This interesting article has three critical features, namely, there is criticism on gender, feminism, and gay and lesbian. The description in this article is profound and very enthusiastic to any reader. This is because the apt language used is perfect and the brevity in vivid description correlates well with the notable examples cited in the article.
Let us look at the gender critic. The author in this article brings forth the different critic of masculine and feminine genders. The article starts by describing that both masculine and feminine are socially aligned and constructed. The determining of sex, that is, male or female, is determined in a different way. The article suggests that male or female is determined by simple biological and anatomical structures. However, gender is different, because it is culturally determined. Therefore, from the above description, matters to do with gender characterization are ideally determined and conditioned by social fabrics.
In addition, the properties and functioning attributes of masculine and feminine are also determined by society. In generalized research, the article cites different criticism on gender by focusing on society and brings out different instances of feminism, gay and lesbian. Apparently, a researcher may look at the characteristics of the lifestyle of the people in the 1890s and critically analyze the matters stated above. Hence, gender criticism on sexuality seems to incorporate matters which are farfetched than merely focusing on masculinity, femininity, heterosexuality, and homosexuality. Whereas, gender criticism may be contentious because there is biological alignment in the argument by most of the proponents who criticize gender. Therefore, lets us examine the different criticism discussed in the article.
Feminist criticism can be analyzed by focusing on literary excerpts that try to highlight the position of women in society. Marxist critics can analyze “The Story of an Hour” and look at what impedes women’s potential. A potential that would make them be at the same pace as men. Many feminists have analyzed literature writings by the lives led by the characters in the works and their respective writers. Special focus is put on how culture affects the difference in writing between men and women. In addition, feminist criticism on literature comes from different angles, e.g., their criticism may focus on history, psychology, sociology, and linguistic to decipher foremost issues affecting gender. A feminist critical approach on “The Story of an Hour” highlights the psychological aspects of marriage. Aesthetic feelings about the subject are evoked by Mrs. Mallard, who is married to Brentley. Chopin’s story highlights the different perspectives on male egoism. The woman in the story is referred to by the husband’s name which denotes “male”. The ‘weaknesses’ of the role of women are contradicted by the doctor’s suggestion about her ailment and death (Meyer 1549).
The last part of the article highlights gays and lesbians. As stated earlier, the main defining aspect of such a critical perspective is determined by the cultures of a society. The main argument of a critic is to look at the same literature “The Story of an Hour” and depict Mrs. Mallard differently. That is, one can say that Mrs. Mallard is focusing on her homosexual life by presuming the death of her husband. That is, to be free from her heterosexual life. The argument can be generalized to be a chance for venturing forth for a new nature of homosexuality. Mrs. Mallard’s self will be free and have a new life that is different.
Work Cited
Meyer, Michael. The Compact Bedford Introduction to Literature; Reading, Thinking and Writing. New York, NY: McGraw Hill, 2007. Print.