From Lack To Awakening: A Lacanian Interpretation Of The Female Subjectivity In The Old Testament

The Old Testament is made up of 39 books, which are all written by men. Most of the women in the Old Testament live in a state of submission, self-surrender and rebellion in a male-dominated society, thus they lack subjective consciousness of equality, self-autonomy and independence. However, after a close reading of the Old Testament, the author of this thesis finds that there are still descriptions of women who have the sense of equality, self-autonomy and independence, which undoubtedly reflect the awakening of the female subjectivity in the patriarchal culture. Thereby this thesis attempts to delve into the lack and awakening of the female subjectivity in the Old Testament from the aspects of the sense of equality, self-autonomy and independence by employing Jacques Lacan's theory of the Subjectivity.Apart from the introduction and the conclusion, the thesis consists of four chapters. The first chapter elucidates Lacan's theory of the Subjectivity and gives a brief analysis of women's status in the Old Testament. The second chapter analyzes the concrete embodiments of lack of the female subjectivity in the Old Testament. The lack of the sense of equality is demonstrated by Hagar, Rachel and Leah. Jephthah's Daughter, Merab and Michal, and Delilah are the typical representatives who lack the sense of self-autonomy, while Tamar and Bathsheba are women lacking of the sense of independence in the Old Testament. The third chapter, also from the same three aspects mentioned above, explores the manifestations of the awakening of the female subjectivity in the Old Testament. The author of this thesis holds that Eve and Miriam reflect the awakening of the sense of equality, Ruth, Shulammite and Abigail are typical examples with the awakening of the sense of self-autonomy, and the main representatives of the awakening of the sense of independence in the Old Testament are Esther and Deborah. The fourth chapter of this thesis attempts to explore ways out for the women in the Old Testament. The author of this thesis holds that the awakening of the female subjectivity depends on women's being aware of their positions at home and in the society, their fighting for the equal discourse right with men and their courageous pursuit for love and happiness. Only in this way, can women in the patriarchal culture really obtain equality, self-autonomy and independence, therefore, self-awareness, self-confidence and self-reliance are the essential ways out for the women in the Old Testament.