Sociological Approach to Literature

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Sociological Approach to Literature

1. Origin of the Sociological Approach

The Sociological Approach studies literature as a product of society. It examines how social conditions, institutions, values, and class structures influence literary texts.

Its development is linked to the growth of Sociology as a discipline in the 19th century.

a. Early Connections

  • Ancient thinkers like Plato and Aristotle noted that literature reflects society.

  • However, it was not considered a formal method until modern times.

b. 19th Century Foundations

  • The Industrial Revolution created new social problems—poverty, class conflict, inequality.

  • Writers like Dickens and Tolstoy began portraying social realities.

  • Sociologists such as:

    • Karl Marx

    • Émile Durkheim

    • Max Weber
      influenced critics to study social forces in literature.

c. 20th Century Expansion

Sociological criticism became established as an academic field.
It focused on:

  • society’s effect on literature

  • literature’s effect on society

  • representation of class, caste, gender, race, and power

d. Contemporary Influence

Modern sociological critics also analyze:

  • media culture

  • globalization

  • ideology

  • identity politics

2. Features of the Sociological Approach

The Sociological Approach focuses on literature as a social document.

1. Literature Reflects Society

It considers literature as a mirror of social conditions—customs, values, problems, and conflicts.

Example:

  • Charles Dickens’s Hard Times reflects industrial society and worker exploitation.

2. Study of Social Class and Inequality

It examines:

  • class struggle

  • caste dynamics

  • economic conditions

  • power structures

Example:

  • George Orwell’s Animal Farm shows class hierarchy and power abuse.

3. Influence of Society on the Author

The author is seen as a social being influenced by:

  • upbringing

  • culture

  • political environment

  • social movements

Example:

  • R.K. Narayan’s works portray middle-class Indian society because he grew up in that environment.

4. Literature as a Social Force

Literature does not only reflect society—it also shapes it.

Example:

  • Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin influenced public opinion against slavery in the U.S.

5. Study of Social Institutions

It examines how literature represents institutions such as:

  • family

  • religion

  • education

  • marriage

  • government

  • economy

Example:

  • Jane Austen’s novels show how marriage was linked to social status and economic security.

6. Analysis of Social Issues

The approach studies how literature portrays issues like:

  • poverty

  • racism

  • casteism

  • gender discrimination

  • corruption

  • migration

  • war

Example:

  • Mulk Raj Anand’s Untouchable reveals caste-based social injustice in India.

7. Ideology and Power

It explores how ideologies (political, religious, cultural) influence texts.

Example:

  • Postcolonial novels show how colonial power shaped identity and culture (e.g., Chinua Achebe).

8. Relationship Between Reader and Society

Readers interpret texts based on their own social background and cultural values.

3. Sociological Critics 

1. Karl Marx

  • Not a literary critic but his theories on class conflict and ideology shape sociological criticism.

  • Marxist literary critics use his ideas to analyse class struggles in literature.

2. Georg Lukács

  • Important Marxist critic.

  • Believed literature should reflect social reality.

  • Wrote History and Class Consciousness.

3. Raymond Williams

  • Key figure in Cultural Studies.

  • Studied how culture, literature, and society interact.

  • Wrote Culture and Society.

4. Lucien Goldmann

  • Developed genetic structuralism.

  • Saw literature as shaped by collective consciousness of social groups.

5. Pierre Bourdieu

  • Introduced concepts like cultural capital, habitus, and field.

  • Studied how literature is produced, valued, and circulated in society.

6. Terry Eagleton

  • Marxist literary critic.

  • Explores ideology, power, and society’s influence on literature.

7. Arnold Hauser

  • Wrote The Social History of Art, connecting literature and art with social structures.

4. Conclusion

The Sociological Approach highlights the strong connection between literature and society.
It shows that literary texts:

  • are shaped by social forces

  • reflect social realities

  • criticize social injustices

  • can influence public opinion and social change

This approach helps readers understand how literature deals with:

  • class, caste, race, gender

  • politics

  • culture

  • social institutions

  • ideologies

By studying the social background of authors, characters, and readers, the Sociological Approach adds depth to the interpretation of literary works.
It remains an important method because it connects literature with real human lives, social change, and cultural history.

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