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4.3. Conclusion
The dialogical representation of subjectivity of Margaret, Thornton and Higgins highlights the notion of intersubjectivity,
relationality and interdependence between one‘s self with the others in the subject formation. The personal changes going through by the characters
throughout the course of the story show that there are no natural, static or essentialized subjectivity and identity.
One‘s subjectivity and identity are always contingent and contextual shaped by others‘ existences. Monolithic identity either based on gender difference or class
status cannot sum up the complexity, instability, fragmentary and multiplicity of self. It forecloses agency and does not allow self to be a constant becoming. Moreover, the
monolithic identity is dehumanizing because it limits full self-realization of humanity. The proposal for the intersubjectivity, relationality and interdependence between self
and other can be understood as a challenge to the selfother oppositional difference as the patriarchal dominant mode of thought that underpins gender difference. Besides that, it also
suggests a challenge to other binaries pairs which are closely related with gender difference, such as bodymind, reasonemotion, consciousnessunconsciousness, subjectobject,
privatepublic or personalpolitical. To patriarchal dominant dualistic mode of thought, alternative mode of thought grounded on relational thinking is proposed in the novel. It is
depicted in the novel that the relationality between the paired categories is highlighted and complicated, rather than being merely inversed.
The challenge to patriarchal dualistic thinking is also followed by a challenge to patriarchal dominant mode of being governed by atomistic individualism, dominance,
inequality and objectifying relations. To challenge this dehumanizing mode of being, the novel proposes for a better mode of being grounded in relationality, intersubjectivity and
interdependence. This alternative mode of being is advocated by the characters through social mothering, after they successfully overcome gender-class stereotypes and prejudices. Their
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actions are governed by their acknowledgment of human vulnerability, compassion and mutual understanding to others, instead of by gender and class appropriateness. The social
mothering performed by the characters is grounded on the ethics of care. As ethics of care are reciprocal and non-objectifying, politicization of care as public ethics may break the
antagonism of public life. Politicization of care as public ethics through social mothering is further discussed in the following chapter.
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CHAPTER V EXPANDING CARING VALUES INTO PUBLIC SPHERE: AN ADVOCACY OF
INTER-CORPOREAL AND DEMOCRATIC SOCIAL MOTHERING
The closest thing to being cared for is to care for someone else.
—Carson McCullers
This chapter discusses politicization of care as public ethics through the advocacy of social mothering in the industrial society. The first section focuses on
the Margaret‘s advocacy of social mothering and her dialogic communication with Thornton and Higgins.
Through this dialogic communication, Margaret attempts to mediate the conflict and misunderstanding between Thornton and Higgins. She helps them see the flaws in their
preconceived ideas which will initiate them to see beyond class prejudice. Overcoming class prejudice, Thornton and Higgins start to develop interpersonal contact that will lead them into
ethical caring relationship. It is traditionally assumed that caring relation is not appropriate to govern public
sphere because it tends to lead to paternalism in which there is unequal power relations between the care-giver and care-receiver, and thus, it contravenes to the principles of justice,
democracy, equality and freedom. In North and South, this traditional conception is refuted through the depiction that caring relation can be ethical and democratic. It is suggested in the
novel that to politicize care as public ethics that can break the antagonistic pattern of public life, especially to remedy the dehumanizing force of industrial relations, social mothering as
ethical caring relationship has to be grounded on the corporeality, especially the acknowledgment of human bodily vulnerability. Here, corporeality is proposed as the
paradigm for cultivating caring relations and developing ethics of care. The discussion of corporeality is the main concern in the second section. Moreover, it is suggested in the novel