A Study On Heroine’s Subjectivity Construction In Sweet Tooth Based On Gaze Theory

Ian Mc Ewan(1948-),one of the most influential writers in contemporary British literature,is known as the national writer of Britain.He paid much attention to the survival condition of individuals,especially the mental state,portraying the survival dilemma of contemporary people and various ills of post-modern British society with incisive and concise language,trying to arouse the public’s attention and reflection.Among his many works,the studies about Sweet Tooth are limited.In fact,Mc Ewan used the metaphor of the “agent” to describe the existential dilemma of the heroine,Serena,who was exposed to the oppression of multiple gazes,resulting in a loss of self-subjectivity.Therefore,this thesis takes the perspectives of Sartre,Lacan,and Foucault on gaze as the theoretical basis,and through studying the loss and construction of Serena’s subjectivity,it reflects Mc Ewan’s thoughts of individuals’ existential dilemma exposed to multiple gazes in society,thus enriching the previous research perspectives.The gaze is not simply a way of “seeing”,behind which is a collaboration of power and desire.As a mechanism of “seeing”,the gaze places both parties in an unequal position: the gazer hegemonically oppresses,morally disciplines,and projects desire onto the gazee,forcing the gazee into a passive position as an object and depriving them of their subjectivity;while the two-way dimension of the gaze makes the position of both parties dynamic: the gazed can transform its passive position by counter-gazing,getting rid of the object identity of being gazed at and rebuilding the subjectivity.Therefore,it is based on the dynamic relationship of gaze that this study explores the loss of subjectivity of Serena under being gazed at and the construction of subjectivity by anti-gazing.This thesis is divided into six chapters.The first three chapters are the research background,the literature review,and the theoretical foundation.Chapter four and five are the main parts of the thesis,focusing on the loss and construction of Serena’s subjectivity under gazes.Chapter four explores the multiple gazes imposed on Serena,including the social gaze,patriarchal gaze,and females gaze,which make her objectified,traumatic,disciplined,and alienated,and her loss of subjectivity.Chapter five studies how Serena constructs her subjectivity by gazing,including internalizing others’ gaze,resisting others’ gaze and anti-gaze at others,gradually establishing her acting subject,thinking subject,and speaking subject,and then succeeding in constructing her subjectivity.Chapter six is the conclusion.Serena’s loss of subjectivity under being gazed at and her anti-gaze to reconstruct her subjectivity.Therefore,the thesis not only reflects Mc Ewan’s thinking about the plight of individuals exposed to multiple gazes in society,but also enriches the studies on this novel and provides a corresponding solution to a similar existential dilemma of individuals in contemporary society,that is courageously anti-gazing and actively constructing the subjects of behavior,thought and speech can they escape the crisis of losing subjectivity.