On Terry Eagleton’s Concept Of Author

Terry Eagleton who is one of the most famous modern Marxist literary critics inEngland, is famous for his wise and dialectical methodology in the theoretical field. Heinsists on Marxism and he also knows about all kinds of theories of the20thcentury. Heinsists the realistic function of theory, especially the political function and humanism.Eagleton does not discuss author systemically, but in his works, no matter the attitudestowards other theories, or criticisms on other various authors, are very correct, whichformed a complete concept of author.Literature is a special ideological production, and Literary Mode of Production isdifferent from General Mode of Production, Eagleton’s discuss on author are based on it.For identity, literary production which between material production and ideologicalproduction decides author’s dual identities of material and ideological producer. Forcreation, language is the materials of literary production, the structure of feeling ischaracter of literature and which acts on readers, penetrating reality is the origin ofinspiration and the value of literary creation. For tendency, political tendency is theobvious token which distinct literature and politics, it is also the part of literary value,humanism tendency contains the people-oriented of ultimate meaning. These mostlyembody in his critical practice and creation, and is also the basic constructure of hisconcept of author.Dialect is the main characteristic of Eaglton’s theories, and permeates in his concept ofauthor too. Text is not a static carrier of ideology, it acts on author’s creation, and it alsochanges the simple relation of production and consumption between author and reader.Author, text and reader are interactive, and as the special reader, the relation of critic andreader is more active. Discussing on these relations is not only Eagleton’s theoreticalcharacter, but also the specialty of his concept of author.Taking in everything from other theories plays an important role in Eaglton’sachievement, the deep and broad theory foundation constructs the system of his conceptof author. The theories of art production, ideology and political culture etc. are Eagleton’smain practical fields, no matter the constructure of concept of author, or the dialecticalrelations it contains, which several theories are all ways through, besides abundanttheoretical demonstration, it also concerns the realistic function of theories all along.