Review on Jane Tompkin's Article on Sentimental Power
The main focus of the article is on the male-dominated and controlled scholarly tradition of the American literature, which seemingly excludes feminist works and criticism. The article presents the matter that such writings, concerning the female role and aspect in that kind of system, are not entirely esteemed even if they are highly influential in the society. The example of female or feminist writing that Tompkins concentrated on is Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, one of the most controversial and prominent novels in the nineteenth century American setting. For one thing, the article raises this prolonged-term issu
Although the system is classified according to class and race, the last aspect takes the most part of it: gender, a major division that still extensively a subject of argument in most aspects of the society. The sad part is that it is the female gender that is usually the suffering subordinate. e and states that there are no exceptional treatments on analyses and criticisms even though an author like Stowe or a novel like Uncle Tom's Cabin has played an extensive part in American literary history. She too discussed the concept of power in the system, that of which is present in the context of Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, which is manipulated by the rich, white men. Also, the article did not fail in discussing the centrality or dominion of the feminine gender: the household, which is beyond the control of patriarchy. In as much as Tompkins strives to convey a kind of sympathy to such writings and authors, her article shows that there is still much to do to have some changes in the male-dominated literary history and society. She discussed the novel of Stowe on the majority of its socio-historical and spiritual context. Nevertheless, it is a sentimental novel: one that has the power to move its audience through the "possession of the system of beliefs" that were "invested with a structure of meanings" in familiar reality. Even though Tompkins presented thesis of promoting culture from the woman's point of view, her article presents more of male-affected principles on religion, education, and the like. This study of Tompkins on Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin could be a good example on those who are still at the starting point on the more specific and emphasized consideration on works regarding feminism. Tompkins presents several excerpts from Stowe's novel, then applies certain personal observations based on historical accounts, primarily on that of the time when black slavery was still expansively practiced.
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