On Chinese American Female’s Subjectivity In Thousand Pieces Of Gold Under Body Theory

As a Chinese American author,Ruthanne Lum Mc Cunn(1946-)is good at writing biographies.Her works Wooden Fish Songs(1995),The Moon Pearl(2002),God of Luck(2007),etc.,thoroughly illustrate the issues of Chinese Americans.And her first work as well as her famous work,Thousand Pieces of Gold(1981)breaks new ground with the true story of a Chinese American pioneer,Polly Bemis/Lalu Nathoy’s experiences as a slave and free woman in the Pacific Northwest in America.Based on the relevant body theories,this thesis will expound on Thousand Pieces of Gold from of three aspects: the absence of Chinese American female’s subjectivity,the awakening of Chinese American female’s subjectivity and the reconstruction of Chinese American female’s subjectivity.By so doing,it aims to demonstrate Mc Cunn’s humanistic concern for Chinese American females in the early racist America.This thesis consists of five chapters.Chapter One is an introductive part that includes a brief introduction to Ruthanne Lum Mc Cunn and Thousand Pieces of Gold,the literature review on Thousand Pieces of Gold at home and abroad,the theoretical framework and the thesis statement.Chapter Two analyzes the absence of Chinese American female’s subjectivity through disciplined body.Disciplined by foot binding and working as a prostitute from both the Chinese and American patriarchal societies,Polly loses her subjectivity in all aspects.Chapter Three demonstrates the awakening of Chinese American female’s subjectivity through resistant body.With the analysis of Polly’s aspiration for freedom and the pursuit of her body’s domination,it proves that Polly begins to have the consciousness to fight against the patriarchal societies and takes the power of controlling body back little by little.Clearly,Polly’s subjectivity awakens in the process of resist against the evils.Chapter Four explores the reconstruction of Chinese American female’s subjectivity through active body.Thanks to the combined efforts of Charlie and Polly,Polly has the opportunity to leave the Warren and builds her own farm.Different from previous passive work,what her body does is active and dynamic.Polly perceives the world with her body.She also actively searches for her real homeland.In the light of mastering her body and living according to her own will,Polly finishes the reconstruction of her subjectivity.Chapter Five is the conclusion,pointing out the absence,the awakening and the reconstruction of Chinese American female’s subjectivity through disciplined,resistant and active body.This thesis emphasizes the living predicaments in the early racist American society that the Chinese American face;meanwhile,it states that Ruthanne Lum Mc Cunn praises the persistent,hardworking and all-embracing virtues represented by the protagonist.