NAME OF LITERARY CRITICISM: MORAL CRITICISM

I. OVERVIEW/MEANING OF MORAL CRITICISM

Moral Criticism also known as Christian Humanism is a school of thought that focuses on judging and evaluating the
ethical values of the literary works according to their moral principles. It was founded on 360 BCE by a Greek Philosopher,
Plato. Though his student, Aristotle had his own perspective on how to view this school of thought, and up until today,
there are still debate between Platonians and Aristotelians. Moral criticism is not necessarily about being “moralized” in
its approach, although it can be; nor does it necessarily imply a Christian perspective since it is relative to the morals of
Christianity, although it often does. Moral critics believe that the larger purpose of the literature is to teach morality and
to probe philosophical issues. Its benefit is to be used as a lens for works which do not show obvious moral philosophy.

II. MORAL CRITICISM BUZZ WORDS

1. Universal truth – It is the truth that applies to all places and all things. Many use it as "applies to all people". It is the
awareness that transcends the corporeal realm of the senses. "Truth" is a state of awareness, thus to be universal it
must be a unifying awareness that does not fall into objectivism of "true" are "false".
2. Honesty – It is the adherence to the factual information. It is the fairness and straightforwardness of the conduct.
3. Morality – It speaks the system of behavior in regards to the standards of right or wrong behavior.
4. Peace – It is the freedom from violence and lack of conflict; quiet and tranquility.
5. Justice – It is the just behavior and treatment among the society. It is the quality of a person
possessing righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness.
6. Courage – It is the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, and pain.
7. Rationality – It is the the quality or state of being reasonable, based on facts or reason. It implies the conformity of
one's beliefs with one's reasons to believe, or of one's actions with one's reasons for action.

III. AIMS OF MORAL CRITICISM

1. To evaluate the ethical values of any literary work.

2. To investigate the effects literature has on readers as moral beings.
3. To look at how the work influenced or was influenced by the ideas of the time.

IV. STRENGTHS OF MORAL CRITICISM

1. Moral Criticism provides a closer look at the values gleaned through the work. This criticism is useful for works that
present obvious values and moral philosophy. Through Moral Criticism, the text could be analyzed based on the
teaching gathered on the work, and how it would affect its readers.
2. Guides us to a better and stronger foundation of a morally educated society. Plato’s belief influenced this idea. In
his book, The Republic, he stated that poetry may stay in the Republic if his work teaches virtue, and shall be
condemned if he focused on pleasure that corrupts its citizens.

V. LIMITATION OF MORAL CRITICISM

1. Moral Criticism discriminates works that are too chaotic and those that does not promote values.
Since morality within works is the sole focus of Moral Criticism, works that are corrupting for the society are criticized
and discriminated.

2. Moral Criticism is not consistent. (Culture, religion and other factors are not flexible.)
Moral Criticism become obscured if the text being criticized did not conform to the critics’ view of morality. What
might be right to others can be immoral to some?

VI. GUIDE QUESTIONS AND STEPS IN USING THE MORAL CRITICISM

1. Maturity, sincerity, honesty, sensitivity, and/or courage become important criteria in determining the worth of
literature and art. Is the author and his/her treatment of subject (both character and theme) mature, sincere,
honest, sensitive, or courageous? How so, and how does knowing this help us approach the text in a meaningful
way?
2. Does the text seek to corrupt or negatively influence the reader? How so and/or why?
3. What lesson or ethical teaching is the author presenting in the text/or through character, plot, or theme?
4. How do characters, settings, and plot events represent or allegorize moral or ethical principles?
5. Does the work in question pose a pragmatic or moral lesson or philosophical idea?