Introduction: “Beyond The Net: Feminist Criticism As A Moral Criticism” By Josephine Donovan
“Beyond The Net: Feminist Criticism As A Moral Criticism” by Josephine Donovan first appeared in the 1983 Winter issue of Denver Quarterly. This essay explores the crucial role of literature and literary theory in shaping societal values and understanding. Donovan argues that feminist criticism, by examining the portrayal of women in literature, can serve as a powerful moral critique. She emphasizes the importance of literature in reflecting and influencing societal attitudes, and how feminist criticism can challenge harmful stereotypes and promote a more equitable understanding of gender.
Summary of “Beyond The Net: Feminist Criticism As A Moral Criticism” By Josephine Donovan
Return to the ‘Images of Women’ Approach in Feminist Criticism
- The article emphasizes a return to the ‘images of women’ approach that was central to feminist literary studies in the early 1970s and continues to play a significant role in the pedagogy of Women’s Studies. This approach involves analyzing how women characters are portrayed in literature, often revealing that these portrayals are alien and objectifying. “Women in literature written by men are for the most part seen as Other, as objects, of interest only insofar as they serve or detract from the goals of the male protagonist.”
Authenticity as a Critical Criterion in Feminist Criticism
- Authenticity is highlighted as a key concept in evaluating female characters, borrowed from Existentialist theory, particularly the works of Heidegger and Sartre. A character’s authenticity is determined by their reflective, critical consciousness, as opposed to a stereotypical identity. “Such judgments enable the feminist critic to determine the degree to which sexist ideology controls the text.”
Aesthetic Exploitation of Women in Literature and Film
- The article discusses how women are aesthetically exploited in literature and film, using Ingmar Bergman’s Cries and Whispers as an example. Women in such works are treated as mere objects within an aesthetic vision, lacking moral importance. “The women are used aesthetically as if they were on the same level of moral importance as the red decor of their surroundings.”
The Inseparability of Aesthetic and Moral Dimensions
- The argument is made that the aesthetic and moral dimensions of literature cannot be divorced. Western literature, rooted in a moral order, often justifies the suffering of characters within this moral framework. However, when suffering is exploited beyond moral justification, the aesthetic continuity is disrupted. “The aesthetic dimension of literature and of film cannot be divorced from the moral dimension, as we have facilely come to assume under the influence of technique-oriented critical methodologies.”
Stereotypical Images of Women in Western Literature
- The article critiques the prevalence of stereotypical images of women in Western literature, which are often divided into ‘good’ and ‘evil’ categories, reflecting a Manichean dualism. These stereotypes serve to define women in relation to men, either as supporters or obstacles to male protagonists. “Much of our literature in fact depends upon a series of fixed images of women, stereotypes. These reified forms, surprisingly few in number, are repeated over and over again through much of Western literature.”
The Alienation of Female Readers
- Women readers may find themselves alienated from much of Western literature, as it often fails to present the ‘inside’ of women’s experiences. Instead, female characters are used as vehicles for the growth and salvation of male protagonists. “The women are Other in Beauvoir’s sense of the term, and therefore this literature must remain alien to the female reader who reads as a woman.”
The Moral and Political Nature of Feminist Criticism
- Feminist criticism is described as inherently moral, addressing the central problem in Western literature where women are not depicted as full human beings but as objects for male projects. Furthermore, feminist criticism becomes political when it calls for changes in literature and academic standards to eliminate sexist ideology. “Feminist criticism becomes political when it asserts that literature, academic curricula, and the standards of critical judgment should be changed, so that literature will no longer function as propaganda furthering sexist ideology.”
The Need for Moral Evaluations in Literary Criticism
- The article critiques formalist analysis for ignoring the moral implications of literature, leading to a dehumanized approach. It argues that literature should be evaluated not just on style but also on the moral views of women presented by the author or the culture. “Criticism, by ignoring central questions of content, has become dehumanized in the same way as modern art did when it gave way to exclusively formal concerns.”
Literature as a Form of Learning
- Ultimately, the article asserts that literature should be understood as a profound form of learning, offering insights into life, psychology, human behavior, and relationships. This learning is essential for growth and understanding, which should be a central focus of literary criticism. “We learn, we grow from the knowledge of life, of psychology, of human behavior and relationships that we discover in worthwhile works of art.”
