Feminist Criticism

Feminist Criticism

Contemporary feminist criticism focuses on various specified topics such as women’s biographical writings, lesbian and literature, and the role of film and the media in portraying feminine gender. It is no longer easily separated into categorical goals by nationalities or land boundaries. Instead, feminist criticism is now characterized according to whether the category of "woman" is the major focus, or whether gender identity is defined by sexual and other identities as well. These other differences include, but are not limited to, cultural identities as a woman, lesbian writings, sexual preference, and religious differences.

Most feminist critics today stress the fact that while all women are female, they are much more than that. Each woman’s goals and problems make them who they are by creating a unique identity. The understanding of woman not as a single group has led modern feminist critics to advocate personal and autobiographical criticism. It has also fostered contemporary gender criticism.

Gender critics explore different categories of gender and sexuality. Gender criticism does not only focus on women’s gender and sexuality, but also includes male gender issues. Gender criticism began solely as feminist criticism, and now the two are still overlapped.

Elaine Tuttle Hansen has applied feminist criticism in her analysis of "The Miller’s Tale" in a segment of the chapter "Women as the Same" from the book Chaucer and the Fictions of Gender. While earlier critics have focused on the humorous side of what they consider an innocent prank, Hansen focuses on Alisoun’s escape from punishment. At the same time she recognizes that it was only by accident that Nicholas intervened to receive the punish...

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...astly, I found reference to Alisoun being objectified as something only to look at in two separate, yet closely related examples. First, in lines 3247-3248 of her portrait, the Miller states that "She was ful more blisful on to see / Than is the newe pere-jonntte tree." Secondly, Absolon refers to Alisoun’s objectification by stating "to loke on hir him thoughte a merye lyf" (3344). Valued objects are often set away from "normal" areas to look upon for enjoyment purposes. And happiness is sometimes thought to be achieved through viewing a thing of beauty; this is how these men viewed Alisoun. In conclusion, it is clear to see through these examples how Chaucer used animal characteristics to objectify Alisoun. Furthermore, I feel that Hansen’s views on "The Miller’s Tale" were correct and justified. Overall, I feel that the views expressed by Hansen are enlightening.