Myths of Power: A Marxist Study of the Brontes

by Terry Eagleton

This book sets out to interpret the fiction of the Brontë sisters in light of a Marxist analysis of the historical conditions in which it was produced. Its aim is not merely to relate literary facts, but by a close critical examination of the novels, to find in them a significant structure of ideas and values which related to the Brontës' ambiguous situation within the class system of their society. Its intention is to forge close relations between the novels, nineteenth-century ideology, and historical forces, in order to illuminate the novels themselves in a radically new perspective. When originally published in 1975 (second edition in 1988), it was the first full-length Marxist study of the Brontës and is now reissued to celebrate 30 years since its first publication. It includes a new Introduction by Terry Eagleton that reflects the changes that have happened in Marxist literary criticism since 1988, and situates this reissue in current debates.

Genres: Literary Criticism, Nonfiction, Literature

177 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Widely regarded as England's most influential living literary critic & theorist, Dr. Terry Eagleton currently serves as Distinguished Professor of English Literature at the University of Lancaster and as Visiting Professor at the National University of Ireland, Galway. He was Thomas Warton Prof. of English Literature at the University of Oxford ('92-01) & John Edward Taylor Professor of English Literature at the University of Manchester 'til '08. He returned to the University of Notre Dame in the Autumn '09 semester as Distinguished Visitor in the English Department.

He's written over 40 books, including Literary Theory: An Introduction ('83); The Ideology of the Aesthetic ('90) & The Illusions of Postmodernism ('96).
He delivered Yale's '08 Terry Lectures and gave a Gifford Lecture in 3/10, titled The God Debate.

Reviews

[Burcu]

Being one of the first direct implementations of Marxist Literary Criticism, it's an important work of its time. There is some quite interesting analyses, which probably would displease, and possibly had displeased the traditional critics at the time it's published. Having read Eagleton relatively thoroughly by now, the self-rewriting -or as some prefer to call self-plagiarism- is quite evident. The most interesting bit of the work is the newest preface, where the older, more experienced Terry criticizes the younger, more assertive one.


Also, I'm not quite sure where the idea of the "death of the Heights" really come from in the chapter on Wuthering Heights. Is there an over-reading here, or am I missing something? At the end of the novel, Hareton, the heir of the Heights, ends up with Catherine the heiress of the Lintons, at the Wuthering Heights.... right?

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some really interesting stuff in here, and Terry Eagleton's always a critic I find very readable. He mentions in the preface that he regrets not incorporating feminist criticism and I definitely felt its absence in some places - The Tenant of Wildfell Hall and (for reasons I'm not quite sure I could word right now) Villette, especially.

[Mohadgome · Rating 5 out of 5]

الأخوات برونتي وتفسير ماركسي نقدي لإيغلتون ، الأدب والشخصيات والمجتمع كلهم هنا ينتظرون

[Jola Cora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this; I want to read everything Terry Eagleton wrote.

[ramlah 🌻 · Rating 3 out of 5]

not me working in a literary museum and having a politics degree and still being too stupid to understand what half of this shit means ✌🏼😙

[Kirsten · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read Ch1 Jane Eyre for a class.

Felt like I was getting talked at. Some good points though, but at times felt unsubstantiated.

[Sue Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gave me some insights into Wuthering Heights although seems forced at times.

[محمد DGome95 · Rating 4 out of 5]

عن الأخوات برونتي واللون الأحمر