Thematic Criticism From Starobinski’s Point of View

Jean Starobinski is one of the prominent figures of thematic criticism. Like other thematic critics, he views literature as something experimental and emotional, which bears a spiritual essence rather than being a scientific object. Starobinski has established the foundation of his criticism on observation and connection. These two items, which are among the most important and fundamental issues of thematic criticism, have a specific place in Starobinski’s method. The concept of observation in Starobinski’s method has expanded to be a critical observation which involves distance (a view that studies the work objectively) and sympathy (i.e. to get close to the text in order to achieve an insightful knowledge of it).The present article aspires to study the concept of observation from Starobinski’s point of view and the development of his critical views.