Republic of the Philippines

Laguna State Polytechnic University

Province of Laguna

ENG 21: LITERARY CRITICISM

Name: Jeira V. Quiani

Section: BSED 3A English

Literary Excursion: Discipline and Punish

Literary Approach: New Historicism
References:

● Discipline and Punish. (n.d.) SparkNotes.

https://www.sparknotes.com/philosophy/disciplinepunish/general-summary/
● Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison by Michel Foucault. (n.d.) Garage
Museum of Contemporary Art.
https://garagemca.org/en/programs/publishing/michel-foucault-discipline-and-punish-t
he-birth-of-the-prison

Discipline and Punish

By: Michel Foucault
Michel Foucault’s "Discipline and Punish," the book presents a historical analysis of
the evolution of disciplinary mechanisms, tracing their development from the public’s
view of punishment to the subtle, common forms of control characteristic of modern
society. Despite that, there are problems within his historical framework. One aspect to
consider is Foucault's selective use of historical examples. While his analysis is deeply
rooted in historical research, his emphasis on sensational cases and institutional
documents may bring vagueness to the everyday experiences of marginalized
individuals. By focusing primarily on famous cases and institutional archives, Foucault
somewhat overlooks the variations of power dynamics within broader social contexts. In
addition, Foucault's historical narrative tends to prioritize discontinuity over continuity,
portraying disciplinary mechanisms as comprehensively new phenomena emerging in
the modern era. While Foucault convincingly demonstrates shifts in modes of
punishment and control, a New Historicist perspective encourages us to interrogate the
continuities and enduring power structures that persist across different historical
periods. By contextualizing Foucault's analysis within broader historical trajectories, we
can better understand the complex interplay between tradition and innovation in the
exercise of power.

On top of that, the author focuses on disciplinary institutions like prisons, schools,
and hospitals that may appear as uncertaining the agency and resistance of individuals
subjected to these systems. While Foucault acknowledges forms of resistance, his
analysis often emphasizes the repressive aspects of power at the expense of exploring
how individuals negotiate and unsettled disciplinary norms. Another thing, his analysis
of power tends to be somewhat ahistorical, treating power as a “go beyond” historical
force operating in similar ways across different contexts. While Foucault's genealogical
approach illuminates historical shifts in the mechanisms of power, it may overlook the
specific historical contingencies and cultural dynamics that shape power relations in
distinct historical moments. By situating Foucault's analysis within specific historical
 Republic of the Philippines
Laguna State Polytechnic University
Province of Laguna

contexts, we can better appreciate the differences of power dynamics and the ways in
which they are shaped by historical events.