The ethics of care in literary studies

Ethics of care provides a valuable tool for reinterpreting classic and contemporary literary works, allowing for a deeper understanding of how ethical dilemmas are represented, and how narratives engage with social, cultural, and political issues related to caregiving. Emerging from feminist thought, the ethics of care prioritizes relational interdependence over the traditional emphasis on individual autonomy. The article explains the core principles of the ethics of care, highlighting its rejection of abstract universalism in favor of contextual, relational moral reasoning. For centuries, the literary canon has predominantly featured works that underline male protagonists, heroic deeds, and moral autonomy, often sidelining the experiences of those who engage in caregiving or relational ethics. The canon typically reflects a set of values tied to self-sufficiency, independence, and the triumph of personal achievement over collective responsibilities. Ethics of care, on the other hand, encourages a reevaluation of texts that foreground the importance of care, empathy, and relational connections. One of the most significant contributions of ethics of care can make to literary studies is its ability to provide a new framework for understanding genres traditionally associated with women, such as the domestic novel, romance, and the Bildungsroman. These genres often explore caregiving, emotional labor, and the development of personal identities through relationships, yet they have been historically relegated to the margins of literary criticism. Ethics of care allows critics to reassess works in these genres not as mere reflections of women's traditional roles but as profound explorations of moral responsibility, relational ethics, and emotional labor.