New historicism is a literary theory that analyzes a work in the context of the author’s history and the critic’s history. It examines the author’s social sphere, psychological background, and influences. Critics using this approach also consider the impact a work has had and how it has influenced others. New historicism is different from earlier critical theories because it looks at elements outside the work. Critics who practice New Critique argue that a writer’s life is irrelevant and that writing should be taken as an isolated work.
New historicism is a theory of literary criticism that suggests that literature must be studied and interpreted in the context of both the author’s history and the critic’s history. The theory originated in the 1980s, with Stephen Greenblatt as its main proponent, and became very popular in the 1990s. Critics using this approach look at a work and consider other writings that may have inspired it or have been inspired by it, as well as the author’s life and how he relates to the text. There are many other critical theories competing, however, so there are some critics who don’t care about this approach.
The basic approach to literature
Unlike earlier historical criticism, which simply demonstrated how a work reflected its time, New Historicism assesses how the work is influenced by the time in which the author wrote it. It also examines the social sphere in which the author moved, the writer’s psychological background, the books and theories that may have influenced him. Beyond that, many critics also look at the impact a work has had and consider how it has influenced others.
The critic in this approach
New Historicism recognizes that any criticism of a work is colored by the critic’s beliefs, social status, and other factors. Many neo-historicists begin a critical reading of a novel by explaining themselves, their origins and their prejudices. Both the work and the reader are influenced by everything that has influenced them. New Historicism thus represents a significant change from earlier critical theories such as New Criticism, because its main focus is on looking at many elements outside the work, instead of reading the text in isolation.
Illustrate this approach to criticism
It can be said that New Historicism often looks for the ways in which writers express ideas or possible opinions within their writings. For example, Jane Austen’s novels are often confined to a very limited sphere of society, namely the landed gentry. While a neo historicist may laud the work, she might also note that the servant class is completely marginalized in Austen’s work. Austen’s writings assert the pre-eminence of the landed gentry over any other class in society, and she is quite critical of those who marry “below” their social status.
The New Historicism critic could then assess why Austen would display this bias, providing insight into books she had read, events in her life that may have influenced her, and her own choices regarding marriage. Austen is, in a way, at odds with her own work, suggesting that power can be bought through good marriages, since she never married. Indeed, Austen’s life is outside the theories of her expounded in literature; as a writer, she gained prestige through her work rather than through marriage. A new historicist would probably discuss this contrast, between her work and her life, and consider it when she read her writings.
Objections to this approach
Criticisms of New Historicism are mostly leveled by those who practice New Critique and similar approaches. The New Critic argues that the literature should be read as a standalone work without considering other influences. For such critics, a writer’s life is irrelevant, as writing can speak for itself and should be taken as an isolated work.
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