Western Feminist Literary Criticism: Its Theoretical Backgrounds And Critical Philosophies

Western feminist literary theory is one of the most powerful forces of renovation in contemporary literary criticism.The introduction and appropriation of western feminist critical theory plays a significant role for the developing of native feminist literary criticism in China.However,western feminist critical theory is reduced by many Chinese critics into two geographical categories(Anglo-American school/French school), or three historical phrases(the first wave/the second wave/postmodernist period),or some theorists(Kate Millett,Elaine Showalter,Julia Kristeva,G.C.Spivak,ect.),or some schools(Marxist feminist criticism,psychoanalysis feminist criticism, poststructuralist feminist criticism,etc.)and so on.This reduction inevitably harasses the adopting of the various viewpoints and approaches of western feminist criticism.In order to obtain a deeper perception toward western feminist critical theory,this dissertation tries to conduct further research on what hasn't been done effectively before: to investigate the theoretical backgrounds of western feminist literary criticism and analyze its critical philosophies.Instead of focusing on the enlightened statements of the two feminist predecessors—Simone de Beauvoir and Virginia Woolf,or on the social conditions motivated by Feminist Movement,this dissertation studies the influence of the conceptual shifts in western literary theories on the rising of feminist literary criticism.Three new theoretical trends in western literary theories in twentieth century are presented as the major impetuses:the legitimation of irrational power,the empowerment of reader and the involvement of political critique.Concerning the diversity and controversy in western feminist critical viewpoints,this dissertation also goes further to point out that its particular critical philosophies—perspectivity and pluralism—logically justify the complicated theoretical situation of western feminist literary criticism.Perspectivity highlights the personal and contextual critical stand of feminist critics while pluralism guarantees the inclusion and integration of different feminist critical assumptions.The research results of this dissertation is aimed at doing some contribution to a better understanding of western feminist literary theory and help the Chinese feminist criticism proceed profitably.