of blood which  symbolizes guilt and violence. While in ‘Hamlet’ weeds and diseases symbolize corruption and decay. Finally in ‘king Lear’ clothes symbolize appearance and authority.

   “Rime of the ancient mariner”

      Here in this book the shooting of the bird albatross is symbol of sin and luck of respect for natural order.

      “ The Waste land”

    “Ash Wednesday”

-       T.S.Eliot

 “ Metamorphosis”

-       Franz Kafka

   All these works are full of private symbol which naturally evoke the interest and brighten the story. Finally there was much use of symbolism in French poetry during 19^th century. Poets like Baudelaire and Mallarme rave highly developed symbolism through their believed that the poet is a kind of seer. So that the duty of poet is to see through and beyond the real world. They believed that the poet has to create “other world” by suggestion and symbolism. Some of the major symbolist poems are as below.

           “Correspondence”

      “sleen”

-       Baudelaire

   All these French poets have highly influence the next generation of poet in French and as well as outside of France. The main “heirs” of symbolist movement outside French are W.B.Yeats , Ezra pound, t.s.eliot,r.m.rike etc,….