The Hidden Dangers of the Canon
by Aaina Jassel We all know about canonical literature – they can be described as ‘classics’, or as ‘boring’ and ‘intellectual’ depending on what you like to read. Despite what you may think about this genre, the fact is we’ve all read at least one (even in school) as well as being aware of others. It isn’t just the novels, the authors names are also well known. I for one have never read an Ernest Hemingway novel yet I know his name; I can say the same about Harper Lee but I have no idea why she’s killing mockingbirds. Why do we all know these novels and authors and are they worth knowing? What does canonical literature actually teach us?
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ane Austen. One of the most famous female authors of her time creator of a number of well-renowned novels from Pride and Prejudice to Mansfield Park. Her novel Pride and Prejudice feature the strong female character of Elizabeth Bennet who wasn’t ‘girly’ nor weak-willed, but a wellread, adventurous woman. This character was deeply undermined by Austen’s use of female stereotypes throughout the rest of the novel. There is Elizabeth’s sister Lydia Bennet who swoons at the sight of the soldiers, collects ribbons, and is seen to be hyper feminine. This stereotype of a young girl who is interested in ‘girly things’ such as ribbons and boys doesn’t undermine Lizzie’s character alone, but paired with the stereotype of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, together they completely contradict the feminist lead. Lady Catherine is a clear representation of the
negative portrayal of a woman with her outspoken nature and coldness – both of which emit unpleasant connotations. Austen gave us a wonderful feminist character in Elizabeth Bennet and then completely destroyed this progressive nature by featuring these minimised, stereotypical characters. In her novel Mansfield Park Austen creates a huge narrative gap as Mansfield estate could not be sustained without Sir Thomas’s property in the Caribbean. Sir Thomas as a character himself is a pure example of a colonising figure who returns from the Caribbean to ‘restore order’ to Mansfield. His time away – the time spent on his plantation – fuels his living in England, yet is rarely, if ever, mentioned. Both of these widely popular Austen novels show the lack of diversity and display a huge lack of diversity through race and gender alike.
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