Literary Terms/Concepts in “Beyond The Net: Feminist Criticism As A Moral Criticism” By Josephine Donovan
| Term | Explanation |
| Images of women | The way women characters are presented in literature. |
| Other | A concept used to describe women characters who are seen as objects or secondary to male characters. |
| Negative criticism | A critique that challenges reified perceptions, structures, and models that deny full humanity to women. |
| Authenticity | The ability of a character to have a self-defined critical consciousness, as opposed to a mass-produced or stereotypical identity. |
| En-soi | The in-itself or the object-self, as opposed to the authentic pour-soi or for-itself. |
| Pour-soi | The critical or reflective consciousness capable of forming projects. |
| Aesthetic exploitation | The use of women characters for visual pleasure or to serve the aesthetic vision of the author. |
| Moral order | The underlying moral framework within which the events of a literary work take place. |
| Stereotypes | Fixed images of women that are repeated throughout Western literature. |
| Manicheistic dualism | The division of the world into opposing forces of good and evil. |
| Mary | A symbol of spiritual goodness and the patient wife. |
| Eve | A symbol of evil physicality and the seductress. |
| Alien | Literature that is foreign or unfamiliar to the female reader because it denies her essential selfhood. |
| Moral atmosphere | The overall moral tone or climate created by a work of literature. |
| Formalist analysis | A critical approach that focuses on the form and structure of a literary work, often ignoring questions of content. |
| Dehumanized | A critique of criticism that has become overly focused on technical aspects and has neglected the human element of literature. |
Contribution of “Beyond The Net: Feminist Criticism As A Moral Criticism” By Josephine Donovan to Literary Theory/Theories
- Challenges traditional gender roles and stereotypes: Donovan argues that feminist criticism can expose and challenge the harmful stereotypes and objectification of women in literature.
- Redefines literary canon: By focusing on the experiences and perspectives of women, feminist criticism has expanded the literary canon to include works by female authors and those that address women’s issues.
- Promotes intersectionality: Donovan’s work highlights the importance of considering race, class, and other factors in addition to gender when analyzing literature.
- Emphasizes the importance of individual consciousness and agency: Donovan borrows the concept of authenticity from Existentialism to evaluate the degree to which female characters have a reflective, critical consciousness and can act as moral agents.
- Critiques the objectification of women: Donovan argues that many women characters in Western literature are presented as objects or “Others,” denying their individual agency and consciousness.
- Examines the relationship between literature and society: Donovan’s analysis of how literature reflects and reinforces societal attitudes towards women aligns with Marxist ideas about the social and political functions of art.
- Critiques the exploitation of women: Donovan’s discussion of the aesthetic exploitation of women in literature echoes Marxist critiques of capitalist exploitation.
- Challenges the focus on formal elements: Donovan argues that New Criticism’s emphasis on form and technique can neglect important questions of content and moral evaluation.
- Reasserts the importance of moral and social dimensions: Donovan emphasizes the moral and social dimensions of literature, arguing that they cannot be divorced from the aesthetic experience.
- Examines the relationship between literature and culture: Donovan’s analysis of how literature reflects and reinforces cultural ideologies aligns with the goals of cultural studies.
- Highlights the importance of context: Donovan emphasizes the importance of considering the historical and cultural context of a literary work to understand its meaning and significance.
Examples of Critiques Through “Beyond The Net: Feminist Criticism As A Moral Criticism” By Josephine Donovan
| Literary Work | Critique Through Donovan’s Lens | Supporting Quote from Donovan’s Article |
| “The Odyssey” by Homer | The female characters in “The Odyssey” are objectified and used as tools for the hero’s journey, reflecting sexist ideology. The women serve as obstacles or aids to Odysseus but lack their own narrative agency. | “These works, central to the Western tradition – the Odyssey, the Commedia, and Faust – do not present the ‘inside’ of women’s experience.” |
| “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare | Ophelia is portrayed as a passive object, her existence revolving around Hamlet’s decisions. She lacks authentic selfhood, serving as a reflection of Hamlet’s internal struggles rather than having her own narrative. | “Isn’t it morally misleading to encourage a person who is barred from action to identify with an individual whose dilemma… is simply whether to act?” |
| “Cries and Whispers” by Ingmar Bergman | The women in the film are used aesthetically, devoid of moral depth. They are depicted as part of the visual scenery, their suffering and experiences treated with detachment, which reflects their objectification. | “The women are used aesthetically as if they were on the same level of moral importance as the red decor of their surroundings.” |
| “Faust” by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe | Gretchen is portrayed as a sacrificial figure whose purpose is to further Faust’s redemption. Her character is objectified, serving as a moral tool rather than being depicted as a fully realized human being. | “Western projects of redemption almost always depend upon a salvific woman. On the other hand, in some Western literature women are the objects, the scapegoats, of much cruelty and evil.” |
Criticism Against “Beyond The Net: Feminist Criticism As A Moral Criticism” By Josephine Donovan
- Oversimplification of gender roles: Some critics argue that Donovan’s analysis oversimplifies the complexities of gender roles and stereotypes in literature.
- Essentialism: Critics have accused Donovan of essentialism, suggesting that she assumes all women have a shared experience and perspective.
