Conclusion DIALOGIC REPRESENTATION OF SUBJECTIVITY: CHALLENGING

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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 142 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. 143

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