ENGL303 Feminist Criticism: Equality In Different Societies

Derek Bright
ENGL303
April 1, 207
Feminist Criticism
Most writers currently strive to elevate women by elaborating their struggle towards the achievement of equity and equality in different societies that are dominated by male chauvinism. Such elaborations are normally presented through feminist criticism which is a form of political literature which unfolds the relationship between men and women in terms of gender roles. Under such circumstances, women are normally repressed and viewed as inferior in the literature. Nevertheless, they strive to disapprove the notion that they are incapable of achieving greater heights. Edith Wharton's The Age of Innocence, reveals the plight and place of women in the society that seem to be dominated by men. This type of criticism, therefore, feminist criticism has been used to advocate for women's right in social, political, psychological, personal, aesthetic and economic realm.
Gender is portrayed in The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton in terms of separate gender-based roles and the stereotyping of women besides revealing male in the society as the decision makers (Wharton, 2008). The author, in the process of drawing out her argument, creates some form of dual or binary interpretations of what really entails feminism. Through the different depictions of the two main female characters under discussion, there is some form of categorization of feminism and feministic stereotype. She, in some way, implies that there is indeed new and old feminism and its stereotypes, by painting Ellen Olenska as experienced and dark, while May Newland as virgin, innocent and fair(Elaman-Garner).
Wharton has juxtaposed divorce in marriage using Ellen as a rebel and a character who wants divorce besides having shifting traits. She vividly unfolds feminist criticism by revealing Ellen's husband Lawrence Lefferts who is unfaithful but the society does not note such action as a negative behavior instead sees her strive to have a divorce and the desire to have her own new life as contrary to the expectation of the society (Wharton, 2008). On the same note, feminist criticism has been used to undermine the vivid ideologies of Victorian womanhood as well as interrupting the image of independent and radical women who are challenging the society’s convention regarding women ...