- Neglect of male-authored works: Some critics argue that Donovan’s focus on “images of women” in male-authored works neglects the ways in which these works can also challenge patriarchal norms.
- Moral absolutism: Critics may argue that Donovan’s moral framework is too absolute and does not account for the complexities of literary interpretation.
- Limited scope: Some critics argue that Donovan’s analysis is limited in its scope and does not address more recent developments in feminist literary theory.
- Eurocentric perspective: Some critics argue that Donovan’s analysis is Eurocentric and does not adequately account for the experiences of women from diverse cultural backgrounds.
- Overemphasis on negative criticism: Critics may argue that Donovan’s focus on “negative criticism” can overshadow the positive contributions that some literature can make to feminist thought.
Suggested Readings: “Beyond The Net: Feminist Criticism As A Moral Criticism” By Josephine Donovan
- Donovan, Josephine. Feminist Theory: The Intellectual Traditions of American Feminism. Continuum, 1992.
- Moi, Toril. Sexual/Textual Politics: Feminist Literary Theory. Routledge, 2002.
- Eagleton, Mary. Feminist Literary Criticism. Longman, 1991.
- Cixous, Hélène, and Catherine Clément. The Newly Born Woman. Translated by Betsy Wing, University of Minnesota Press, 1986.
- Showalter, Elaine. A Literature of Their Own: British Women Novelists from Brontë to Lessing. Princeton University Press, 1977.
- Butler, Judith. Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity. Routledge, 1990.
- Rich, Adrienne. On Lies, Secrets, and Silence: Selected Prose 1966-1978. Norton, 1979.
- Beauvoir, Simone de. The Second Sex. Translated by Constance Borde and Sheila Malovany-Chevallier, Vintage Books, 2011.
- Spivak, Gayatri Chakravorty. In Other Worlds: Essays in Cultural Politics. Routledge, 1987.
Representative Quotations from “Beyond The Net: Feminist Criticism As A Moral Criticism” By Josephine Donovan with Explanation
| Quotation | Explanation |
| “Women in literature written by men are for the most part seen as Other, as objects, of interest only insofar as they serve or detract from the goals of the male protagonist.” | This quotation highlights Donovan’s central argument that women are often portrayed as secondary characters whose roles are defined by their relationships to men. |
| “The concept of authenticity in feminist criticism is therefore not a free-floating, ‘impressionistic’ notion… Judgments which evaluate a character’s authenticity are rooted in the extensive body of Existentialist theory.” | Donovan explains that feminist criticism evaluates the authenticity of female characters based on existentialist theory, focusing on whether they possess self-defined critical consciousness. |
| “The women are used aesthetically as if they were on the same level of moral importance as the red decor of their surroundings.” | This quotation criticizes how women in certain works, like Ingmar Bergman’s Cries and Whispers, are objectified and reduced to mere aesthetic elements rather than being treated as fully realized human beings. |
| “The aesthetic dimension of literature and of film cannot be divorced from the moral dimension, as we have facilely come to assume under the influence of technique-oriented critical methodologies.” | Donovan argues that separating aesthetics from morals in literary criticism is a flawed approach, as moral considerations are integral to the aesthetic value of a work. |
| “Much of our literature in fact depends upon a series of fixed images of women, stereotypes.” | Donovan critiques the reliance on stereotypical portrayals of women in literature, which perpetuates narrow and often harmful images of women. |
| “The women are Other in Beauvoir’s sense of the term, and therefore this literature must remain alien to the female reader who reads as a woman.” | Donovan references Simone de Beauvoir’s concept of “Otherness” to explain why literature that objectifies women alienates female readers. |
| “Feminist criticism becomes political when it asserts that literature, academic curricula, and the standards of critical judgment should be changed, so that literature will no longer function as propaganda furthering sexist ideology.” | This quotation emphasizes the political nature of feminist criticism, advocating for changes in how literature is taught and critiqued to challenge sexist ideologies. |
| “Criticism, by ignoring central questions of content, has become dehumanized in the same way as modern art did when it gave way to exclusively formal concerns.” | Donovan criticizes modern criticism that focuses solely on form and technique, arguing that it neglects the human and moral dimensions of literature. |
| “Literature on its most profound level is a form of learning. We learn, we grow from the knowledge of life, of psychology, of human behavior and relationships that we discover in worthwhile works of art.” | Donovan underscores the educational value of literature, asserting that it should teach us about human experience, not just entertain or display technical prowess. |
| “Western projects of redemption almost always depend upon a salvific woman. On the other hand, in some Western literature women are the objects, the scapegoats, of much cruelty and evil.” | Donovan critiques the trope of the “salvific woman” in Western literature, where women are either idealized as redeemers or demonized as embodiments of evil. |