Chivalry,CourtlyLove,andFeminism-SkyViewAcademy.ppt

Emma Watson’s UN Speech /watch?v=p-iFl4qhBsE Feminist Literary Theory These are the foundations of Feminist Literary Theory. (Though there are three waves of feminism that focus on different aspects). Women are oppressed by patriarchy economically, politically, socially, and psychologically; patriarchal ideology is the primary means by which they are kept. In every domain where patriarchy reigns, woman is other: she is marginalized, defined only by her difference from male norms and values. All of western (Anglo-European) civilization is deeply rooted in patriarchal ideology, for example, in the biblical portrayal of Eve as the origin of sin and death in the world. While biology determines our sex (male or female), culture determines our gender (masculine or feminine). All feminist activity, including feminist theory and literary criticism, has as its ultimate goal to change the world by prompting gender equality. Gender issues play a part in every aspect of human production and experience, including the production and experience of literature, whether we are consciously aware of these issues or not. Masculine Images How are men portrayed in medieval literature? Physically strong hero Protector? Wise father figure Super lover extraordinaire ? Feminine Images Aloof princess in a tower?(Think “Damsel in Distress” archetype) Emitter of life (Think the “Life Giving Mother” archetype) Virginal and sweet. Tempting and desirable. This is problematic because of Sigmund Freud’s “Madonna-Whore complex.” This is the complex that Freud argues men develop when they see women as either saintly Madonnas or debased prostitutes. Men with this complex cannot maintain attraction to a woman in a committed, loving relationship. He explains, “Where such men love they have no desire and where they desire, they cannot love.” Feminist Questions to Explore How does the portrayal of a category (sex) interact with how the “reader” thinks of a person/character? Does the person seem t