English Literature Theory: Analyzing Key Theorists' Ideas and Theories

This essay provides an in-depth analysis of key figures in English literature theory. It explores the contributions of Henry Louis Gates Jr., focusing on his advocacy for embracing mother tongue and redefining black literature within its own cultural context. It examines Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak's critique of post-colonial reason, highlighting her examination of history, literature, and culture, as well as her critique of imperialism and globalization. The essay also delves into Edward W. Said's theory of Orientalism, assessing the Western perceptions of the East and the influence of power dynamics. Finally, it analyzes Homi K. Bhabha's concept of The Commitment to Theory, emphasizing the importance of rethinking cultural identity in post-colonial settings and the translation of theory into action. The essay draws from the Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism and provides a comprehensive overview of these influential theories.

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English Literature Theory
Name of the Student:
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Author Note

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Henry Louis Gates Jr: Talking Black
Henry Louis Gates Jr is an American literary scholar and critic who has
contributed to literature immensely with his African and African American literature.
Gates, in his pioneering work points out the importance of embracing mother tongue,
which would have paved their way to civilization. Freedom could have only been
achieved by not bowing down to the supremacy of the whites and their civilization. The
necessity was to translate the theories into the vernacular languages. Gates asserted the
need to name the theories and principles of criticism whereas, application was more
important. He refutes ‘the denial of intellectuality in the Negro’ (Leitch). Alexander
Crummell succumbed to the challenge given by Calhoun that Africans could only
demonstrate traits of humanity and civilization by imbibing western culture. Whereas,
Gates presents it as a metaphor for addressing the relationship of black literature and the
canon.
Gates assert that Black literature has long been assessed with respect to western
literary theories which is nothing but enslavement. He therefore, voices the need to
reflect on the native ways of developing theories in order to shape their own language for
criticism (Leitch). The theory should be redefined in terms of the black cultures by
denouncing racist premises which are directed by the whites. It would be very derogatory
to accept the theory and cultural supremacy of the whites as the empowering language or
the Universal language (Leitch). He reminds the blacks that it time for embracing the
identity of blackness. Thus, Black arts of interpreting is the way into the future of theory.

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Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak: A Critique of Post-Colonial Reason
Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak is one of the most eminent literary theorists whose
contributions have opened new doors in post-colonial studies. A Critique of Post-
Colonial Reason establishes relationship between history, literature, philosophy and
culture and bring together post-colonial problems. The author tries to objectively distance
herself from the post-colonial mainstream literature and examines politics, deceit and
practices such as nativism, metropolitan feminism, global hybridism, cultural Marxism
and so on (Leitch). The book challenges the existing fields of post-colonial studies, which
Spivak herself is related with.
Spivak critiques imperialism from multiple levels and diverse structures especially
in European philosophy, history, literature and culture. She also critiques the
transnational globalization which is directly linked to the economic and cultural effects it
causes. Through the piece of work, Spivak aims to uncover the instinctive informant by
employing diverse cultural implications and practices in order to assert the fact that they
all emerge as the hybridization of metropolitan itself (Leitch). In the book, Spivak
addresses philosophers, intellectuals who pose intervention and critics who divide as well
as, simultaneously unite. There are diverse topics which the author examines and
critiques which range from child labor as practiced in Bangladesh to the analytic of
Sublime, as theorized by Kant. The notion which is found to be dominating in the book is
the voice of a victim, who is oppressed by colonialist stands as the sharp suspect for the

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situation in which they are found slinging mud but standing on the grounds of
overbearing ancestors like Kant and Marx.

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Edward W. Said: Orientalism
Orientalism is a theory which is put forward by Edward W. Said who aims at
critiquing the Orient and its ideology. Said aims to assess the political, cultural and
historical views of the East which are held by the West and understand how they have
developed and pervaded into their thoughts. Said aims to trace back the diverse
perceptions which dates back to the British Colonial period which the Europeans asserted
domination over the Middle East (Leitch). The perceptions and views are results of
coming in contact of the French and the Whites. Orientalism gained much prominence
and popularity for the attacks which Said had made while portraying the East in a
different light. The idea is centered on how Western structured and portrayed the orient
as the other.
Said labors to analyze western texts in order to understand how the ideas were
conceptualized concerning the East. Orientalism is heavily grounded on the thoughts of
Michel Foucault and his concept of discourse. It is also influenced by Antonio Gramsci’s
concept of Hegemony (Leitch). With the help of these concepts, Said dismantled the
orientalism which represented the supremacy of the West over the East. Said, much like
Foucault, links images to the ideas which enforced supremacy and practices through
which government asserted control over millions of non-white people across the globe
who were categorized as uncivilized (Leitch). The most important deduction of Said’s
monumental work is that he pointed out how remains of colonialism still persists in
system of thinking and the power relations. The book is recognized as one of the most

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important works of post-colonial studies which has exposed fundamental ideas and
construct which are embedded in representation and knowledge.

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Homi K. Bhabha: The Commitment to Theory
The theory which is basic to Homi K. Bhabha’s concept of The Commitment to
Theory is that it enforces the importance to rethink the cultural identity. His primary
focus lies on the issue which is related to translating theory into praxis or actions. The
issue is further highlighted when Bhabha highlights the division which exists in between
the formerly colonized and former colonizers, in the posy colonial nations (Leitch).
According to Bhabha, the people who were previously colonized, continues to be
considered to be as the other in post-colonial societies. This has resulted in the
continuation of great power dynamics which has propagated as they are still considered
to be inferior and faced with cultural hegemony. Identity should be stripped off from the
former imperial
Bhabha asserts the need to reemphasize on the cultural identity which has been set
by post-colonial setting. The other is still expected to maintain relationship with the
superior being the submissive subject whose identity transcends the relationship of
antagonism. The Commitment to Theory is located in The Location of Culture which
aims to point out Eurocenrticism and elitism which has aided privileges to the identity of
the westerners as compared to the colonized.

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References
Leitch, Vincent B., et al., eds. The Norton anthology of theory and criticism. WW Norton
& Company, 2018.