Attitudes: Creating and Critiquing It

Introduction to Attitudes

Attitudes in literature are like the mood or feeling the author or characters have about a particular subject, idea, or situation in a story. It’s the way they express their thoughts and emotions, whether they’re happy, sad, excited, or even skeptical.

This attitude can shape the overall tone of the story, influencing how readers feel as they read it. It’s like the author’s way of showing their perspective or viewpoint through the words and actions of the characters and the choices they make in the story.

Literary Examples of Attitudes

1. Optimistic Attitudes:
   • Example: In Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, the character of Joe Gargery embodies an optimistic attitude. Despite his humble background and hardships, Joe maintains a positive outlook on life and values kindness and moral integrity.
   • Explanation: Joe’s optimistic attitude serves as a stark contrast to the novel’s darker themes. His unwavering kindness and optimism illustrate the potential for goodness and redemption, offering hope amidst adversity.
2. Cynical Attitudes:
   • Example: In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, the character of Tom Buchanan exemplifies a cynical attitude. He is skeptical about love, morality, and the American Dream, often displaying a dismissive and self-centered outlook.
   • Explanation: Tom’s cynical attitude reflects the moral decay and disillusionment of the Jazz Age. His skepticism underscores the novel’s critique of materialism and superficiality.
3. Sarcastic Attitudes:
   • Example: In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, the character of Elizabeth Bennet frequently employs sarcasm in her interactions, particularly with Mr. Darcy. For instance, she responds to Darcy’s proposal with biting sarcasm.
   • Explanation: Elizabeth’s use of sarcasm is a defense mechanism against societal expectations and her perception of Darcy’s arrogance. It adds humor and depth to the novel’s exploration of class and marriage.
4. Tragic Attitudes:
   • Example: In William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” the titular character, Hamlet, embodies a tragic attitude. He grapples with existential questions, experiences profound sorrow, and is haunted by thoughts of death and betrayal.
   • Explanation: Hamlet’s tragic attitude is central to the play’s exploration of human suffering and the consequences of moral ambiguity. It contributes to the play’s enduring status as a tragedy.
5. Romantic Attitudes:
   • Example: Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights portrays the passionate and obsessive love between Heathcliff and Catherine. Their intense emotions and the wild, untamed landscape reflect a romantic attitude.
   • Explanation: The romantic attitude in Wuthering Heights underscores the theme of destructive love and the enduring power of emotions. It contrasts with societal norms, emphasizing the depth of human passion.
6. Realistic Attitudes:
   • Example: In Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, the protagonist, Santiago, exhibits a realistic attitude toward life in the face of adversity. He acknowledges the challenges of his fishing expedition and the harsh realities of the sea.
   • Explanation: Santiago’s realistic attitude reflects Hemingway’s “iceberg theory” of writing, emphasizing the understated and unspoken aspects of life. Santiago’s resilience in the face of struggle embodies a stoic and realistic perspective.

How to Create an Attitudes

1. Determine Your Attitudes:
   • Decide on the specific attitude you want to convey in your writing, whether it’s optimism, skepticism, humor, or any other emotional or intellectual stance.
2. Select the Right Tone:
   • Choose a tone that aligns with your desired attitude. The tone sets the emotional quality of your writing, so opt for one that effectively communicates your chosen attitude.
3. Use Appropriate Language:
   • Select words and phrases that reflect the attitude you want to convey. Positive and negative language choices can significantly impact how your attitude comes across.
4. Create Vivid Imagery:
   • Use descriptive language and sensory details to paint a vivid picture that evokes the chosen attitude in your readers. Show, don’t just tell, to make the attitude more compelling.
5. Edit for Consistency:
   • Review your writing to ensure that the attitude you’ve established remains consistent throughout the piece. Remove any elements that may contradict the intended attitude.

By following these five steps, you can effectively create and convey your desired attitude in your writing with clarity and impact.

Benefits of Using Attitudes

1. Authenticity: Infusing your own attitude into your writing lends it an unmistakable authenticity. Your personal beliefs and emotions shine through, creating a genuine connection with your readers. This authenticity makes your writing relatable and trustworthy.
2. Emotional Impact: Your attitude can evoke strong emotions in your readers. Whether you convey enthusiasm, empathy, or conviction, your genuine feelings resonate with your audience on an emotional level, making your writing more engaging and memorable.
3. Distinctive Voice: Your attitude contributes to the development of your unique writer’s voice. It sets you apart from other writers, giving your work a distinct identity. Readers often appreciate writers with a strong and consistent voice.
4. Clarity of Message: Expressing your own attitude clarifies your message. It helps you communicate your intentions and beliefs more effectively, reducing the risk of misinterpretation. Your writing becomes a clear and potent vehicle for conveying your ideas.
5. Reader Connection: Your attitude fosters a deeper connection with your readers. When readers sense your sincerity and passion, they are more likely to connect with your writing and become loyal followers. This connection can lead to a dedicated readership and increased influence as a writer.

Attitude and Literary Theories

Theory	Critique
Reader-Response Theory	Reader-response theorists emphasize the role of the reader in shaping interpretations. Individual attitudes lead to diverse readings.
New Criticism	New Critics focus on the text’s formal elements but may oversimplify attitude, overlooking broader socio-cultural contexts.
Feminist Theory	Feminist theory critiques gender roles and stereotypes in literature, emphasizing literature’s impact on societal attitudes.
Postcolonial Theory	Postcolonial theory explores colonial attitudes in literature, highlighting its role in understanding colonial history’s effects.
Psychoanalytic Theory	Psychoanalytic theory delves into subconscious motivations but may overlook broader societal factors influencing literary attitude.

Suggested Readings

1. Eagleton, Terry. The Ideology of the Aesthetic. Wiley, 1990.
2. Fish, Stanley. Is There a Text in This Class? The Authority of Interpretive Communities. Harvard University Press, 1982.
3. Gilbert, Sandra M., and Susan Gubar. The Madwoman in the Attic: The Woman Writer and the Nineteenth-Century Literary Imagination. Yale University Press, 2000.
4. Holland, Norman N. 5 Readers Reading. Yale University Press, 1991.
5. Iser, Wolfgang. The Act of Reading: A Theory of Aesthetic Response. The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1980.
6. Lentricchia, Frank. After the New Criticism. University of Chicago Press, 1980.
7. Nussbaum, Martha C. Love’s Knowledge: Essays on Philosophy and Literature. Oxford University Press, 1990.
8. Said, Edward W. Orientalism. Vintage, 1979.
9. Showalter, Elaine. A Literature of Their Own: British Women Novelists from Brontë to Lessing. Princeton University Press, 1978.
10. Spivak, Gayatri Chakravorty. In Other Worlds: Essays in Cultural Politics. Methuen, 1987.

More Literary Devices below:

• Invective: A Literary Device
• Invective in Literature
• Humor: A Literary Device
• Humor in Literature
• Coherence in Writing