Subjectivity in Literature & Literary Theory

Etymology of Subjectivity

The term “subjectivity” traces its origins to the Latin word “subiectus,” meaning “lying beneath” or “submissive.” In its modern conceptualization, subjectivity emerged during the Enlightenment era, particularly in the works of philosophers like Immanuel Kant and René Descartes.

It refers to the quality or condition of being shaped by an individual’s personal perspective, experiences, emotions, and beliefs, rather than solely relying on objective, external facts or truths.

Subjectivity became a central concept in various academic disciplines, including philosophy, psychology, and sociology, as it underlines the inherent complexity of human consciousness and the challenges of achieving complete objectivity in understanding and interpreting the world. This multifaceted term has since played a pivotal role in discussions surrounding perception, cognition, interpretation, and the nature of reality.

Meanings of Subjectivity

Aspect	Meanings
Character Perspectives	In literature, subjectivity often refers to the personal viewpoints, thoughts, and emotions of characters within a story.
Narrative Interpretation	Subjectivity can influence how a narrative is presented and interpreted, with an author’s personal bias or perspective shaping the storytelling.
Reader Engagement	It highlights that readers bring their own experiences and perspectives when interpreting and engaging with a text.
Stream of Consciousness	Certain literary techniques, like stream of consciousness, delve deeply into characters’ inner thoughts and feelings, emphasizing subjectivity.
Identity and Representation	Subjectivity intersects with how marginalized groups are represented in literature and how their unique perspectives are conveyed.
Autobiographical Elements	Autobiographical fiction often incorporates the author’s own subjectivity into the narrative, blurring the line between fact and fiction.
Emotional and Aesthetic Response	It encompasses the individual emotional and aesthetic reactions that readers and characters have to a literary work.

Definition of Subjectivity as a Theoretical Term

Subjectivity, as a theoretical term, denotes the inherent quality of individuality and personal perspective that shapes human experiences and interpretations. It highlights the subjective nature of human consciousness, emphasizing the influence of emotions, beliefs, and personal biases in constructing one’s understanding of reality.

In academic discourse, it is often analyzed within various disciplines, including philosophy, psychology, and sociology, to explore the complexities of human perception and cognition.

Subjectivity: Theorists, Works and Arguments

Theorists:

• Immanuel Kant: Kant explored it in his Critique of Pure Reason, distinguishing between the noumenal (objective) and phenomenal (subjective) realms of experience.
• Jean-Paul Sartre: Sartre’s Existentialism emphasizes the role of individual subjectivity in defining one’s existence and choices.
• Jacques Lacan: Lacanian psychoanalysis delves into the subject’s formation through language, signifiers, and the “mirror stage.”
• Michel Foucault: Foucault’s works, like The Birth of the Clinic and Discipline and Punishment, analyze how power structures shape subjectivity.
• Judith Butler: Known for her work on gender and performativity, Butler challenges fixed notions of identity and highlights the performative nature of subjectivity.

Works:

• Critique of Pure Reason (1781) by Immanuel Kant: Kant’s seminal work explores the nature of human subjectivity and its role in shaping perception and knowledge.
• Being and Nothingness (1943) by Jean-Paul Sartre: This existentialist treatise examines subjectivity and freedom in human existence.
• Écrits (1966) by Jacques Lacan: Lacan’s collection of essays introduces his psychoanalytic theories on subjectivity and language.
• The Birth of the Clinic (1963) by Michel Foucault: This work analyzes how medical knowledge and discourse influence subjectivity and power relations.
• Gender Trouble (1990) by Judith Butler: Butler’s book challenges conventional views of gender by emphasizing the performative aspects of subjectivity.

Key Arguments:

• Kant’s Transcendental Idealism: Kant argues that human subjectivity imposes a structure on the world, shaping our understanding of reality through categories like time and space.
• Sartre’s Existential Freedom: Sartre asserts that human subjectivity entails radical freedom and responsibility, as individuals create their essence through choices.
• Lacan’s Mirror Stage: Lacan’s mirror stage theory posits that it begins with a misrecognition of oneself, leading to identity formation through language.
• Foucault’s Discursive Formation: Foucault argues that subjectivity is shaped by the discourses and power structures within society.
• Butler’s Performativity: Butler contends that gender and identity are performed rather than innate, challenging its fixed notions.

These theorists, works, and arguments have significantly contributed to the exploration and understanding of subjectivity within various academic fields.

