Moralist Approach

• Moralist Criticism - Is a type of literary critique that judges the value of the Literature based on its moral lessons or ethical teachings.
• Plato - Acknowledged literature's power as a teacher by believing it capable of corrupting morals and undermining religion
• Utilitarianism - Is a theory of morality, which advocates actions that foster happiness or pleasure and oppose actions that cause unhappiness or harm.
• Aristotle and Horace - considered literature capable of fostering virtue
• Horace - Literature should be "delightful and instructive"
• Samuel Johnson -

  Function of literature

  - To teach morality

  - To probe philosophical issues
• Matthew Arnold -

  "The Study of Poetry"

  • Most important thing is the moral or philosophical teaching

  • Great literary work must possess "high seriousness"

  • literature (poetry)
• Irving Babbitt - most influential and controversial moral critic of the 20th century
• Moralist Approach -

  • is a type of literary critique that judges the value of the literature based on its moral or ethical teachings.
  • It is used to determine whemer a work conveys a lesson or message and whether it can help readers lead better lives and improve their understanding of the world.