Abstract

This research paper aims to expound the tendencies of feminism in the literary works of Irving, Poe, and Hawthorne. Washington Irving is a classic American writer, a master of romantic short stories, and historical research. He is usually considered as an antifeminist in the literary arena. Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer, poet, literary critic, and editor. He is also a representative of American Romanticism. His literary works represents that he was a feminist. Nathaniel Howthorne was born into a Puritan family based in Salem. His early life conditions and his write-ups present his feminism support.

Feminism Explications by Irving, Poe, and Hawthorne

Introduction

There is a multitude of American writers who has represented their works to support and depict the various conditions faced by women. Famous writer, Damrosch, have expounded the works of different writers that delineate the view of feminism and antifeminism including Irving, Poe, and Hawthorne. Feminism refers to the view that supports the rights of women.

Discussion

Washington Irving is a classic American writer, a master of romantic short stories, and historical research. He was the first U.S. professional writer, who was well known in Europe. He was also an essayist, poet, a great lover of legend and mystery, biographer, and a traveler. He has written a multitude of fantastic literature work under the pseudonyms Jonathan Oldstayl, Diedrich Nikerbokker, Jeffrey Kreyan, and Lancelot Langstaff. From an early age, the boy featured daydreaming, impressionability, impracticality, and extreme indifference to the business of his father. His best friends were always book at school (Damrosch, 2009, pp.78). He used to read in Latin, Cicero, and Livy. The admired the poetries of Oliver Godsmita. He is conventionally considered as an antifeminist in the literary arena.

Myriad authors and different literary experts consider him as misogynistic, because normally he used to portray women in negative character. One of his famous literary works includes Rip Van Winkle. According to the story, Rip is a man, who is loved by all, but he is afflicted by his cantankerous wife. One day in September, he went into the mountains with his gun, and met characters dressed strangely, who play nine-pins, a sort of bowling by rolling on the ground producing thunder. He agrees to drink liquor with them, and soon after he falls asleep at the foot of a tree. When he wakes up, his gun falls down the wood dust, and his clothes are in tatters, and a thick white beard covers his lower face (Gaskell, 1998, pp. 155). He then comes down to the village, and he is surprised ...