Subjectivity and Literary Theories

Theory	Relevance
Reader-Response Theory	It is central to reader-response theory, which posits that a reader’s personal experiences, emotions, and interpretations are crucial in determining the meaning of a text. The reader’s subjectivity shapes their engagement with the narrative, and different readers may derive distinct meanings from the same text.
Feminist Theory	In feminist literary theory, it is examined concerning gender roles and the representation of women in literature. This perspective explores how women’s subjectivity has been historically marginalized and how literature can be a platform for reclaiming and expressing female subjectivities.
Postcolonial Theory	Subjectivity is relevant in postcolonial theory as it relates to the colonial experience and the construction of identity. Postcolonial literature often highlights the subjectivities of colonized individuals and their struggles to assert their voices and identities in the face of colonial oppression.
Psychoanalytic Theory	Psychoanalytic literary theory, influenced by Freud and Lacan, delves into the inner workings of characters’ subjectivity. It examines how subconscious desires, conflicts, and traumas shape character motivations and narrative events.
Postmodernism	Postmodern literary theory challenges the idea of objective reality and emphasizes the subjective nature of truth and meaning. It often blurs the boundaries between fiction and reality, inviting readers to engage with texts from multiple subjective perspectives.
Identity and Identity Politics	Literary theories that focus on identity, including racial, ethnic, and LGBTQ+ identities, consider how it is constructed through these social and cultural factors. These theories explore how literature reflects and shapes individual and collective subjectivities.
Autobiographical and Memoir Studies	The study of autobiographical literature and memoirs involves a close examination of the author’s subjectivity. These genres allow authors to express their personal experiences, emotions, and perspectives, making subjectivity a central element in analyzing autobiographical works.
Narrative Theory	It influences the way narratives are structured and presented. Narrative theorists consider how narrators, whether first-person or third-person, impact the reader’s perception of events and characters, often highlighting the subjectivity inherent in storytelling.
Aesthetic Theories	Discussions about the aesthetic experience in literature frequently involve subjectivity. Different readers and critics may have subjective reactions to the style, tone, and imagery of a text, contributing to diverse interpretations and evaluations of literary works.

Subjectivity in Literary Criticism

1. The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett (2020):
   • Subjectivity Example: A critic with a background in African American studies currently focuses on how the novel explores issues of racial passing and identity. They emphasize the complexities of light-skinned characters passing as white and how this reflects historical and contemporary racial dynamics.
   • Subjectivity Impact: The critic’s expertise in African American studies presently shapes their interpretation, emphasizing the novel’s exploration of racial subjectivities.
2. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (2011):
   • Subjectivity Example: A critic with a penchant for fantasy literature currently emphasizes the novel’s magical elements and intricate world-building. They delve into the symbolism of the circus and how it represents a space of subjective imagination and escapism.
   • Subjectivity Impact: The critic’s affinity for fantasy literature currently guides their interpretation, focusing on the novel’s fantastical and imaginative aspects.
3. The Overstory by Richard Powers (2018):
   • Subjectivity Example: An environmentalist critic currently emphasizes the novel’s ecological themes and its exploration of human relationships with trees and nature. They highlight it with reference to characters as it evolves in response to the natural world.
   • Subjectivity Impact: The critic’s environmentalist perspective currently informs their interpretation, emphasizing the novel’s ecological subjectivities and its call for environmental stewardship.
4. Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid (2019):
   • Subjectivity Example: A critic interested in contemporary social issues currently focuses on the novel’s exploration of race, privilege, and performative allyship. They delve into the characters’ subjective experiences of navigating these dynamics in a modern setting.
   • Subjectivity Impact: The critic’s interest in social issues currently shapes their interpretation, emphasizing the novel’s commentary on contemporary social subjectivities.

In each of these examples, it plays a role in how critics approach and analyze contemporary novels. Critics’ backgrounds, interests, and perspectives currently influence the aspects of the texts they emphasize, allowing for diverse and nuanced interpretations that currently reflect their individual subjectivities. This recognition of it enriches the discourse around contemporary literature, highlighting its multifaceted nature.

Suggested Readings

1. Beauvoir, Simone de. The Second Sex. Vintage, 1989.
2. Butler, Judith. Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity. Routledge, 1990.
3. Descartes, René. Meditations on First Philosophy. Translated by Donald A. Cress, Hackett Publishing Company, 1993.
4. Freud, Sigmund. The Ego and the Id. W. W. Norton & Company, 1960.
5. Foucault, Michel. Madness and Civilization: A History of Insanity in the Age of Reason. Vintage, 1988.
6. James, William. The Principles of Psychology. Dover Publications, 1950.
7. Lacan, Jacques. Ecrits: The First Complete Edition in English. W. W. Norton & Company, 2006.
8. Merleau-Ponty, Maurice. Phenomenology of Perception. Translated by Colin Smith, Routledge, 2012.
9. Nietzsche, Friedrich. Beyond Good and Evil. Translated by Walter Kaufmann, Vintage, 1989.
10. Sartre, Jean-Paul. Being and Nothingness: An Essay on Phenomenological Ontology. Translated by Hazel E. Barnes, Washington Square Press, 1992.