The literary canon as a source of ideology

The literary canon is a concept embroiled with ideologies and grand narratives which seek to
mould and place subjects within an already established framework of power. It is an effective tool
for interpolation, brought into existence by those who have power and seek to maintain it.
However, more often than not, it appears to be insignificant and subjects do not generally ask who
chose the canonical texts and for what reason. It exhibits such an effect by design since it operates
under the pretence that it promotes texts of value while marginalizing those that are inferior. This
is something that is acknowledged without much critical thinking. However, while marginalising
those texts that it deems worthless, it conceals fragments of the truth. Thus it is essential that one
seeks out the answers to the questions of who and why that lurk behind the concept of the literary
canon.
First of all, one ought to begin with the definition of Ideology if one is to investigate its
affiliation with the literary canon. Here we shall draw upon Althusser's definition of Ideology or to
be more precise ideological state apparatuses. 1According to Encyclopedia.com ideological state
apparatuses include social formations like the family and institutions like education. These
institutions instil the values of the state and interpolate subjects that are within their scope while
simultaneously being outside of state control. The aim of these ideological state apparatuses is to
reproduce the means of production the working class. The literary cannon operates from within
the education ideological apparatus and achieves its ends by presenting texts that fit the ideology of
those in power and at the same time keeping texts that might cause problems outside of the canon.
For instance, Martin Green suggests that one could read all the great works of English literature and
never know that England was an empire. This is only one of many issues that can be glossed over
by conviniently altering the canon. If such important issues are not discussed in the canon then the
general public may not even come to know about them. Furthermore, by keeping some issues
outside of the canon, like the subjection of women or homosexuality, those in power keep the lower
classes narrow-minded and steer them as they see fit. For instance, seeing Shakespeare at the
epitome of English literature is something that is preferable to those in power as it is distant from
the issues of the present times such as unemployment. This is the answer to the question: why some
works are preferd to others and it also demonstrates how ideology is channelled through the literary
canon.

As for the who part of the question, one is required to answer many other questions before
one can gain some insight into who creates the canon. A simple answer would be those who hold

1Ideological state apparatus http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O88-

ideologicalstateapparatus.html
power in the society, but that is not a satisfactory answer for such complex an issue. Hence, one
ought to carefully dissect the cannon in order to apprehend the culprit. To accomplish this many
voices must be brought forth to ask their questions. First would be the feminists, who would ask
why the male writers are predominant in the canon. This would hint us that those who create the
canon must be male. The second group of voices would be those of the African Americans, who
would ask why the canon favours white writers over black. Again this would lead us to believe that
the creators of the canon must be white. Similarly, the homosexual and lesbian population may ask
why are issues concerning homosexuality absent from the canon. This again means that the creators
of the canon must be heterosexual. There are also voices that might ask why the issue of poverty is
not discussed or why the issues of foreigners are ignored. And indeed we could go on and on in the
same manner but we could not get to a more specific answer than that those who create the canon
must be male, white, heterosexual, upper-class and native. Hence, it becomes evident how powerful
a tool the canon is and how it serves to those in power to promote their truth and keep all others at
bay.